Digital Communications & Design Specialist
Center for Public Partnerships & Research
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Job summary
University of Kansas Office of Research seeks a Digital Communications & Design Specialist to support communications and engagement for the One KU research enterprise. The role focuses on visual design, branding, and accessible content across print and digital platforms.
The position supports messaging about KU research impacts, resources, and opportunities, collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to communicate effectively and engage the KU community.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations, graphic design, marketing or related field; 1 year of experience; OR an associate's degree with 3 years of experience; OR high school diploma with 5 years of experience.
- Strong writing, editing, and visual communication skills demonstrated in application materials.
- Experience creating print and digital communications materials and maintaining website or intranet content.
Responsibilities
- Designs and produces print and digital communications assets for websites, email, social media, and events.
- Maintains and improves website content and ensures accessibility and brand alignment.
- Writes and edits copy for news releases, features, newsletters, and reports across multiple formats.
- Collaborates with stakeholders to support digital communications and design activities.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
The University of Kansas Office of Research seeks a creative, detail-oriented Digital Communications & Design Specialist to support communications and engagement efforts across the One KU research enterprise.
As a member of the Research Communications & Training team in the Office of Research, this position supports communications that both celebrate the impact of KU research within and beyond KU and help faculty, staff, and students understand and access the resources, services, opportunities, and processes that facilitate research success.
Reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Communications & Training, the Digital Communications & Design Specialist serves as the primary resource for graphic design and website management within the Office of Research. The position develops print and digital communications materials, manages and improves website content, monitors website performance and quality, and collaborates with colleagues and partners across the research enterprise to communicate research opportunities, resources, services, achievements, priorities and guidance that both elevate the visibility and reputation of KU research and help members of the KU community understand how to engage in and support research activities.
The successful candidate is a strong visual communicator who enjoys working across multiple platforms and formats.
- Designs and produces print and digital communications materials and visual assets for websites, email marketing, social media, and other digital platforms, including reports, flyers, posters, brochures, presentations, infographics, signage, and event collateral.
- Supports maintenance across digital platforms, ensuring content remains current, accurate, and accessible.
- Ensures materials adhere to KU brand, style, and accessibility standards and effectively translates complex information for clear communication.
- Supports strategic communications initiatives, assisting with planning, storytelling, and management of designated projects.
- Writes, edits, and adapts copy and design for news releases, features, websites, social media, newsletters, reports, presentations and other products for internal and external audiences.
- Maintains and organizes shared communications and design assets, including graphics, photographs, templates, and brand resources, to support consistent and effective communications, training, web, and outreach activities.
- Monitors website quality and performance and uses analytics to recommend improvements and enhancements to user experience.
- Collaborates with team members and stakeholders to identify, implement, and evaluate improvements to internal processes, workflows, and service delivery practices.
- Serves as a communications resource and consultant to subject matter experts, administrative units, and other research stakeholders.
- Collaborates with partners across campuses and organizational units to support digital communications and graphic design activities.
- Participates in special projects, cross-functional initiatives, professional development, and other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations, graphic design, marketing or related field and 1 year of related professional experience; OR associate's degree and 3 years of relevant professional experience; OR high school diploma/GED and 5 years of relevant professional experience.
- Strong writing, editing, and visual communication skills as demonstrated in application materials.
- Experience creating print and digital communications materials.
- Experience creating, editing, and maintaining website and/or intranet content.
- Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines.
- Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop as demonstrated through application materials, portfolio review, and interview.
- Experience maintaining websites using a content management system (CMS), such as Drupal, WordPress or similar platforms.
- Experience using Microsoft SharePoint.
- Experience using Google Analytics or web analytics tools.
- Experience applying web accessibility and usability best practices.
- Experience creating reports, presentations, infographics, illustrations and/or other visual communications materials.
- Cover letter addressing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications
- Resume.
- Portfolio demonstrating both print and digital design experience, including multipage print publications and digital communications assets.
- Portfolios should be submitted as a single PDF and may include links to websites, online portfolios, digital campaigns, videos, or other work that is best experienced in its original format. For collaborative projects, applicants should briefly describe their role and contributions.
- Contact information for three (3) professional references.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application review begins Monday October 19, 2026, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Mindie Paget, mpaget@ku.edu
$50,000 - $55,000
Monday October 19, 2026
Monday November 30, 2026
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