"Alerted.org

Founded in 1854, Hamline was the first university in Minnesota and among the first coeducational institutions in the nation. Hamline University provides a world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty, staff, and students cultivate an ethic of civic responsibility, social justice, and inclusive leadership and service.

Hamline University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religion; creed; sex; national origin; marital status; familial status; status with regard to public assistance; membership or activity in a local human rights commission; disability; age; protected veteran status; or any other status protected by applicable law in its education or employment programs or activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

The Senior Manager of Content and Communications is responsible for leading multichannel storytelling initiatives to advance the university's reputation and thought leadership, drive enrollment, engage donors and alumni, and enhance the experience of faculty, staff, and students who make up our campus community.

This role oversees planning, development, deployment, evaluation, and optimization of strategic print and digital content for internal and external audiences across all communication channels, including earned media placements and the hamline.edu Newsroom, _Inside Hamline_ newsletter, social media, and marketing touchpoints at all stages of the customer journey.

Additionally, this position is the primary leader for university media relations and internal communications, and serves as managing editor of the university magazine. This leader directly supervises a team of content creation professionals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

_Content Strategy, Creation, and Delivery_ _:_

+ Bring the Hamline University brand to life and enhance the experience of key stakeholders through strategic copywriting and inspired storytelling in digital, print, broadcast and experiential channels.

+ Serve as our senior writer and primary editor for clarity, brevity, house style, and brand voice.

+ Guide direct reports in researching and writing compelling content that informs, engages, and inspires target audiences and performs well in earned, owned, paid, and shared media channels.

+ Partner with Marketing and Communications colleagues and other university departments to identify and deliver inspiring, persuasive content for student recruitment and alumni/donor engagement that resonates with its audience and aligns with institutional positioning and brand standards.

+ Serve as managing editor for Hamline magazine, overseeing all aspects of content planning, writing, and publication in partnership with Institutional Advancement, Alumni Relations, Marketing and Communications, and other university departments.

_Corporate Communications Leadership:_

+ Lead the development of a proactive media relations program and execute media strategies that raise Hamline’s visibility and strengthen our reputation among audiences important to our success.

+ Serve as a primary point of contact for journalists, triaging media inquiries to the Communications Specialist or Director of Marketing and Communications as appropriate. Be a resource to journalists and facilitate newsgathering while also monitoring for and mitigating reputational risk factors. Act as spokesperson as needed.

+ Effectively tie the expertise of Hamline faculty, staff, and students to trends and topics of national, regional, or specialized audience interest to identify earned media opportunities, pitch stories, and amplify placements across owned, paid, and shared media channels.

+ Contribute to issues management, crisis response, and reactive media situations in partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications and other stakeholders across the university.

+ Manage Hamline University’s internal communication ecosystem and content delivery to inform and engage faculty, staff, and students in alignment with Hamline’s roadmap, mission, vision, and values.

+ Own the university’s social media calendar and develop engaging content for diverse social platforms.

+ Partner with the Director of Marketing and Communications to:

+ Track, report, and evaluate effectiveness of our internal communications, social media, and media relations programs.

+ Identify, develop, and launch new communication channels and programs to meet institutional and audience needs in alignment with strategic plans and resources.

_Collaboration_ _:_

+ Work with Marketing and Communications, the President’s Office, the Provost’s Office, Admission, Alumni Relations, Institutional Advancement, Student Affairs, Public Safety, and other departments across the university to align messaging with institutional priorities.

+ Hire and provide creative direction to internal and external writers, designers, photographers, and other contracted professionals to produce high-quality creative assets in alignment with budget.

_Research and Strategy_ _:_

+ Conduct interviews with students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and others to gather insights and create compelling narratives.

+ Stay informed about higher education trends and best practices to ensure timely and relevant content.

_Quality Assurance_ _:_

+ Ensure all materials adhere to brand guidelines, maintaining consistency in tone, style, and messaging.

+ Drive message alignment across audiences and channels. Ensure accuracy and consistency in all information that is released, including appropriate reviews and approvals.

+ Support development of policies, procedures, and resources for editorial and brand governance.

+ Conduct rigorous proofreading and fact-checking to uphold editorial excellence.

_Team and Resource Management_

+ Recruit, train, develop, and mentor a team of communication professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.

+ Supervise, coach, mentor, and provide guidance for the following positions: Copywriter; Social Media Specialist; and Communications Specialist.

+ Oversee partnerships with external vendors and agencies for specialized projects.

_Project Management_ _:_

+ Manage content calendars for publications and campaigns.

+ Meet deadlines and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of materials.

_Other Duties:_

+ Perform additional work-related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This position reports to: Director of Marketing and Communications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KEY COMPETENCIES

+ Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across various mediums.

+ Strong proficiency in grammar, style, and adherence to editorial guidelines.

+ Ability to write persuasively and adapt tone for different audiences and platforms.

+ Advanced organizational skills and attention to detail.

+ Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and content management systems.

+ Knowledge of SEO and digital content optimization strategies.

+ Expertise in public relations, internal communications, social media, and branding best practices.

+ Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams in a fast-paced environment.

+ Strategic thinking and creativity in content development.

+ Effective interpersonal communication and collaboration skills.

+ Strong project management capabilities with the ability to meet deadlines.

+ A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in storytelling.

MINIMUM EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

+ Bachelor’s degree in journalism, English, communications, marketing, or a related field OR equivalent experience.

+ 5+ years of professional experience in writing, editing, or content creation across a wide variety of channels, preferably in a higher education, nonprofit, or agency setting.

+ 5+ years of experience as a journalist or corporate communications professional with a strong understanding of news value, experience shaping and pitching stories, and proven ability to cultivate media relationships.

PREFERRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

+ Master’s degree in a related field.

+ 7+ years progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, or public relations.

+ Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson.

+ Experience managing publication projects such as alumni magazines or annual reports.

+ Knowledge of emerging digital and social media trends.

+ Familiarity with higher education environments and their unique communication needs.

WORKING CONDITIONS / EQUIPMENT

Must perform the following essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation:

+ Must be able to work on a computer for extended periods of time.

+ This position is primarily an on-campus role. Designated remote work days may be set at the discretion of the department director.

+ Ability to work an on-call schedule. Occasional night and or weekend work may be required.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

+ This is a full time, 1.0 FTE, exempt position, 12 months a year.

+ This position may require overtime during peak seasons.

Compensation and Benefits:

**Pay Range:** $85,000 - $90,000 annually

Full-Time Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package which may include:

+ Medical, dental, and vision insurance

+ Life insurance

+ Short- and Long-Term Disability

+ Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity

+ 403(b), 403(b) matching

+ Paid Time off, including vacation time, paid holidays and safe and sick leave time off

+ Employee assistance program

+ Flexible spending account (FSA), Health savings account (HSA)

+ Tuition waiver

All questions marked ‘Required’ need to be answered in order to submit the application. It is important that your application show all of the relevant education and experience you possess. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. If rejected, you must reapply for the position in order to be considered. A resume or curriculum vitae, a cover letter outlining your qualifications for and interest in the position, contact information for 3 current, professional references, as well as copies of transcripts (if required) must be uploaded with each application **.**