Manager University Communications in Public Affairs

UT Health - Houston, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Houston, TX

Educational Services

About the position

UTHealth Houston is seeking a dynamic Manager of University Communications to lead our internal communications. As a leading academic health science center, UTHealth Houston is committed to advancing research, education, and patient care. The Manager of University Communications will play a pivotal role in amplifying the university's mission through strategic communications that inform and engage students, trainees, faculty, and staff. This position involves leading a small team of storytellers and content curators, managing and maintaining the university's intranet and other essential communication channels, and ensuring best practices in creating and distributing effective email newsletters. A people-first approach, organization, and attention to detail are essential to the role. This is a full-time role with the flexibility to create a hybrid schedule, and it is classified as exempt. The Manager of University Communications is responsible for elevating the brand by developing and implementing internal communications strategies that inform and engage students, faculty, and staff at UTHealth Houston. This role manages the university's intranet and other communication platforms, overseeing all content created by the team to ensure it is factual, engaging, and compliant with brand standards. The position requires writing news and feature articles, mass emails, website content, scripts, and speeches, as well as curating school- and clinic-based publications content. The manager will lead the development and coordination of internal communication strategies and campaigns, as well as the day-to-day activities of the University Communications Team. In addition, the Manager will serve as counsel with executive leadership, faculty, staff, and students to develop, manage, and communicate institutional-wide strategic messages. They will generate appropriate strategies and tactics to enhance communications-related promotional plans, goals, and materials, and prepare reports and metrics. Building strong relationships and collaborating on news opportunities with school-based communications teams, clinical practices, administrative departments, councils, and committees for faculty, staff, and students is also a key responsibility. The role includes leading emergency communications relating to campus safety and compliance with state and federal requirements, serving as a key point of contact during emergencies, and disseminating safety information across multiple communication channels in a timely fashion.

Responsibilities

• Oversees all content created by the team to ensure it is factual, engaging, and in compliance with brand standards.
• Contributes to maintaining websites and web accessibility standards.
• Writes news/feature articles, mass emails, website content, scripts, and speeches and curates school- and clinic-based publications content.
• Leads the development and coordination of internal communication strategies and campaigns, as well as the day-to-day activities of the University Communications Team.
• Creates long-range plans for internal communication channels, assigning stories and tasks and creating original content to bolster the UTHealth Houston brand through timely, accurate, and compelling communications.
• Serves as counsel with executive leadership, faculty, staff, and students to develop, manage, and communicate institutional-wide strategic messages.
• Generates appropriate strategies and tactics to enhance communications-related promotional plans, goals, and materials; prepares reports and metrics.
• Builds strong relationships and collaborates on news opportunities with school-based communications teams, clinical practices, administrative departments, councils, and committees for faculty, staff, and students.
• Leads emergency communications relating to campus safety and compliance with state and federal requirements at the direction of the university and departmental leadership.
• Serves as a key point of contact during emergencies, disseminating safety information across multiple communication channels in a timely fashion.
• Creates high-level communications for various university communities, including legislative mandates and institutional compliance updates.
• Conducts interviews with faculty, staff, students, clinical practice, and other appropriate sources, such as donors and patients, sometimes concerning sensitive information.
• Provides overall project management for assigned communication initiatives and manages project budgets, timelines, and the evaluation of project work.
• Manages department human resources activities in regard to recruiting and selection, hiring and termination, training, professional development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, marketing or a related field required.
• Five (5) years of increasing responsibilities in public relations, communications, marketing, community engagement, writing/editing, or other related fields are required.
• Proven news and feature writing skills.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills.
• Superior knowledge and experience in website content management systems.
• Strong knowledge of brand standards and AP Style.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products and platforms.
• Experience in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience in emergency communications management.
• Experience working within project management platforms.
• Experience with metric and analytic platforms.
• Proficient management skills and ability to lead a team of communication professionals.
• Organized and deadline-driven.
• Experienced with multi-tasking and operating in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in photography and graphic design for the web preferred.

Benefits

• 100% paid medical premiums for full-time employees.
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave days, both vacation and sick time - around 37-38 days per year).
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service).
• Retirement/pension plan.
• Free financial and legal counseling.
• Free mental health counseling services.
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs.
• Employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care.