Communications Specialist

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Full Time

Email Address

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How to Apply

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit as one document:

Resume
Cover letter
A portfolio of three samples - One sample (1) must demonstrate your communications strategy and two (2) samples must demonstrate your writing expertise.

The portfolio may include examples such as social media campaigns, newsletters, web articles, email communications, campaign plans, analytics reports, blog posts, feature stories, or other relevant communications materials.

Job Summary

The Communications Specialist is an integral member of the Undergraduate Education (UGED) Strategic Communications team, partnering closely with both the Communications Lead and the Creative Designer to develop and drive the team's annual communications plan.

The Communications Specialist develops, manages, and executes content across multiple channels, with a focus on project management, social media strategy, editorial communications, and campaign execution. This individual will independently plan and produce content that increases awareness of the college's life-changing resources, strengthens audience engagement, and supports strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer, strategic thinker, organized project manager, and collaborative communicator.

The UGED Strategic Communications team supports the pillars of the division of undergraduate education by stewarding the communications of some of its key initiatives - launching students to thrive beyond college through units like the LSA Opportunity Hub, the college's career exploration center; celebrating the identities of specific student populations like first-generation and/or limited-income students that elevates real student stories and promotes community-building programming; and fostering student success by ensuring LSA students are connected to the college's co-curricular opportunities through holistic, timely, and relevant communications.

Responsibilities*

Always-On Project Management and Communications Operations - 25%

Manage multiple communications projects simultaneously, from intake through completion, including scope, timelines, dependencies, and approvals.
Use ClickUp to organize workflows, assign tasks, monitor progress, and maintain team visibility.
Supervise a Communications Intern, setting weekly task expectations, providing feedback, and completing all Intern Program supervisory requirements.
Coordinate among internal team members, program leads, designers, vendors, and campus partners to keep projects on track.
Maintain organized records of project materials, campaign assets, analytics reports, and final deliverables.
Support continuous improvement of communications processes by identifying opportunities to streamline workflows and strengthen team efficiency.

Social Media Strategy and Community Engagement - 25%

Lead the day-to-day strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of the Hub's social media presence across Instagram, LinkedIn, and other relevant platforms as well as those belonging to other units as per UGED's strategic priorities
Develop and maintain a year-round content calendar aligned with strategic communication priorities, monthly themes, programs, deadlines, campaigns, and events.
Create platform-specific content that reflects audience behavior, channel best practices, accessibility standards, and the Hub's brand voice.
Write social copy including captions, calls to action, story text, reels scripts, and campaign messaging.
Partner with the Creative Designer and Communications intern to brief assets, source imagery, and ensure content is visually compelling and brand-aligned.
Collaborate with Hub interns, alums, employers, and campus partners to develop authentic, community-centered content.
Monitor social media trends, platform updates, and best practices in higher education and student engagement to inform recommendations.
Steward the Hub's online community by monitoring comments, messages, tags, and mentions; respond promptly using sound judgment and brand guidelines.
Navigate sensitive or negative engagement with discretion, escalating issues and recommending response strategies in collaboration with the Communications Lead.
Use analytics tools such as Sprout Social and Meta Business Suite to evaluate performance, engagement, and growth trends.
Prepare regular performance summaries with insights and recommendations.

Editorial Content and Weekly Communications Management - 25%

Collaborate with the Communications Lead to develop communications plans aligned with organizational priorities and audience needs.
Write, edit, and coordinate communications for unit initiatives, programs, events, and launches.
Manage the editorial calendar for recurring and priority communications, including web articles, social posts, the Hub Happenings newsletter, and program-specific messaging.
Lead production of the weekly Hub Happenings student newsletter from content gathering through distribution.
Lead the editorial process for web articles, including identifying story opportunities, interviewing stakeholders, drafting, coordinating review, and publishing.
Ensure all content reflects LSA and unit voice, tone, accessibility standards, and brand guidelines.

High-Impact, Short-Term Projects and Campaigns - 25%

Provide hands-on or consultative support for high-impact, short-term projects and campaigns such as college-wide thematic events, adoption of new technologies, and other unit-specific communication projects that advance college priorities
Develop creative multi-channel campaigns driven by unit programming or short-term initiatives that increase awareness and engagement among student, alum, employer, and campus audiences.
Write campaign briefs defining audience, goals, key messages, calls to action, timeline, deliverables, and measures of success.
Coordinate campaign execution across social media, email, newsletters, websites, and campus promotional channels.
Track campaign performance and prepare post-campaign reports with outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications*

Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, business, journalism, public relations, English, digital media, or a related field - or equivalent experience.
2+ years of professional experience in communications, marketing, social media, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience managing social media channels for an organization, brand, or institution, including strategy, analytics, and content development.
Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills across short- and long-form formats for multiple channels and audiences.
Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines, stakeholders, and deliverables.
Strong user of a project management software, such as ClickUp, Asana, Basecamp, or other project management platforms

Desired Qualifications*

Collaborative working style with comfort receiving and incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders.
Self-directed, detail-oriented, and comfortable working through ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
Interest in liberal arts education, student development, career exploration, or higher education communications.
Familiarity with Sprout Social, Meta Business Suite, LinkedIn analytics, or similar tools.
Ability to analyze digital metrics and use data to make content recommendations.
Experience with Adobe Experience Manager, email marketing platforms, or 12Twenty.
Experience in higher education, nonprofit, student-facing, or mission-driven communications.
Experience developing multi-channel campaigns from planning through post-campaign analysis.
Familiarity with digital accessibility best practices.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Primarily remote with onsite work as needed.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Job Detail Job Opening ID

278414

Working Title

Communications Specialist

Job Title

Communications Specialist

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work