Public Relations Specialist, Senior

Duke University

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

This position will develop, implement, and lead communication strategies that support and strengthen various programs in Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, with particular emphasis on its Department of Computer Science. We are seeking a motivated, and talented communicator to help convey the unique strengths of that department and others to key internal, local, and national audiences.

The Departmental Web Administrator will work closely with college, divisional, and departmental leadership to develop and execute communications that advance strategic goals and objectives for Computer Science and other computational and quantitative fields in Arts & Sciences.

Specific Duties Include

• Implement communication plans that identify objectives, strategies, target audiences, tactics, and key messages for various initiatives and projects.
• Curate department media efforts to publicize and brand activities and events across a range of communication channels (website, print, video, social media).
• Work with faculty to develop and distribute communication materials that emphasize the impact and exceptional research achievements of the department.

Materials for Internal & External Communication

• Routinely create and gather institutionally-valuable content for internal-to-Duke and external audiences that reflects faculty and student achievements, funding news, new hires, and interesting courses and publications, while ensuring alignment with Trinity and Duke goals.
• Translate faculty and student research and other projects into language that demonstrates impact for non-academic audiences.
• Track instances of Computer Science in the news and prepare highlight summaries for deployment in department and university channels.
• Develop event-related advertisements and distribute them via appropriate social media channels, documenting the outcomes or highlights from those events as appropriate.
• In collaboration with colleagues, multimedia specialists, and vendors, work on printed materials and graphic design projects to support departmental goals.
• Coordinate with the Pratt School of Engineering, University Marketing & Communications, and other campus partners to support exposure and recognition of Computer Science at Duke.
• Consult with Computer Science faculty, staff, students, alumni, and clients to obtain news and information; identify critical communication needs and ensure objectives are met.
• Create communication products that promote the work of students, faculty, and alumni.
• Uphold the visual identities of Duke, Trinity College, and assigned departments in all promotional materials.

Communications Channel Management

• Develop and maintain internal and external communication products such as newsletters, articles, project brochures, and social media posts.
• Manage departmental visibility and presence online by overseeing and maintaining the content, design, functionality, enhancements, and ability to reach target audiences and markets of all channels, including website and social media.
• Manage and make sustainable improvements to content channels, including but not limited to departmental websites, social media, print materials, departmental digital screens, and electronic newsletters.
• Review and modify channels based on analytics and other diagnostics, synchronize with other promotional material.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, English, or a computational or technical field related to the primary work of this role. Work requires the ability to perform creative science writing and related activities such as conducting interviews, copy editing, and research normally acquired through attainment of a bachelor’s degree.

Experience

Work requires at least three years of direct related writing experience. In addition, the successful candidate will possess the following qualities/attributes:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and a proactive, project management mindset.
• Strong writing and communication skills with a broad knowledge across writing, marketing, advertising, public relations, and communications strategy.
• Comfort working with social media and Drupal/WordPress or other content management systems.
• A motivated self-starter that can take broad direction and create specific exemplary products.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires the ability to perform creative writing and related activities such as conducting interviews and research, and copy editing normally acquired through attainment of a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, English, or a related discipline.

Experience

Work requires two years of directly related writing experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Job Code: 00001268 PUBLIC RELATIONS SPEC, SENIOR
Job Level: 12

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

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