Communications Specialist

Description

Serve as part of a customer-focused IT services organization responsible for the delivery of integrated, responsive and secure technology services that advance the university’s clinical, academic, and research missions.
Utilize a variety of channels to develop and execute communication plans for IT-related projects, services, and initiatives independently, seeking support from management as needed.
Will provide guidance and integration of messages and services while adhering to Washington University and organizational formats, style, language, and logo standards.
The focus for this position will be to lead the communications efforts for a ServiceNow Case Management implementation project.
Manage, create, and execute day-to-day communications for IT services, initiatives, and programs within Washington University Information Technology. Write, edit, and adapt custom messaging for identified audiences while following well-planned approaches and aggressive timelines.
Produce new, engaging content including (but not limited to) newsletter content, digital signage, email marketing, flyers, posters, articles, brochures, web content, video, presentations, and talking points.
Plan and execute webcasts, town hall meetings, workshops, presentations, and similar events.
Conduct copywriting, conceptualization, design, layout, and updates to existing materials, and extensive text revisions.
Gather and assess communications metrics and data to inform strategic communications decisions.
Work with communication liaisons across the University to help assure the planning and execution of deliverables meets the objectives of the organization. Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external customers.
Research and develop a high-level understanding of IT services. Apply knowledge, fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures to communications efforts.
Research best practices: evaluate and learn new tools to support communication needs. Demonstrate strong knowledge of fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures.
Provide excellent customer service by responding to requests in a timely manner and collaborating with faculty, staff, and students on IT service marketing.
Other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Experience with marketing and media relations efforts and activities.
• Understanding and experience with change management processes and practices.
• Experience working in higher education and IT.
• Understanding of and experience with ServiceNow, information technology and enterprise resource planning systems.
• Demonstrated results developing large complex communication campaigns.
• Experience working with WordPress.
• Understanding of HTML and basic website development.
• Self-Starter: Takes initiative and can translate ideas into high-quality, communication projects
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to prioritize multiple tasks within established and changing deadlines.
• Critical attention to detail, deadlines, and reporting.
• Excellent knowledge of fundamental concepts, best practices, and procedures of communication, marketing, and public relations methods and techniques.
• Demonstrated experience developing, writing, and editing original work for a variety of vehicles both print and online (targeted email, web, social media, slide presentations, feature articles, news releases) as well as reviewing communication work of others.
• Successful experience providing communications advice and support to help customers create, build, and protect their reputation, products, and services.
• Experience in design/visual communication.
• Understanding of basic graphic design principles.
• Experience working with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, specifically Photoshop and InDesign.
• Experience with video production.
• Understanding of basic email marketing principles and development.
• Strong sense of narrative storytelling.
• Experience with mass email applications, i.e., Maestro, Mailchimp, Constant Contact, etc.
• Experience working at an advanced level with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a wide variety of teams.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and easily adaptable to changing needs.
• Customer-service-oriented.
• Ability to interact and present to a diverse range of audiences.
• Able to comprehend complex technology projects and translate into simplified key messages for general audiences