Communication Specialist

Job Posting Title:

Communication Specialist

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Hiring Department:

Institute for Geophysics

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

PICKLE RESEARCH CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

About The University of Texas at Austin 

What starts here changes the world. Founded in 1883, The University of Texas at Austin ranks among the top 40 best universities globally, with national programs across 19 colleges and schools. By creating educational opportunities for all and leading cutting-edge research at scale, the university fosters positive social change, technological advancement, and economic progress, proving that change really does start here.

About The Jackson School

The Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin is among the most well established and well-regarded geoscience programs in the world. The school includes the University’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, one of the country’s oldest geoscience departments, and two world-renowned research units, the Institute for Geophysics and the Bureau of Economic Geology. The school is home to the world’s largest academic geoscience communities with more than 5,000 alumni, 400 graduate and undergraduate students, 120 tenure track and research faculty members, 110 research staff and postdoctoral scientists and 140 support staff.

UT Austin offers outstanding employee benefits and total rewards packages, including:

• Competitive health benefits

• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) as well as additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)

• For more details, please see: Benefits | Human Resources and UT Austin Employee Experience | Human Resources.

Purpose

To provide focused and expert level communication efforts and support the UTIG and UT brand for a variety of audiences.  The communications specialist position will split their time between UTIG (50 %), where it will report to the UTIG director, and the Jackson School Office of Communications (50 %), where it will report to the Jackson School Director of Communications.

Responsibilities:

• At UTIG, the communications specialist will: maintain and manage ig.utexas.edu, including curating and creating content and maintaining a fresh design; lead, research, and write news releases and web stories about important events and news throughout the institute; work with reporters and media representatives to promote UTIG research and expertise; take photographs and perform design duties as needed and maintain a photography database; run the institute’s social media platforms; manage and produce UTIG’s e-newsletter; assist with branding and other activities for UTIG events; and take on other responsibilities as needed.

• In the JSG communications office, this position will fulfill many of the duties described above for all three JSG units, particularly the crafting and distribution of news stories that highlight the expertise of JSG and the value of geosciences to the widest possible audience and to targeted, smaller audiences. This work includes helping to plan, craft and edit stories for the office’s various print and digital publications. This position will also be expected to work both collaboratively and independently on strategic communications initiatives.

• Ensures publications and communications conform to university publishing policies, editorial style, organization, and appropriateness.

• Proposes topics on which to base communications strategy as well as research, write, and post unique and strategic content across multiple platforms. Creates compelling and engaging written, visual, multimedia posts and stories. Manages projects and implements plans to engage target audiences.

• Utilizes analytics reports to provide strategic direction concerning improvement of visibility and reach. May lead regular editorial meetings, approve pitches and guide development of story ideas. Handles confidential and sensitive communications with discretion.

• Maintains archive or resource materials and documents.

• Works independently. Supervises other staff and/or student employees as assigned.

Required Qualifications

BS in a Communications or STEM field and a minimum of 5 years’ experience with digital communications working within a STEM research organization, academic environment, or start-up. Experience in digital media writing. Strong proofreading skills and attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience in multiple areas of STEM and digital communications. Familiarity and experience with the University of Texas at Austin. Experience using WordPress.

Salary Range

$50,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions.

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

• Other working conditions: 1 flex day per week may be available. Remote work will require reliable internet access and a suitable workspace free from distractions.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.