Communications Specialist, IT

Kennesaw State University; Kennesaw (GA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Kennesaw State University is seeking a Communications Specialist for the IT division to craft and deliver clear messaging about services for students, faculty, and staff. You will translate technical concepts into accessible content across emails, web pages, social media, and signage.

The role involves supporting campaigns, coordinating campus events, and mentoring student workers while partnering with stakeholders across the university. Strong communication and design skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of marketing, communications or public relations work experience.
• Proficient with Canva for graphic design tasks.
• Undergraduate or advanced degree in a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drafts, edits, and disseminates written communications and designs print and digital materials for student, faculty, and staff audiences via email, campus webpages, digital signs, social media, video, flyers, posters, and other media content as needed.
• Supports the maintenance, development, and communication of services and programs to relevant stakeholders.
• Translates complex technical concepts into accessible communications and messaging.
• Updates and rewrites content to improve clarity and logic.
• Provides reports and data regarding the effectiveness of communication campaigns.
• Collaborates with external university units on projects and services as needed.
• Coordinates department promotional presence at campus events.
• Represents the department at events including orientation gatherings for faculty, staff, and students.
• Assists with the design and development of professional presentations for leadership.
• Evaluates and tests new and current software and services.
• Supports innovation, recruitment, and retention strategies.
• Trains and mentors student workers.
• Measures effectiveness of communication strategies for IT services.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Project management

Public relations

Verbal communication

Written communication

Presentation skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Canva

Job description

Job Title: Communications Specialist, IT

Location: Kennesaw, Georgia

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Job ID: 300881

About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower over 50,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location

(Primary Location for Job Responsibilities)

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Job Summary

Coordinates and implements marketing and communication projects that support the University Information Technology Services (UITS) division's services and programs university wide. Helps shape effective marketing and communications strategies to promote and clarify UITS services and resources, conveys technical information to audiences who have limited understanding of technology, and supports UITS in other ways as needed. Translates complex technical concepts into accessible communications and messaging. Creates, edits, and disseminates digital and print written communication materials including email, social media content, campus webpages, digital signs, flyers, and posters. Works collaboratively to achieve project objectives, milestones, deliverables, and campaign effectiveness reporting. Supports and assists with the development of learning opportunities within UITS for staff engagement, recruitment, and retention programs, initiatives, and processes. Helps garner user feedback, track evolving trends, and adopt best practices. Maintains schedule of participation in university events. Trains and mentors student assistants.

Responsibilities

1. Drafts, edits, and disseminates written communications and designs print and digital materials for student, faculty, and staff audiences via email, campus webpages, digital signs, social media, video, flyers, posters, and other media content as needed
2. Supports the maintenance, development, and communication of services and programs to relevant stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff
3. Translates complex technical concepts into accessible communications and messaging.
4. Updates and rewrites content on an ongoing basis to improve clarity and logic
5. Provides reports and data regarding the effectiveness of communication campaigns
6. Collaborates with external university units on projects and services as needed
7. Coordinates department promotional presence at campus events
8. Represents the department at events including orientation gatherings for faculty, staff, and students
9. Assists with the design and development of professional presentations for leadership
10. Evaluates and tests new and current software and services
11. Supports innovation, recruitment, and retention strategies
12. Supports department staff engagement and talent development
13. Trains and mentors student workers
14. Measures effectiveness of communication strategies for IT services

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent

Required Experience

• Two (2) years of marketing, communications or public relations work experience

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient with graphic design tools including Canva

Preferred Educational Qualifications

• An undergraduate or advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a related field

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

• Able to convey technical information to audiences with limited technical experience
• Able to learn new learning technology systems quickly
• Able to engage in community outreach through organizations, conferences, and other events
• Able to speak and present professionally in a public forum.
• Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one time meeting assigned deadlines

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of communications processes and procedures
• Familiarity with IT terminology, systems, and solutions used in higher education

SKILLS

• Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), project management and presentation skills
• Digital and print design skills
• Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite, Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud suite, with specific focus on InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Spark)
• Strong time management skills
• Strong attention to detail and follow up skills
• Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community. For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, [e-mail].

Other Information

• This is not a supervisory position.
• This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
• This position will not be required to drive.
• This role is considered a position of trust.
• This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
• This position may travel 1% - 24% of the time

Background Check

• Standard Enhanced

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf