Communication Manager

University of Maryland, United States

Updated: 4 months ago
Location: College Park, MARYLAND
Deadline: ;

Posting Details
Posting Details


Position Number: 129038
Title: Manager
Functional Title: Communication Manager
Category Status: 33-Exempt Regular
Applicant Search Category: Staff
University Authorized FTE: 100
Unit: CMNS-Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center
Campus/College Information:
Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.
Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify you from employment.
Position Summary/Purpose of Position:
The University of Maryland Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) seeks a highly motivated professional for several on-going and developing center projects and initiatives. The prospective candidate will require unique written, technical and administrative skills and experiences in the oversight and facilitation of this role. Responsibilities include the coordination of the Center’s communication mission, contributions to the overarching web ops and production activities, support of the technical and organizational aspects of event hosting and administers ESSIC community outreach. Additionally, the candidate supports the Director’s office in a variety of processes, including the preparation of reports and presentations, data gathering, organization and processing and the documentation and implementation of new policies and procedures.
The candidate will also supervise the Education Innovation Coordinator (EIC) for the Center’s University of Maryland Grand Challenges (GC) partnership.
Essential Duty/Responsibility 1
Fulfills science journalist/web reporter function, authoring original content in the form of highlights and long-form features pertaining to the Center, its faculty, and news relevant to ESSIC and its partners. Serves as media point-of-contact for the creation and dissemination of press releases, in-house photojournalism, and provides coverage and support at various Center/campus/partner communications or newsworthy events. Gathers and disseminates relevant event and meeting information through the maintenance of various.
Essential Duty/Responsibility 2
Serve as the webmaster for the ESSIC website, responsible for crafting and maintaining websites under the Center’s purview. Identify, install, and use select software and plugins that might assist in Center web operations. Design the ESSIC website collaboratively with the web development team, aligning Center branding to conform to college and UMD web standards. Assist in developing in-house database tools tailored for administrative and web production purposes, assuring that the internal logic is in-line with the Center’s needs. Create intuitive and usable systems accessible to all user communities regardless of technical expertise and abilities.
Essential Duty/Responsibility 3
Serves as the initial technical consultant for potential center-hosted events to ensure requested requirements and outcomes effectively align with available ESSIC resources and technical capabilities. Provide technical support at hosted events using a variety of AV hardware and conferencing software, ensuring that the event goes smoothly. Supports remote attendees of center-hosted events
Essential Duty/Responsibility 4
Supports, plans and facilitates regular and recurring in-house events such as the Center’s weekly series. Organizes, plans and facilitates large-scale outreach events, such as the Center’s annual Maryland Day presentation and exhibit. Utilizes specialized graphics, web postings, curated listserv emails and social media posts in the dissemination and promotion of Center outreach activities.
Essential Duty/Responsibility 5
Serves as the Director’s Office in-house “data engineering” liaison to consolidate and process campus-hosted employee metric data into usable, measurable products that help management evaluate researcher performance. Produces center-specific reports and presentations as required by the Director’s Office. Assists in the development of internal and external documentation for both university and departmental systems. Organizes efforts to consolidate employee data used by both Center administrative infrastructure and web presentation processes, through polling and monitoring techniques. Supervise the Education Innovation Coordinator (EIC) working under the ESSIC-supported Grand Challenges (GC) award.
Benefits Summary Top Benefits and Perks:

Exempt Benefits Summary

Minimum Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor’s or graduate degree in Journalism, Communications or English with outreach and/or public relations experience or interest.
Experience:
2-4 years of related experience.
Preferences:
Preferences:
  • Graduate degree in Communications and Public Relations preferred, with postgrad experience and education in web design.
  • 5 or more years of related experience working or studying within a communication environment that includes outreach responsibilities. 
  • Demonstrated ability to independently author content and direct communications activities in support of organizational media and outreach efforts. 
  • Ability to use various technical systems to support center operations and improvement.
  • Excellent knowledge of the English language with strong writing and grammar skills. 
  • Ability to directly communicate with faculty, partners, and other sources, in the fulfillment of communication and outreach functions.
  • Candidates must have experience leading projects from conception to completion, leveraging creative problem-solving techniques, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to facilitate collaboration across diverse teams and departments. Candidates should be capable of working independently or in collaboration and have both sound intrapersonal and organizational communication skill sets.
  • Proficiency in various technology platforms and application packages in the performance of their duties. This includes Content Management systems, Google Suite products and spreadsheet software.
Additional Certifications:
Additional Information:
Job Risks Not Applicable to This Position
Physical Demands
  • Sedentary work.
  • Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
  • Repetitive motion.
  • Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
  • This position requires close visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading.
Posting Date: 12/13/2023
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled Yes
Best Consideration Date 12/30/2023
Diversity Statement:
The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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