Program Manager A-Communications Manager

Whatcom Community College - Bellingham, WA

Full-time - Entry Level

Onsite - Bellingham, WA

Educational Services

About the position

Whatcom Community College invites applications for a Program Manager A (Class Code 107R) position in the College's Communications and Marketing office. The Program Manager A will support critical communication services for the College. This position will work closely with the Communications and Marketing staff and other campus departments as assigned to ensure seamless integration of Whatcom's marketing efforts. This includes working collaboratively with all College departments and programs and coordinating strategies that are aligned with the College's strategic plan. This position reports to and works in close partnership with the Director for Communications and Marketing. The role encompasses a variety of responsibilities, including website administration, where the individual will manage content, track user permissions, and ensure the site's consistency and relevancy. The Program Manager A will also be responsible for creating and monitoring content across the College's social media platforms, responding to inquiries in real-time, and implementing online marketing campaigns. Additionally, the position requires the individual to stay updated on developments in online marketing and social media, making recommendations for improvements to maintain competitiveness. Project management is a significant aspect of this role, requiring the individual to manage project requests, create status reports, and interface with campus clients. The Program Manager A will also assist in the development and implementation of advertising, public relations, and promotional campaigns, as well as writing and editing College publications and press releases. The position demands a high level of attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple high-volume projects in a fast-paced environment. Overall, the Program Manager A will act as Whatcom Community College's "Storyteller," finding and developing stories of the people, places, and programs at WCC for various communication channels. This role is crucial in enhancing the College's visibility and engagement with the community.

Responsibilities

• Website administration including content management, managing user permissions, and troubleshooting site issues.
• Coordinate and provide technical training on the website for content managers.
• Manage website project change requests and oversee web content manager lists.
• Create content and monitor the College's social media platforms to ensure engagement.
• Respond in real-time to social media inquiries to increase followers and boost engagement.
• Experience with Google Analytics reporting and SEO content writing for the website.
• Create online marketing campaigns across multiple social media platforms.
• Source, interpret, and report on social media campaign analytics.
• Monitor developments in online marketing and social media fields and recommend changes.
• Participate in the development of web policy changes or additions.
• Implement communications and marketing projects for college departments as assigned.
• Act as Whatcom Community College's "Storyteller" to develop stories for various media.
• Assist Graphic Designers in sourcing graphic design elements and take photos/videos at events.
• Coordinate and manage photo and video shoots with external vendors.
• Manage project request processes, create weekly status reports, and track project progress.
• Assist in the development and implementation of advertising, public relations, and promotional campaigns.
• Write and edit College publications, web content, ad copy, and press releases as assigned.
• Manage campus digital signage systems and communications efforts.
• Source, request, and track vendor bids under the direction of the Director of Communication and Marketing.
• Manage the communications and marketing budget effectively.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in communications, marketing, journalism, English or related field from an accredited institution or equivalent experience.
• 2 years of full-time work experience in communications, marketing, copy writing, editing, public relations or related field.

Nice-to-haves

• Excellent marketing, communications, writing skills and people skills.
• Experience with content management systems.
• Experience with project management platforms (Smartsheets or others).
• Experience in managing high volume projects.
• Working knowledge of web and social media technologies.
• Basic photography and videography skills.
• Graphic design experience.
• Computer literacy and experience with MS Office Suite software.

Benefits

• Full health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Accrues 8 hours per month of sick leave and 9.33 hours per month vacation leave with periodic increases based on longevity.
• Eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).
• Employee Tuition Program providing a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses.
• Eligible for Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit.