Research Communications Specialist- Research Administration - JR007441

$54,000 - $80,000/Yr

University of Kansas - Kansas City, KS

Full-time - Entry Level

Kansas City, KS

Educational Services

About the position

The Research Communications Specialist in Research Administration at the University of Kansas Medical Center plays a crucial role in enhancing internal research communications. This position is primarily focused on supporting the KU Medical Center's internal research communications for Research Administration and the broader research enterprise. The specialist will be responsible for creating and managing various internal communication channels and products, ensuring that all materials adhere to the KU Medical Center's style guidance, brand standards, accessibility best practices, and institutional policies. This role involves collaboration with subject matter experts and content owners across the organization to produce high-quality communication materials. Key responsibilities include leading the production of monthly internal research email newsletters, maintaining a calendar and workflows, assisting content contributors, writing content, preparing graphics and media, and ensuring the timely delivery of materials. The specialist will also facilitate the development and delivery of special messaging campaigns for research leadership, consulting on communication strategies, drafting content, and managing project timelines. Additionally, the role requires guiding contributors and stakeholders to ensure that all materials follow communication best practices, providing support in planning, proofreading, copy editing, and design. The specialist will serve as the point of contact and subject matter expert on various communications platforms and technologies, leading project execution and advising on best practices. Maintaining and refining contact and distribution lists is also a key responsibility, as is evaluating communication activities to meet strategic goals. The position requires keeping abreast of updates and sharing new information with the team, as well as supporting the execution of media assets, including photo and video shoots for research purposes. Overall, this role is vital for ensuring effective communication within the KU Medical Center's research community.

Responsibilities

• Lead the collaborative production of monthly internal research email newsletters, maintaining a calendar and workflows, assisting content contributors, writing content, preparing graphics and media, editing, proofreading, and coordinating materials to ensure timeliness and quality of deliverables.
• Facilitate the development and delivery of special messaging campaigns for research leadership, consulting on communications strategies, drafting content, coordinating review and approval processes, developing audience distribution lists, managing timelines and project status and delivery.
• Guide contributors, stakeholders, and content owners/experts to ensure that materials follow communication best practices and provide planning, proofreading, copy editing, design, accessibility, brand standard and style guidance support and quality control.
• Oversee the delivery of reports, presentations, and other materials, providing design, writing, editing, consultation, and guidance with collaborators, ensuring high standards of writing and design as well as brand and style guidance and accessibility standards are upheld.
• Serve as point of contact and team subject matter expert on communications platforms and technology, including Emma, Viva Engage, Teams, Zoom, SharePoint, Ingeniux, and Trumba, leading execution of projects using these platforms, advising during project development on capabilities and best practices.
• Maintain and refine contact and distribution lists by collaborating with campus contact data sources (i.e. Schools, Human Resources, Identity Management) to improve contact data, monitor and manage departmental contact data, and work with stakeholders to define and build contacts to serve their communications objectives.
• Evaluate communication activities and spearhead the development and refinement of products to meet strategic goals and objectives.
• Guide the development and maintenance of media assets, including supporting the execution of photo and video shoots for research purposes on campus.
• Keep abreast of updates and share new information with the team and collaborators, advising the team on processes and application of tools to improve outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, English, journalism or related field. An equivalent combination of education and related professional experience may substitute for degree on a year for year basis.
• Minimum one (1) year experience working with content management systems and/or learning management systems.

Nice-to-haves

• Minimum one (1) years' experience working in an academic, research or health care setting.
• Technical writing and communication experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint.
• Proficient in Emma, Viva Engage, Ingeniux CMS, Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proficient in learning and navigating new technology and digital tools.
• Advanced written communication skills, as demonstrated by application materials.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage begins on day one.
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays.
• Paid discretionary day available after six months of employment.
• Paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave after 12 months of employment.
• A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b).