The Director of Strategic Communications & Outreach is responsible for working collaboratively with the Consortium Chair and team, as well as other University colleagues, to create and manage strategic communications for this center of national prominence. This position leads and executes Consortium communications, including promotion of the Consortiumâ™s grants and research, publications, events, and activities. Key responsibilities include developing and executing an annual communications plan, promoting the Consortiumâ™s brand and reputation, developing the Consortiumâ™s website and electronic communications, managing them to make sure they are vibrant and successful, and advancing the Universityâ™s mission. The Director of Strategic Communications & Outreach is expected to work collaboratively and proactively to accomplish these tasks and is responsible for developing working relationships with central University communications offices and all Consortium member centers. 

Responsibilities include:
Communications, Marketing & Content Strategy (45%)
● Develop and execute an integrated and effective content management strategy. This includes disseminating news items, articles, videos, and other resources across platforms including the web, social media, University-wide internal communications, and earned media.
● Lead ongoing evolution and function of the Consortium website and related websites, including working with University IT and specialists as needed to ensure excellence in design, content, and function. Maintain all pages on the Consortium website, interacting with Consortium staff, faculty, and member centers as needed.
● Develop and execute a strong social media communications strategy to further the Consortiumâ™s reach and engagement. Platforms include X/Twitter, Bluesky, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
● Advance the Consortiumâ™s impact and standing by disseminating its work to core audiences, such as national grant funders, policymakers, industry professionals, faculty, students, researchers, and the public.
● Develop and use a national network of media contacts to garner local and national media/press attention for Consortium research and events. Draft and pitch press releases and other forms of communication in coordination with other communication professionals across the University and University Relations. 
● Create and coordinate print and electronic communications, including the Consortiumâ™s electronic newsletter. Research, write, and edit content, consulting with Consortium staff, faculty, and member centers as needed. 
● Handle complex interpersonal communications with faculty, students, administrators, and community members. Supervise student workers as needed.

Event Communications & Outreach (40%)
● Develop multiple communications vehicles to raise awareness of and drive strong synchronous attendance to Consortium events and asynchronous viewing of event videos. 
● Manage email marketing to drive event attendance and awareness of Consortium programs and activities. This includes identifying and implementing appropriate e-marketing tools; designing or supervising design of templates within the Consortium brand; managing electronic mailing lists to make sure emails reach and engage appropriate audiences; adhering to University policies, CAN-SPAM, and best practices; and leveraging event content with post-event promotion.
● Identify and supervise consultants and vendors for services such as graphic design, webcasting, and video production to ensure a high-quality audience experience. Oversee video production by contractors, manage Consortium image and photo files, and collaborate as needed to create PowerPoint and other presentations.
● Prepare for events by collaborating with Consortium staff and AV professionals, using the Consortiumâ™s project management system as needed. Prepare Consortium event slides, make sure speaker slides are loaded and functional, and help anchor events by coordinating between speakers and the AV team. 

Planning & Evaluation (10%)
● Establish strategic annual communications plans, work goals, and timelines for all communications projects, under the direction of the Consortium leadership. Advise Consortium leadership on the best ways to reach communication goals.
● Regularly evaluate communications impact and success. Collect and report metrics to assess the effectiveness of communication strategies and make adjustments to optimize impact.
● Provide expert input on the communications budget to the Consortium leadership.

Special Projects/Other duties (5%)
● Assist Consortium leadership with writing and editing projects and presentation as needed.
● May participate in funded research, bringing communications expertise.
● Assist with Consortium events as requested.
● Other duties as assigned.


 

Required: 
● Bachelorâ™s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field. 
● Four years of professional communications experience with progressive responsibility. 
● Proven experience in strategic communications, media relations, publications management, and digital development, including tracking metrics and user behavior. 
● Proven track record in brand development and execution, increasing an organizationâ™s public profile and positioning. 
● Proven track record in website development and execution, increasing an organizationâ™s public profile. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred:  
● Masterâ™s degree relating to communications, science, or medicine. 
● Demonstrated experience with content management systems for editing website content. 
● Demonstrated experience in writing for a range of professional and lay audiences on science or medicine. 
● Proven experience in publications (print and electronic) management and production.
● Experience working in an academic environment.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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