The University of Georgia Hiring for Marketing Content Writer at Athens Area Full Time

Posting Number:

S10624P

Working Title:

Marketing Content Writer

Department:

DAR-Communications

About the University of Georgia:

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,000 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

About the College/Unit/Department:

Division of Development and Alumni RelationsThe Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.Development and Alumni Relations’ Office of CommunicationsWe serve as an in-house marketing agency for the Development & Alumni Relations division (DAR) at the University of Georgia. Twice a year, we plan. The rest of the time, we design mailers, build websites, write, film, photograph, tweet, and a lot more. Collaboration is how we do our best work. White-boarding and idea-bouncing get us going. Data and analytics teach us how to do better next time. We love to learn from one another. We often partner with the Marketing & Communications division to help further the UGA brand. We streamline and dot-connect. And always do our best to consider our audiences’ perspectives. We are always searching for new ways–more creative ways–to reach our alumni and donors. To help our division achieve its mission and help every DAR unit achieve its goals.

College/Unit/Department website:

give.uga.edu, dar.uga.edu, alumni.uga.edu, dar.uga.edu/communications

Posting Type:

External

Retirement Plan:

TRS or ORP

Employment Type:

Employee

Benefits Eligibility:

Benefits Eligible

Full/Part time:

Full Time

Additional Schedule Information:

8:00am-5:00pm; must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as necessary

Advertised Salary:

$54,500+ commensurate with qualifications and experience

Posting Date:

06/26/2023

Open until filled:

Yes

Proposed Starting Date:

09/01/2023

Special Instructions to Applicants:

• This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Location of Vacancy:

Athens Area

EEO Policy Statement:

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([email protected]).

Classification Title:

Marketing/Public Relations Professional

FLSA:

Exempt

FTE:

1.00

Minimum Qualifications:

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 1 year of work experience in marketing, communications, or public relations.
• Experience in a role that requires frequent/heavy writing, whether for media, social, web or print materials.
• Experience in media relations, digital advertising, email marketing and/or social marketing.
• Ability to manage 20+ writing assignments with varying deadlines at any given time.
• Knowledge of AP Style writing.
• An understanding of and experience with search engine optimization writing.
• Experience with graphic design and/or knowledge of design programs.
• Experience in higher education and/or fundraising.
• Experience in a public relations or marketing agency.

Position Summary:

This incumbent develops and implements marketing and public relations efforts for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) within the Office of Communications (DARCOMM). This team of 15-20 staff members is responsible for producing all communications and marketing materials to support the university’s alumni engagement, fundraising, and career development efforts. This employee takes the lead on content creation for many materials, including (but not limited to) copy and content for websites, news releases, emails, social media, blogs, scripts, university publications, and direct mail. This employee is responsible for conducting research and interviews in the development of these materials, producing on-brand and accurate final deliverables, and partners with designers, videographers, other writers, and web developers (both in-house and hired) to review work for quality and accuracy.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:

• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment
• Eager to learn, pursue new/unconventional communications tactics and expand writing skills and repertoire
• Comfortable being in a hybrid work environment with asynchronous schedules and physical availability
• Ability to navigate complex projects and ensure they are completed on deadline
• Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal)
• Organizational skills and ability to multitask
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct

Additional Division Expectations:

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands:

• Some after-hours work and/or traveling may be involved
• Work in a standard office environment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, video calls, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Is driving a responsibility of this position?:

No

Is this a Position of Trust?:

Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?:

No

Does this position require a P-Card? :

No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :

No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:

No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications):

Yes

Credit and P-Card policy:

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Deliver on-brand written content in pursuit of unit, division, and university goals.

• Develop high-quality content that includes (but is not limited to) copy for: news releases, websites, emails, social media, blogs, scripts, university publications, and direct mail.
• Collaborate with DARCOMM colleagues (Creative, Digital, Communications) to enhance content with appropriate visuals.
• Ensure all content and final products:
  • Follow AP Style and use correct/consistent grammar
  • Are factually correct
  • Positively reflect the UGA brand
  • Support DAR/UGA goals
• Master the UGA brand voice and tone, as well as any other sub-brands such as those developed for alumni, fundraising, parent giving, Mentor Program, etc.
• Customize content to channels (web, email, social, print, events, advertising, etc.) and ensure content is written in UGA brand voice/tone and at length for those channels.
• Develop relationships across the division and campus to enhance research when needed.
• Gain knowledge from constituent database to develop accurate and thorough profiles on alumni, donors, students, and friends of the university. Enhance with online and campus research.
• Interview story subjects to gain background knowledge, quotes, and other information, and follow up with them later for reviews and approvals of content.
• Craft persuasive language to show target audiences the importance of and impact of their engaging with the university.
• Ensure content is reviewed, approved, and shared with appropriate internal and external audiences.
• Understand timelines and adhere to deadlines. Keep colleagues informed about projects on a regular basis by following DARCOMM’s workflow processes and leveraging the team’s project management system.
• Help prioritize projects to ensure DARCOMM is focused on the most strategically important work. Identify assignments that overlap and could benefit from collaboration to ensure efficient work across the DARCOMM team.

Percentage of time:

60

Duties/Responsibilities:

Participate in marketing meetings and strategy discussions that focus on content development.

• Enhance concepting process in the role of creative writer.
• Join appropriate meetings to lend a strategic eye to what content should be developed to achieve target unit, division and UGA goals.
• Collaborate with DARCOMM and campus colleagues to determine effective content needs for a variety of projects.

Percentage of time:

15

Duties/Responsibilities:

Proofread materials developed by others in the Office of Communications and the division.

• Ensure DARCOMM is consistently putting forth excellent work that is both high-quality and accurate.

Percentage of time:

10

Duties/Responsibilities:

Stay up to date with AP Style and other writing tools that can support all writers in the DAR Office of Communications.

• Stay informed of any changes to AP Style and leverage this style in all content being developed for UGA.
• Monitor content trends in media channels and with input from DARCOMM colleagues to ensure final deliverables are as effective as possible.
• Share any interesting/helpful information about trends or writing with colleagues as appropriate.

Percentage of time:

5

Duties/Responsibilities:

Maintain a database of potential story ideas and profiles.

• Organize potential story and profile ideas that may come from members of the DARCOMM team, campus colleagues, or internal/external media channels.
• Share story ideas with other members of the DARCOMM team who could benefit from and/or are seeking story ideas for a variety of projects.

Percentage of time:

10

Contact Details:

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name:

Development & Alumni Relations’ Office of Talent Management

Recruitment Contact Email:

[email protected]