Job Summary:
The Wisconsin School of Business (WSB) at UW-Madison is a globally recognized business school, conducting cutting-edge research and delivering a market-responsive degree portfolio. WSB enrolls more than 4,000 students annually within a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. WSB boasts an extensive, powerful network of nearly 50,000 alumni who are leaders in their respective fields. We are committed to equipping our students and alumni to think critically, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively to tackle complex challenges and lead without a blueprint.
The mission of the Alumni Relations team is to understand the needs and interests of our 45,000+ alumni and 5,000+ donors to create effective engagement, storytelling, and philanthropic investment opportunities. The Alumni Relations team is comprised of engagement and communication professionals who build and deliver a portfolio of alumni and donor communications and activities that promote engagement and philanthropic investment. The team leverages insights collected regularly from our alumni to identify target audiences, tailor our storytelling, and build programming to support our alumni and enhance the Business Badger network.
The Communications Manager will help lead and execute the communications and content strategy for the Alumni Relations team. This includes defining strategic communications plans and priorities for alumni events, engagement initiatives, and other projects. As a member of the publications team, this position will also help develop editorial direction for the alumni magazine and research and pitch compelling story ideas. This role may also support executive communication needs as they relate to the alumni audience.
The Communications Manager will serve as the lead writer for Update magazine, the Alumni in Action blog, donor communication tactics, and other external-facing channels. Story types and topics covered will include alumni profiles, faculty research, school initiatives, and other affinity-building content. Related responsibilities include researching, interviewing sources, and revising copy to produce top-quality, engaging stories.
The Communications Manager will also serve as an editor for the Alumni Relations team, including serving as assistant editor for Update magazine. This position will edit and proof content from team members for publications, emails, and other marketing and engagement collateral.
This position supervises the Alumni Relations Communications Specialist.
Responsibilities: Develops and supervises the execution of communication programs and may supervise personnel and/or other resources in support of institutional or unit communication goals.
- 10% Manages the day-to-day operational unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives
- 55% Plans, writes, and edits content for various internal and external stakeholders
- 5% Plans and directs unit programs and/or projects to ensure adherence to deadlines and budgets
- 5% Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures
- 15% Develops, implements, and delivers communication materials through various mediums to designated audiences
- 10% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of Alumni Relations Communications Specialist
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education:
Required
Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, English, or related field
Qualifications:
Required:
– 7+ years communications and writing experience
– Superior writing and editing skills
– Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
– Experience in higher education
– Experience in alumni relations, advancement, and/or donor communications
Preferred:
– Experience in advancement at UW-Madison
– Experience developing communications and content strategy
– Experience working with designers, photographers, and other writers
– Ability to engender trust of external sources and internal partners
– Strong understanding of target audience and brand advocacy
– Ability to write toward specific communication objectives
– Experience working on and managing projects with cross-functional teams
Work Type:
Full Time: 100%
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Appointment Type, Duration:
Ongoing/Renewable
Salary:
Minimum $65,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The employee in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits.
Additional Information:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Diversity and inclusion are primary values for the Wisconsin School of Business and are integral to achieving our strategic goals. We seek candidates with an awareness of and commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion across all spectrums. Our school is committed to continuously increasing the cultural competence of its staff and faculty members through school-wide forums and professional development opportunities.
How to Apply:
To apply for this position, please complete the online application and upload a cover letter and resume addressing your qualifications and experiences specifically relating to the responsibilities of this position. Cover letters will be reviewed as a writing sample to determine the best qualified applicants.
Our search committee will review all application materials after the posted deadline. Selected applicants will be invited directly to participate further in the selection process. We will notify all applicants once the search is completed and we have selected a top candidate. References will be requested during the finalist stage. Reference will not be contacted without advance notice.
Contact:
Se Yang
se.yang@wisc.edu
608-263-2975
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Official Title:
Communications Manager(CM003)
Department(s):
A12-WISCONSIN SCH OF BUSINESS/ALUMNI RELATIONS
Employment Class:
Academic Staff-Renewable
Job Number:
289022-AS