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Job Description

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state, and around the world. UW employees bring their energy, creative problem-solving skills to their work and are dedicated to building stronger minds and a healthier world. UW is Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, your experiences, perspectives, and unique identities will be honored at the University of Washington. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

Finance, Planning, and Budgeting (FPB) encompasses the major central financial, planning, analytical, and budgeting functions for the University of Washington, including:

+ Finance & Budget Strategy

+ Institutional Analytics & Decision Support

+ Policy, Planning & State Operations

+ University Business Services

The Incentive-Based Budget (IBB) Project Team is responsible for designing, developing, and implementing a comprehensive IBB framework for the institution. Team members collaborate across functions to lead financial modeling, build data infrastructure, engage stakeholders, and manage change processes. The team ensures the project is staffed with internal experts and strategic hires, coordinates workflow across modeling and technical groups, and maintains alignment with institutional goals. Members are accountable for delivering accurate models, supporting effective communication and training, and ensuring both project and existing FPB teams are adequately resourced and fairly compensated throughout the initiative.

Within this framework, the **_Communications and Engagement Lead_** is responsible for developing and executing the strategies that promote awareness, understanding, and stakeholder collaboration across the university community during the transition to the IBB framework. Reporting to the Project Director, this position is an independent and highly collaborative contributor who plans and delivers communication, and stakeholder relation activities that ensure the University community is informed, connected, and prepared for the IBB adoption.

The role integrates communications, organizational transition, and collaboration planning to support understanding and participation across diverse university audiences. This includes assessing awareness needs, sequencing communications, and coordinating outreach across administrative and academic units. This position develops messaging, materials, and content that clearly convey the project’s goals, progress, and institutional benefits utilizing a variety of channels such as presentations, newsletters, reports, and web content.

The Communications and Engagement Lead must be able to translate highly complex and technical information into clear, compelling, and accessible messages. Success in this role requires exceptional communication skills, relationship building, and the ability to think strategically while executing tactically. Through proactive communication, thoughtful messaging, and inclusive collaboration, this position ensures that the university community remains informed, aligned, and supportive throughout the IBB implementation.

We encourage applicants to apply even if they do not feel they satisfy all of the skills listed below; we understand that it will take some time for the successful applicant to strengthen specific position skills where needed, to learn about the university systems, campuses, and vendor collaborators, to develop a deep understanding of the FPB environment itself. You will join a supportive team that will partner with you in these efforts; we are an open, ethical, highly engaged, and collaborative community based on trust, transparency, and mutual respect. We believe in the importance of quality of life, embracing inclusion, making a difference, and having fun.

Duties & Responsibilities

Communication and Engagement

+ Develop and deliver clear, compelling communication materials—including newsletters, web content, fact sheets, blogs, and presentations—to share IBB project goals and progress

+ Collaborate with leaders, subject matter experts, and stakeholders to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment

+ Coordinate production, review, and distribution of materials across digital and print channels

+ Maintain and update web content for consistency, accessibility, and engagement

+ Use analytics, feedback, and evaluation methods to measure communication effectiveness and recommend improvements

Campus Collaboration

+ Design and implement strategies that foster awareness, understanding, and participation in the IBB initiative

+ Align communication and collaboration efforts across University divisions to ensure consistency and impact

+ Partner with FPB and campus leaders to craft messaging for executive and governance audiences

+ Provide regular updates and briefings to leadership and the University community on key milestones and progress

+ Share collaboration best practices and strengthen institutional alignment through effective communication and engagement

Stakeholder Engagement and Support

+ Manage stakeholder groups, distribution lists, and collaboration tools to support timely and accurate information flow

+ Produce newsletters, announcements, and talking points that keep audiences informed and engaged

+ Develop templates, toolkits, and reusable communication resources for consistent messaging

+ Assist the Project Director with coordination, reporting, and special projects to advance campus collaboration and transparency

+ Perform other related duties as assigned

+ Promote communication and collaboration best practices that foster trust, alignment, and continuous improvement

This position is temporarily funded through 6/30/2028.

Requirements:

+ Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, or related field and four years of experience in strategic communications within a large or complex organization  or related field

+ Equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may substitute for degree

+ Proven ability to develop and execute communication plans that translate complex or technical information into clear, engaging messages for diverse audiences

+ Demonstrated excellence in writing, editing, and content creation across digital, print, and social media platforms

+ Experience collaborating with leadership and subject matter experts to ensure message accuracy and alignment

+ Excellent understanding of communications principles, publication processes, and audience engagement strategies

+ Proficiency with SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and content management or design tools

+ Experience with project management, organizational, and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives and deadlines

+ Demonstrated experience in working on diverse groups and teams; create a culture of inclusion and equity throughout the team while supporting the overall culture of FPB

Desired:

+ Master’s degree in communications, organizational development, business, or a related field

+ Certification or training in change management (e.g., Prosci, ACMP) or project management (e.g., PMP, CAPM)

+ Three or more years of experience in higher education or a large research institution

+ Five or more years of experience supporting transformational or system replacement initiatives

+ Experience developing communication strategies for executive audiences and governance groups

+ Experience with social media, blogging, and web content management for stakeholder engagement

+ Background in website planning, design, and implementation with attention to accessibility standards

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$79,404.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$110,004.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer (https://hr.uw.edu/eoaa/) . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected] .

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28B.112.080) .

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.