Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach a cover letter, a resume, and a sample portfolio of your work in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

Position Summary

The Digital Communications & Marketing Specialist in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University is a full-time, on-site position that serves as the primary staff member for establishing, monitoring, and maintaining the external digital presence for the Bioengineering (BIOE) Department. Their goal should be increasing brand awareness and departmental visibility. This position will be a liaison between the BIOE department and the rest of the University, including the School of Engineering Communications Team, Development and University Public Affairs, providing advice on best practices as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing or related field
• 2 years of related experience in
  • Managing social media and digital communications platforms
  • Deadline driven proficiency in writing quality content for paper and/or electronic marketing materials
    • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• Skills Required
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Familiarity with technology, social platforms, current and future trends
  • Organized and creative
  • Analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to take direction and work to meet expected deadlines and schedules
  • Demonstrated team player

Essential Functions

• Recommends, develops and implements the digital communication and brand strategy for a department or unit
• Writes, designs, and coordinates the production of digital communication and marketing materials - Develops integrated communications and / or marketing plans to meet objectives
• Builds digital community thorough social media channels, blogs, and the web - Grows and engages user base - Designs and develops graphics and web pages
• Manages social listening efforts and report back to management
• Provides customer service to constituents across digital channels
• Represents organization to constituents, campus, media
• Develops content used to engage constituents and grow channels
• Curates digital content
• Compiles data, analyze and report on social media use
• Acts as internal advocate for digital community efforts, building support for social initiatives among internal stakeholders and driving digital best practices
• Contributes to overall development and refinement of digital community strategy, and innovative social initiatives
• Preparation of faculty award nominations and recognition materials for marketing
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Measures the success of social media campaigns and recommends revisions to social media strategies and plans for the future
• Shapes BIOE department website content and carries out website updates as needed
• Curates and routinely analyzes website effectiveness, monitors SOE and user engagement, and suggests content optimization for web as needed
• Collaborates with School of Engineering Communications Team to outsource graphic design or technical scientific writing projects as needed
• Proactively engages with BIOE faculty and students to identify stories and feature profiles to promote for printed and digital marketing collateral
• Curates department-specific content from external sources, including Rice News
• Liaises with internal University partners and external media partners to promote the Rice Bioengineering department
• Manages listservs for online content
• Writes articles, creates new content and compiles already existing content for quarterly external newsletters
• Collaborates with School of Engineering Communications Team to create informative, attractive newsletters and other marketing materials for department-wide events or conferences
• Compiles content for digital annual reports
• Tracks open and click-through rates, and make modifications as necessary based on findings

Preferences

• Experience in external communications in an academic or medical environment
• 4 years of experience managing social media and digital communications platforms
• Experience managing materials and logistics for national or international scientific conferences
• Technical writing experience
• Experience using Google Analytics and other analytics tools such as Hootsuite
• Experience with maintaining websites using a content management system, preferably Drupal and WordPress
• Ability to manage and triage various communication requests from BIOE department
• Can generate content, coordinate with School of Engineering or others as necessary to manage projects and complete requests in a timely manner
• Project management experience, especially with respect to event planning
• Professional demeanor, works well in teams, detail-oriented

Physical Demands

Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time; ability to lift, bend, squat or reach; ability to traverse the building, campus and venues without assistance. Should be able to lift 20 lbs.

Working Conditions

Monday-Friday 8:00 to 5:00 or 9:00 to 6:00 with some evenings and weekends, as needed.

About George R. Brown School of Engineering

The George R. Brown School of Engineering ranks among the top 20 of undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff and students in an inclusive environment

We seek greater representation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought; and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.

Rice University HR | Benefits

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Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies