Communications Specialist II

Job Title

Communications Specialist II

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering

Department

Turbomachinery Laboratory

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Why work for Texas A&M Engineering?

Who we are

Texas A&M Engineering is a large employer in the great and growing cities of Bryan/College Station, offering thousands of career opportunities in a wide variety of fields. We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a talented workforce that embraces our core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity, and service. Texas A&M Engineering offers competitive salaries, full benefits, an extensive support network, and above all, an enriching and highly collaborative working community that is deeply passionate about our vision for higher education, research, and public service.

Job Description

Purpose:

The Communications Specialist II, under general supervision, coordinates and implements all aspects of communications and marketing functions for Turbomachinery Laboratory that include: continuing education programs including symposia and short courses; research programs at the laboratory including recruiting for quality researchers and students; and Turbomachinery Research Consortium (industry-sponsored, student-led research program.)

Duties include managing proposals, bids, and payment for all communication related activities. Build and maintain contact database/lists for targeted potential attendees, professional associates and companies. Maintain strong relationships with industry trade publications. Represent Turbomachinery laboratory at various trade-related exhibits. Continues to develop and enhance the national and international image of the Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia as the preeminent meetings for users and manufacturers of turbomachinery and their attendant service and supplier providers.

​Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee visual branding of the Turbomachinery Lab and their events. Maintain a consistent brand image on all externally distributed materials: advertisements, promotional items, event signage, trade show booths, printed materials, and online presence and event forms. Design marketing materials as needed. Coordinate and prepare press packets for symposia. Write and distribute pre- and post-event press releases. Assist Program Manager and Lab Director with writing and correspondence as required. Lead composition & editing of all promotional material – strong writing skills required.
• Provide creative direction in TL website redesign and maintenance. Maintain and lead in overall look & feel of all promotional materials under general supervision and collaboration with assigned staff. Lead, assist, and collaborate with assigned staff in overall strategy on per-project basis and overall project look & feel.
• Analyze success of marketing initiatives through verifiable metrics. Monitor current market conditions, industry best practices and marketing trends. Execute customer and marketing research to be used for event and marketing planning. Develop, implement, and analyze customer surveys distributed after major events and provide metrics for publication and promotion.
• Develop and implement strategic marketing plans for continuing education programs including symposia, short courses, and other TL initiatives, achieved through content creation and distribution through appropriate channels: print, digital, on-line, email, social media, and tradeshows. Lead efforts in promoting Turbomachinery Laboratory to potential researchers and quality graduate students for recruiting purposes. Establish strong relationship with Graduate Assistant Researchers for purpose of producing promotions materials including video profiles.
• Compose & edit written promotional material including but not limited to: press releases, email blasts, social media posts, articles with trade partners, show guides etc. Lead all major efforts in written promotion.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining positive relationships with industry influencers; leads key media partnerships, and members of the press. Coordinate media trade-out advertising agreements: procure list of periodicals/magazines to be displayed at symposia, manage ad material submission schedule. Maintain list of technical magazines/periodicals and secure sponsorships and publicity there-of for maximum exposure. Meet with select individuals at events; exhibitors, attendees, marketing executives and press. Represent TL at trade shows to promote TL products/events as assigned. Lead efforts in promoting Turbomachinery Laboratory to potential researchers and quality graduate students for recruiting purposes. Establish strong relationship with Graduate Assistant Researchers for purpose of producing promotions materials including video profiles.
• Serve as liaison between TL and design firm for event branding creation and implementation. Including project management for development of symposia show guides, submitting content, proofing, editing. Prepares presentations and displays. Assist in and lead major production of communications materials including printing.
• Other duties as assigned.

What we need:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related experience.

What is helpful:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience in Marketing or Communications related field.
• Experience managing sites on WordPress platform, running social media for a business (organic and paid), editorial writing, and assisting with technical tasks, including learning and navigating new software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including creative content creation, and demonstrative skills in immersive social media.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and WordPress or similar web content management system, working knowledge of search engine optimization, and working knowledge of various social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).
• Must be technologically savvy in order to assist with optimization of event software.
• Able to work in a collaborative team environment and use/operate applicable computing equipment.
• Demonstrate outstanding ability to interact effectively with people at all levels.

Work Location:

• Main Campus – College Station, TX.

About The Turbomachinery Laboratory

The Turbomachinery Laboratory (Turbo Lab) conducts fundamental and applied research within three thematic areas: Rotordynamics and Mechanical Systems; Thermal Fluids and Combustion; and Computational and Modeling Design. This research is sponsored by a combination of government and industry sources, both domestically and internationally, through traditional grants and contracts and covers the entire range of specialties of the Turbo Lab research groups. The Turbo Lab’s acclaimed Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia (TPS) is held annually in Houston, Texas, and its sister event, the Asia Turbomachinery and Pump Symposium (ATPS), biennially in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Both feature a world-class exhibit hall and cutting-edge technical program.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits.
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays.
• Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance options.
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS), a defined benefit retirement plan with 8% employer contribution.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Deferred Account 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 development opportunities.
• Tuition assistance https://engineering.tamu.edu/information/esac/educational-assistance-programs.html
• Wellness program release time offered to employees to promote work/life balance.

Helpful Applicant Information

Required Materials for Application:

• Resume/CV
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor/former supervisor.
• Letter of interest

Compensation Philosophy:

• Recruit and retain high-performing workforce through competitive compensation and career development including career pathing, coaching and skills development.
• Offer total rewards through competitive and equitable pay, flexible benefits, professional development, performance recognition and work-life balance.
• Ensure resources are readily available and utilized to attract and retain the highest quality researchers, faculty, and staff.  Exemplify equal pay for equal work, with allowable pay differences based on factors not prohibited by law.

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 delay of start date.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.