Communications Coordinator
Looking for a communications role where your work truly matters? Join the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) at Mississippi State University as our Communications Coordinator and help promote innovative research, training, and products that support individuals who are blind or have low vision across the country. The position's primary purpose is to manage and coordinate NRTC communications and marketing efforts, including promoting center activities, research results, products, training, and technical assistance opportunities to a national audience. The following duties will be completed in collaboration with a communications specialist and other NRTC team members.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Create quarterly newsletters and monthly newsletter briefs, which include soliciting story ideas, developing the items, and disseminating the final products via an email marketing platform.
- Prepare center products for public dissemination, which involves editing, formatting, adding graphics as needed, and completing accessibility checks.
- Manage strategic dissemination of NRTC products and activities through social media, listservs, an email marketing platform, and other outlets, including developing relationships with representatives of external organizations.
- Manage social media accounts, including supervising the communication specialist responsible for daily posting and assisting with writing content, creating graphics, taking pictures, and connecting with followers.
- Design, order, and distribute promotional products for the NRTC, including brochures, flyers, videos, business cards, and other requested items.
- Design and maintain templates and style guidelines for newsletters, social media, presentations, and promotional materials.
- Provide leadership and support for various events, including virtual webinars, live presentations, exhibit booths, outreach events, and conferences, which may include serving as a representative for the NRTC at these events.
- Maintain a shared content calendar to coordinate newsletters, social media, website updates, and event promotions.
- Document all NRTC activities and products to facilitate reporting to funding agencies, including gathering information needed for quarterly and annual reports.
- Edit and create videos.
- Maintain a relationship with the MSU Office of Public Affairs and College of Education to adhere to branding standards, communicate relevant news items, and promote staff work.
- Manage four NRTC websites, with the assistance of the communications specialist and ITS, including utilizing Google Analytics GA4 to track website usage and make recommendations accordingly.
- Prepare courses to be posted online, post courses, and provide assistance to course users as needed.
- Provide supervision and guidance to the communications specialist.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
The essential duties are representative of major duties in this position. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary based on departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above, consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job. Not all of the duties may be assigned to a position.
Minimum Required Education and Experience
Education— Bachelor's degree in Communication, Marketing, Journalism, English, or related field
Experience (yrs.)— Two years, directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Substitution allowed: None
Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in Communication, Marketing, Journalism, English, or a related field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
- Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Ability to appropriately edit the content, structure, and format of a range of written material.
- Skill in using Adobe Premiere Pro, Canva, and Microsoft Office.
- Ability to develop clear, concise summaries of products and publications for website posting.
- Ability to plan and coordinate projects and events.
- Knowledge of media production and publishing principles and processes.
- Knowledge of communication principles, media, and public relations techniques.
Physical Requirements: No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in
a comfortable indoor facility.
Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume seasonal and predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than the immediate supervisor.
The job frequently requires sitting, talking, hearing, and handling objects with the hands.
Instructions for applying: Please apply for the position directly to the NRTC and through Mississippi State University’s job website. First, email your letter of application, resume or curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for at least three references to nrtcjobs@colled.msstate.edu. Additionally, apply through the university's job website, PARF Number 510233 (job title – Communications Coordinator). For more information about our center, view the NRTC website.