COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Occupation Summary:

The Communications Specialist is responsible for implementing the department’s strategic communications plan by designing effective and innovative communications, including original publications, articles, graphics, briefing materials, press releases, and employee messaging. The Communications Specialist will play a pivotal role in supporting and advancing the communications efforts of Duke’s Office of Durham and Community Affairs. This individual will be instrumental in crafting initial drafts for stories and remarks, managing social media channels, and overseeing the department’s internal communication channels. The role encompasses drafting and circulating e-newsletters, maintaining audience lists, managing digital communication platforms, and updating website content. The Communications Specialist will also engage in storytelling, adapting narratives for various formats, coordinating with other communicators across Duke University and Duke University Health System, and supporting strategies for new and existing community engagement initiatives across Duke.

Core Responsibilities:

• Develop website content, including original stories, articles, designs, videos, and integrated connections to multimedia and social networking opportunities.
• Generate first drafts for various communications deliverables, including speechwriting, storytelling, strategy and policy documents, and other assets.
• Create and maintain editorial calendar across all of DCA’s digital and social media channels, including drafting, scheduling, and posting content, and compiling and reporting on metrics and analytics.
• Assist with DCA e-newsletters including writing articles, providing photographic services, performing layout duties, and interacting closely with directors to ensure adequate coverage of stories, operational and organization plans, and other areas of audience interests.
• Manage DCA’s internal communication channels, including listservs.
• Oversee and manage digital communications tools and platforms across teams and units, including managing submissions to Duke and community message boards, calendars, and other tools.
• Maintain liaison with department staff and persons outside the department to coordinate activities associated with communications.

• Support communication strategies for Duke-wide community engagement initiatives.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Qualifications:

• Work requires communication and marketing skills normally acquired through a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Strong writing, editing, and social media management skills are essential.
• Proven experience in a communications role with responsibilities that include storytelling, graphic design, and managing all aspects of a website.
• High attention to detail and ability to see tasks and projects through to completion.
• Proven track record of taking initiative, working well on dynamic and diverse teams, and being resourceful.
• Video and multimedia storytelling experience desired.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires communication and marketing skills normally acquired through a bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Experience

Work generally requires one year related experience in advertising, marketing, media, promotions or public relations AND/OR EXPERIENCE OR ANY OTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.