Communications Manager

Job Posting Title:

Communications Manager

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Hiring Department:

University Police Department

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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:

Apr 01, 2024

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

AUSTIN, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The University of Texas at Austin Police Department (UTPD) is a state police agency with more than 100 employees. It is a fully-functioning, accredited state police agency serving the UT community 24 hours a day. UTPD includes an investigative division, K-9 teams, bicycle patrol team and its own 911 Dispatch Center. For more information about UTPD, please visit: https://police.utexas.edu/

To that end, we want all of our employees to feel confident that their varied backgrounds and experiences are embraced.
 

Your skills will make a difference. 

 

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to: 

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%) 

• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options 

• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays 

• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds 

• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b) 

• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses 

• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities 

• Tuition assistance 

• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets 

• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card 

• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card 

• For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards . 

 

Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship. 

Purpose

Serve as the Communications Manager for The University of Texas at Austin

Police Department (UTPD), providing back-up to Director of Communications and Marketing, including serving as the primary PIO, as needed.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the secondary Public Information Officer (PIO), providing back-up to the primary PIO including serving as the primary PIO to include rotating on-call hours during some evenings, weekends or holidays. On-call hours to be shared with Communications Director and on-call police officers.
• Assists with all UTPD communication, marketing and community engagement activities on behalf of UTPD to include but not be limited to media relations, reputational issues management, proactive marketing, community outreach and stakeholder engagement.
• Works closely with University Marketing and Communications (UMAC) to execute strategic communication, adhering to processes and procedures to ensure the public, stakeholders, and members of the media are kept informed of public security issues impacting the University.
• Assists with the University’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) along with UMAC PIOs to manage crisis communication.
• Participates in the distribution of Clery Act notifications to the UT Community in emergency situations or to enhance awareness, assist with crime prevention.
• Contributes content to all UTPD communication channels to include emergency notification system, email, social media, website, in-person meetings and presentations on behalf of UTPD.
• Participates in media relations efforts to include responding to media inquiries, maintaining relationships with members of local media, preparing talking points and internal FAQs for executives, preparing UTPD police officers for interviews, monitoring media coverage, and compiling media coverage reports to inform future efforts. Proactive media pitches when appropriate.
• Works in concert with internal communication stakeholder groups to include but not be limited to University Marketing and Communications, Office of Campus Safety, Utilities and Energy Management, Student Affairs and Texas Parents.
• Participates in training for all emergency notification, incident notification, timely warnings, and other communications processes and procedures for campus security.
• Participates in after-action debriefing activities to promote continuous learning and improvement of processes over time, including taking into account stakeholder feedback and current industry best practices.
• Manages social media channels to promote positive stories about university police department community outreach efforts, initiatives, programs, and relationships with internal and external stakeholders, collaborators, and community members.
• Performs light graphic design duties to include social media and web graphics with the assistance of Financial and Administrative Services Communications graphic designers and digital content coordinators.
• Performs basic web editing with the assistance of the Financial and Administrative Services Communication web team.
• Serves as the UTPD official representative on the Financial and Administrative Services Communications Council.
• Works in concert with University Marketing and Communications and Student Affairs/Texas Parents to respond to public inquiry.
• Leads proactive presentations with university police officers as they socialize their processes and work with university student body to promote a sense of campus security and establish and maintain positive relationships with a diverse student body.
• Seeks out and attends appropriate trainings in public security communications, communication and marketing best practices, and working with diverse communities.  
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in:
  • Media relations
  • Journalism
  • Marketing
  • Public relations
• Experience in:
  • Social media management
  • Copywriting
  • Running press conferences
  • Writing media advisories/press releases
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Manage multiple tasks
  • Set priorities and objectives
• Proficiency with:
  • Microsoft programs
  • Video editing
  • Photography
  • Website building
  • Graphic design
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with constant deadlines
• Ability to manage long-term projects effectively
• Experience interpreting policy and implementing procedures
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Professional demeanor and excellent customer service skills
• Attention to detail and problem-solving abilities
• Demonstrated time management, critical thinking, and organizational skills
• Ability to handle confidential matters discreetly and make independent decisions using sound judgment
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficiency in gathering, analyzing, presenting data and making recommendations

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Clery Act training or certification.
• FEMA E/L0388 Advanced Public Information Officer certification.
• Experience working directly with police, military, or in other related work environments. Experience working in a command center, emergency operations center, or other equivalent experience.
• Experience working in a higher education environment
• Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. Experience with graphic design. Experience with photography and video capture for digital use. Experience with website editing using a content management system.

Salary Range

$61,032 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity

Work Shift

• This is a hybrid remote/in-office position that provides for work-life balance with typically a 40-hour work week. The current schedule requires the employee to work on the UT Austin campus four days a week and when required for in-person meetings or events.

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.
#LI-Hybrid 

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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) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (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.