Communications & Engagement Manager

University of Minnesota - Minneapolis, MN

Part-time

Minneapolis, MN

Educational Services

About the position

The University of Minnesota is seeking a dynamic and experienced Communications and Engagement Manager to join the AI CLIMATE Institute and the Minnesota Robotics Institute. This part-time position (75%) will be evenly split between the two institutes, focusing on developing, managing, and executing comprehensive communication and marketing plans, overseeing social media strategies, and managing website content to enhance the visibility and engagement of both institutes. The Communications and Engagement Manager will report directly to Shawn Haag with oversight from Resha Tejpaul. In this role, the successful candidate will be responsible for creating and implementing integrated communication and marketing strategies that promote the missions of both institutes. This includes collaborating with faculty, staff, and stakeholders to identify key messages and target audiences, producing and disseminating press releases, newsletters, and promotional materials, and coordinating with the University's central communication team to align institute strategies with overall university goals. The manager will also serve as the AIVO connector, leveraging AI technologies to enhance communication and engagement efforts as part of the National AI Institutes ecosystem. The position also entails managing social media platforms, where the manager will create, curate, and manage published content across various channels, develop strategies to increase online presence, and engage with the online community. Additionally, the manager will oversee the development and maintenance of the institutes' websites, ensuring that content is current, accurate, and engaging, while also analyzing website traffic to inform content strategies. Event promotion and coordination will be another key responsibility, where the manager will assist in promoting and organizing events, seminars, workshops, and conferences hosted by the institutes. This includes developing promotional materials and managing event-related communications. Finally, the manager will foster relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance collaboration and support for the institutes, representing them at university functions, community events, and industry conferences.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated communication and marketing plans to promote the AI CLIMATE Institute and Minnesota Robotics Institute.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and stakeholders to identify key messages and target audiences.
• Produce and disseminate press releases, newsletters, and promotional materials.
• Coordinate with the University's central communication team to align institute strategies with overall university goals.
• Create, curate, and manage published content across various social media platforms including LinkedIn and Twitter.
• Develop and implement social media strategies to increase online presence and engagement.
• Monitor and analyze social media performance using analytics tools, adjusting strategies as needed.
• Engage with the online community by responding to comments and messages in a timely manner.
• Oversee the development, maintenance, and updating of the institutes' websites.
• Ensure website content is current, accurate, and engaging.
• Work with web developers and designers to enhance user experience and implement new features.
• Analyze website traffic and user behavior to inform content strategies.
• Assist in promoting and organizing events, seminars, workshops, and conferences hosted by the institutes.
• Develop promotional materials and manage event-related communications.
• Coordinate with event organizers to ensure seamless execution and high attendee engagement.
• Foster relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance collaboration and support for the institutes.
• Develop and manage communication channels to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.
• Represent the institutes at university functions, community events, and industry conferences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• Four years of professional experience that includes progressive levels of responsibility in communications.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific/academic information to non-technical audiences.
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Slack, and social media management platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in an academic or research environment.
• Knowledge of agriculture and forestry, science, AI, and/or environmental science.
• Familiarity with issues related to science, agriculture, and robotics.
• Advanced skills in graphic design and multimedia content creation.