Public Relations Specialist II

Utah State University - Logan, UT

Full-time

Logan, UT

Educational Services

About the position

The Utah State University College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking a Public Relations Specialist II to manage its public relations and strategic communication efforts. This role is pivotal in creating content that aligns with the college's goals and branding, utilizing written, visual, and digital communications to effectively reach diverse audiences. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in public relations, coupled with exceptional written and verbal communication skills. This position is integral to planning and executing various publications, advancement support, digital strategies, and overall college branding initiatives. As the college embarks on an exciting transformation, particularly with the recent approval of a full four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree program, the Public Relations Specialist will play a crucial role in communicating this evolution. The college currently participates in a “2+2” program with Washington State University, which allows for a unique educational experience for veterinary students. With the inaugural class of 40 students set to begin in the fall of 2025, the successful candidate will be instrumental in promoting this new program and supporting the college's mission to provide top-tier veterinary education. The Public Relations Specialist will be responsible for developing and implementing communication plans that support the college's initiatives. This includes managing media relations, producing various types of content, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging. The role requires a collaborative spirit, problem-solving abilities, and a customer-service orientation, as the specialist will engage with various departments and community members to enhance the college's visibility and reputation.

Responsibilities

• Support university and college goals by developing and delivering publications, press communications, and special promotions.
• Develop and execute multiple communication plans that align with the college's initiatives.
• Maintain a comprehensive list of press, media, and community communication channels relevant to the college's audience.
• Research, write, produce, and distribute news releases, feature stories, public service announcements, and social media content.
• Serve as a media contact for the college, fostering positive relationships with local and state media.
• Manage media inquiries in collaboration with the university's news director.
• Oversee projects, including engaging freelance expertise for video, photography, and graphic design support.
• Coordinate with the trademarks and licensing office to create and order promotional products.
• Act as a liaison with staff, advancement, admissions, and student groups to ensure consistent messaging.
• Lead internal communication efforts and provide training as needed.
• Serve as editor and contributor to the college magazine, producing 1 to 2 issues per year.
• Supervise wage/hourly communications employees.
• Collaborate with USU Marketing and Communications to support university-wide communication efforts.
• Approve communications materials and ensure compliance with university brand guidelines.
• Attend administrative meetings and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, public relations, journalism, advertising, communication, or a related field.
• Two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Prior experience in agricultural, medical, or science communications.
• Basic or advanced photography skills.
• Experience with website content management systems and web content writing.
• Experience in supervising others.
• Familiarity with tools such as Canva, Slack, Click-Up, Asana, AI writing tools, and email marketing software.

Benefits

• Commensurate salary based on experience
• Excellent benefits package