Assistant Director of Communications for Interdisciplinary Studies
Durham, NC, US, 27710
Duke University:
Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.
Assistant Director of Communications for Interdisciplinary Studies
Occupational Summary
Duke fosters a vibrant, evolving culture of interdisciplinarity that has become a hallmark of the university. The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies (OIS) supports scholars to take on the world’s most important questions and the most vexing challenges through cutting-edge research, novel approaches to problem-solving and an innovative learning ecosystem.
The university institutes, initiatives and centers complement the widespread interdisciplinarity found in every school at Duke. OIS provides central leadership for these units, which have the related roles of convening new scholarly configurations, catalyzing new research agendas and pedagogical approaches, connecting faculty and students across disciplinary, divisional and school boundaries, and facilitating engagement with communities.
Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) teaches, produces and presents the documentary arts across a full range of media — photography, audio, film, writing, experimental and emerging media.
Reporting to the director of communications for interdisciplinary studies and faculty advancement, in consultation with the director of CDS, this position has principal responsibility for planning and implementing strategic communications in support of OIS (50%) and CDS (50%) that align with and amplify the university’s strategic vision.
This team member will help identify scholarship of interest to the campus community, media and the public; explain complex concepts in accessible and compelling terms; tell the stories and develop the best strategy for amplification. If you are interested in joining our team, please complete the application process via the Duke Careers website and include a cover letter with your resume. Hybrid work arrangements are negotiable.
Work Performed
Content Creation and Management (65%)
• Identify stories, gather information, conduct interviews and produce written stories, multimedia features, graphics and other visuals, videos, photo essays, audio pieces, social media posts, and pieces in other formats
• Curate and share content to connect with nonspecialist campus and public audiences through a variety of formats including newsletters, websites, social media channels, annual reports, presentations
• Update and maintain websites to ensure accuracy, timeliness and relevancy; manage social media accounts effectively; gather and organize photos and other media assets; manage mailing lists
• Maintain close contact with relevant leaders to identify communications needs and ensure objectives are met; maintain relationships with relevant faculty, staff and students to identify stories and collaborate on communications projects
• Ensure a unified voice and aesthetic through all communications
• Prepare digital posters, presentation slides and handouts for selected meetings and events
Strategic Communications and Coordination (35%)
• Develop and implement annual communications plan with objectives, strategies, target audiences, tactics and key messages for initiatives and projects, in support of the unit’s and the university’s strategic priorities
• Regularly evaluate effectiveness of communications activities; use relevant data and analytics to inform and adapt future communications
• Contribute to relevant communications projects in collaboration with other campus communicators; participate in relevant networks and communities of practice
• Collaborate with colleagues to support promotion of signature events, educational program marketing, internal funding opportunities
• Monitor external media coverage of relevant news and people, promote media stories through appropriate channels
• Supervise student assistant(s) to support communications activities
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein
Preferred Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Work requires communications, marketing, strategic planning, analytical and organizational skills generally required through completion of a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, public relations, communications or a related field
Experience
Position requires at least 5 years of directly related experience in communications, writing, public relations or related activity in a complex environment OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Skills
- Ability to translate complex ideas and institutional goals into effective communications for nonspecialist audiences, as well as the skill and experience to write compelling stories, produce multimedia features, curate content for newsletters, websites and social media, and contribute to integrated communications projects in support of strategic goals
- Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; attention to detail
- Strong digital graphic design skills, knowledge of digital and social content management systems and analytic tools preferred
- Photography, videography and/or audio production skills a plus
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Work requires the ability to perform creative writing and related activities such as conducting interviews and research, and copy editing normally acquired through attainment ofa bachelor's degree in Journalism, English or a related discipline.
Experience
Work requires two years of directly related writing experience. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
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.
Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh