Work in Washington Veterans Jobs

Req #: 237798

Department: UNIVERSITY MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Appointing Department Web Address: https://www.washington.edu/advancement/careers/

Job Location Detail: Hybrid Eligible - 3 days in office, 2 days of telework

Posting Date: 08/14/2024

Closing Info: Closes On 09/15/2024

Salary: $7,473 - $7,866 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701_a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

For over 160 years, the University of Washington has been a hub for learning, innovation, problem solving and community building. Supporting this legacy and important public mission—with the goal of making the UW the world’s greatest public university, as measured by positive impact—guides everything we do in University Advancement (https://www.washington.edu/advancement/) . Bringing together development; alumni and stakeholder engagement; marketing and communications; and advancement operations, we advance the UW’s impact by developing meaningful connections that foster pride, advocacy and philanthropic support.

The mission of University Marketing & Communications (https://www.washington.edu/marketing/) is to lead branding, marketing and communications efforts that advance the reputation, resources and relationships of the University. This starts with creating a culture of belonging ( https://www.washington.edu/advancement/ua-dei-visions-values-and-actions/) within our organization that values the diverse experiences and expertise of our team members, allowing everyone to thrive and to contribute their unique talents as we strive to achieve our shared goals. UW News, a division within University Marketing & Communications (UMAC), is the University of Washington’s central media relations office. The UW News team increases the visibility, communicates the impact and enhances the reputation of the UW and its experts to communities across our state and around the world, primarily through media relations, storytelling, and securing coverage of university research and major initiatives.

University Marketing & Communications has an exciting opening for an Associate Director, UW News. This is a full-time, permanent position.

The Associate Director helps guide the News team’s editorial and major projects in collaboration with Director for Media relations and other UW News leaders and colleagues. This role has supervisory responsibilities and may directly supervise two Public Information Officers and the team’s Editorial Assistant. The Associate Director functions as a Managing Editor for the UW News team, coordinating overall editorial planning and the editorial calendar, ensuring the team’s content aligns with the UW’s goals and priorities; setting the vision for media training; fostering teamwork and collaboration across the UW News team; advising faculty and other leadership on op-ed and analysis pieces and providing other leadership and mentorship.

What You Will Do: Leadership (50%)

• Oversee editorial planning and the editorial calendar, ensuring the team’s content aligns with the University’s goals and priorities. • Collaborate with the Director for Media Relations and the Assistant Directors on strategy and priorities for the UW News team. • Supervise up to three Public Information Officers (PIOs) and the UW News team’s editorial assistant. • Develop and maintain consistent editorial practices across UW News stories and newsletters. • Define the strategic direction and vision for media training. • Advise faculty, leadership and other partners on media training, op-ed and analysis pieces. • Support mentorship and development opportunities for teammates by fostering professional growth and empowering individuals through coaching and constructive feedback. • Oversee the production of newsletters produced by the UW News office. • Drive the development of new formats to deliver the UW’s research stories and expertise, including multimedia projects, podcasts or other platforms. • Develop new projects and initiatives. An example could include coordinating community events featuring UW experts that connects the University with the wider community.

Media Relations (15%)

• Serve as a press officer for a variety of topics including but not limited to covering law, education, political science and built environments, by identifying stories on research and related educational projects that have the best potential for attracting broad-based coverage. • Assess the potential for and develop pitches for appropriate news media outlets. Leverage social media or other platforms, as needed. • Address inquiries from members of the media seeking experts on various topics. • Maintain knowledge regarding developing and current news and identify which UW experts can speak on various topics.

Writing & Editing (15%)

• Identify research and education stories that align with the UW’s strategic goals and have the best potential for attracting state, regional or national/international news coverage, as well as stories that are most likely to be of interest to the campus and broader community. • Determine the most appropriate format for specific stories, including longform, video, photo, data visualizations, with a focus on appealing to various audiences, including the news media. • Write and edit news releases, arrange interviews, assist faculty with writing for a mainstream audience, and facilitate contact between students, faculty and reporters in the international/national, local and student media. • Serve as lead editor/proofreader on the UW Today email newsletter and edit/proof UW News stories.

Internal Relations (10%)

• Provide expert public affairs advice and training, as needed, to faculty and administrators. • Develop collaborative relationships with academic and administrative units across the University.

Other duties as assigned (10%) MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of experience in writing and communications for nonprofit, government,higher education institutions, news media or public relations.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. What You Bring:

• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated familiarity the rapidly changing technology and media environment and various news dissemination platforms. • Strong writing skills, with the proven ability to craft strategic content and messages from multiple voices, for a variety of audiences. • Experience editing written pieces for grammar, flow and readability. Familiarity with AP style is preferred. • Demonstrated strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office suite. • Proven ability to work in a collaborative environment and manage expectations of diverse groups of faculty and administrators. • Experience in developing multimedia products is desirable. Knowledge of how to work with digital media, including social media, and willingness to experiment.

What You Can Expect:

• Cubicle/open environment that may result in additional or higher levels of noise and visual distractions.

Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your “My Jobs” page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

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University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.