Writer - College of Arts and Sciences

Writer - College of Arts and Sciences

Writer - College of Arts and Sciences

Full-Time Regular, Exempt, Market Range 09

Position Summary

The UT College of Arts and Sciences communications team is looking for a writer to join our team and support communication, marketing, and outreach efforts to prospective students and their families, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and current students, as well as other college stakeholders. This individual will work with the 21 departments in the college to develop content for annual newsletters, write news stories about faculty and student research and creative activities, and write spotlights about faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and other stakeholders associated with the departments. To be successful, this person must be curious, quick thinking, and grounded in the principles of journalism: rock-solid research, skillful interviewing, and eloquent storytelling. A successful candidate will have experience writing in environments that require versatility, brand alignment, and careful attention to detail.

Job Duties:

• Work with the content strategist and department representatives to identify and develop stories that align with the department’s strategic initiatives and develop versatile and compelling stories
• Plan and develop content for each departments annual newsletter that aligns with college and university strategic initiatives and showcase department priorities
• Write news articles about faculty, staff, and students in the departments for publication on department, college, and university platforms
• Work with the college communications team to coordinate publication of stories and contribute to the editorial calendar
• Develop copy for talking points, brochures, and other key pieces that support the department communication priorities and align with the college brand
• Work with the content strategist to plan and deliver content for undergraduate recruiting initiatives at the department level
• Work with department faculty to identify student scholars for commencement stories and develop stories to share on department, college, and university platforms

Required Skills:

• Working knowledge of communicating with a variety of audiences on a variety of platforms; working knowledge of traditional and emerging media.
• Solid knowledge of branding guidelines and AP and/or Chicago Manual of Style guides and rules.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to translate technical scientific jargon and findings into accessible language for a general audience.
• Excellent interviewing skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize, manage, and deliver multiple projects on a rolling delivery schedule.
• Ability to present concepts and designs to campus partners or team members in a clear, confident manner.
• Ability to produce creative work within a system of established templates and content delivery systems.
• Ability to work well independently and as a member of a collaborative team; act professionally; provide and be receptive to feedback and constructive criticism; be a self-motivated learner; teach, mentor, and share knowledge with others; and build and maintain good customer satisfaction for the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Communications.

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to reach across departments or disciplines in a collaborative manner.
• Ability to identify stories and research that can have major impact.
• Ability to identify areas of cross-promotion.
• Past experience writing in an academic setting or experience in higher education.

Required Education:

Associates degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, advertising; the Humanities or Social Sciences AND at least three years of professional experience directly related to duties and responsibilities specified

OR

A high school diploma and at least 5 years working professionally as a journalist

Preferred Education:

Bachelors degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, advertising; the Humanities or Social Sciences AND at least three years of professional experience directly related to duties and responsibilities specified

• Please submit a cover letter and resume with your application.