The Division of Marketing & Communications (MarComm) aims to strengthen DU’s strategic position locally, regionally, and nationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels with focused support on the university’s value drivers: academics and research; enrollment and admissions, athletics, and advancement. Whether through public or media relations, digital strategies, social media, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, community relations or thought leadership and training, MarComm drives results through narratives that involve words, pictures, and design. With true understanding of and connection with our diverse audiences, we aim to foster collaborative problem solving, creativity and innovation. MarComm strives to speak with a unified, authentic, and resonant voice to strategically advance the University of Denver’s brand by focusing on the following priorities:
1. Promoting and protecting DUs reputation.
2. Inspiring students to enroll and engage.
3. Increasing equity and inclusion.
4. Strengthening the University.
MarComm’s mission, vision and values make it imperative that everyone in our community feels safe and included. The participation and input of all members should be valued and respected, while every voice should have the opportunity to be heard. The division’s community-created, shared sense of belonging definition is, “a shared sense of belonging in MarComm means building a collaborative, trusting community where we feel and are safe, valued, and appreciated being ourselves as we contribute to something meaningful.” Our collective achievements are enhanced by the open exchange of ideas-particularly when diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences are embraced.
Position Summary
The Publications and Research Writing Manager plays a key role in supporting the delivery of storytelling across the University’s podcast, newsroom and magazine. This role also supports the University’s efforts to enhance its reputation and thought leadership among internal and external audiences. The Publications and Research Writing Manager is responsible for ensuring the successful development, delivery and refinement of strategic publications based on the University’s brand and objectives. The successful candidate will serve as the managing editor for the University of Denver Magazine, the managing editor of the RadioEd podcast, and the managing editor of the DU Newsroom. The incumbent will also be called upon to support other strategic publication initiatives that may be commissioned by the Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications in support of the Chancellor’s strategic priorities.
Essential Functions
- Guide the overall strategy of strategic publications, including the University of Denver Magazine, as well as the DU Newsroom, and RadioEd podcast.
- Serve as a consulting editor for the campus community, supporting a variety of publications by teaching best practices and sharing knowledge and skills.
- Serve as managing editor for the magazine, podcast, and newsroom. This includes shepherding content through the production and approval process.
- Create, publish and manage all content on the University of Denver’s Newsroom, Magazine and Podcast.
- Manage audience engagement for each channel.
- Advise and assist as needed with response to queries or letters to the editor.
- In partnership with the Sr. Director of Marketing and & Communications Operations, obtain bids from print and electronic format vendors as needed.
- Coordinate inventory management and archiving of print and online publications.
- Maintain a comprehensive content calendar, ensuring collaboration across many teams both within MarComm and the rest of the University to create and share strategically relevant and branded content that aligns with broader engagement strategies.
- Test and learn new approaches that strategically align with our target audiences.
- Create partnerships external to the Marcomm Division and establish and nurture functional relationships to leverage the entirety of the University’s storytelling power and increase visibility of key messages for key audiences.
- Lead periodic storytelling training for university-wide communications professionals.
- Maintain and update the University’s style guide as needed.
- Serve as an additional copy editor as needed.
- Provide monthly evaluation of efforts and insights into trends and audience behavior to unit leadership in collaboration with division’s marketing analytics specialist.
- Provide immediate support for crisis communications and issues management as needed under the direction of the AVC of Communications & Issues Management.
- Coach and develop the skills of three writers/researchers and one copy editor.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- High level of integrity, trustworthiness, respect, and ability to research options, think creatively, and make sound decisions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, mastery of the English language, ability to communicate with students, faculty, staff, management and clients.
- Knowledge of AP Style guidelines.
- Strong presentation skills and the ability to develop and present creative concepts/proposals.
- Demonstrated ability to work in an integrated team-oriented environment and take initiative with minimum supervision.
- Flexibility, excellence, sense of urgency, and passion are vital qualities within the division.
- Capacity to independently and effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects at a time in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Experience managing a variety of concurrent projects and production timelines simultaneously.
- Demonstrated success in a highly matrixed environment with multiple constituents.
- Able to integrate thinking from divergent points of view.
- Ability to generate creative ideas and lead execution of these ideas.
- Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to seeing projects to successful completion.
- Excellent writing and grammar skills, along with the general ability to communicate clearly in oral, visual and written form.
- Ability to vary communication tones and voice as appropriate to best leverage different social media channels/platforms while ensuring continuity of brand voice and presence.
- Experience with data analytics.
- Organizational acumen and abilities.
- Ability to be flexible with assignments and shifts in priorities.
- Ability to understand, embrace and demonstrate a commitment to the University of Denver’s vision and mission including the University’s goals of inclusive excellence.
- Willingness to learn new skills as the opportunities or the need arise.
- Demonstrated creative self-starter with strong work ethic, team orientation and commitment to quality
- Experience in providing analysis of outcomes as well as recommendations for continual improvement
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience effectively setting priorities, achieving goals and measuring results
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in public relations, marketing, communications or related fields
- 5 years’ experience in managing publications, podcasts, or website news content
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in higher education field
Working Environment
- The successful candidate must live or be willing to relocate to the Denver metro area. The Division of Marketing & Communications has a flexible work arrangement with its employees, allowing for both community and culture building in office and remote work from home.
- Standard office environment: Activities are primarily performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse; job may require limited, varying lengths of time and travel moderate distances to perform work
- Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities, which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts
- Ability to clearly communicate required to perform essential functions
- Regularly performs work which requires traveling on uneven surfaces and exposure to external environmental conditions as part of photo and video shoots.
- Receives regular managerial review of objectives.
- Provides supervision and mentorship of student employees and must meet University’s standards accordingly.
- Occasionally provides supervision of contracted vendors for completion of project/program related tasks as needed.
- Some travel as well as occasional weekend or after-hours work will be required to fulfill duties.
- Unexpected interruptions occur often, and stress level is moderate to high.
- Noise level is quiet to moderate.
Physical Activities
1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) April 24, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $85,000-$95,000
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: April 10, 2023
Applications close: