Coordinator, Communications

This position works within the Student Affairs communications team along with the Public Relations and Marketing teams in a fast-paced, dynamic environment to advance the vision of Student Affairs and support strategic goals. This role plays a key part in shaping how Student Affairs tells its story, engages students, and advances divisional priorities.

The coordinator collaborates in a cross-divisional and cross-institutional approach to support the development, coordination and execution of strategic marketing and communications initiatives. The coordinator will take a student-centered approach to promote programs, services and resources that contribute to a supportive, engaging campus environment. Through intentional messaging, content creation, and brand alignment, this role helps enhance the student experience, increase awareness and support the holistic success of students.

Characteristics of a successful candidate:

• Integrity, kindness, creativity, innovation, along with the capacity to inspire others.
• Ability to serve with agility; important to lead, listen, and serve with a high level of energy.
• A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.
• Desire to collaborate with colleagues and engage in a culture that rewards teamwork.
• Demonstrated sincere enjoyment from working in support of students.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Communications Production and Coordination

• Coordinate content development and production for assigned division communications and promotional projects.
• Develop and edit clear, engaging, and grammatically correct messaging for a variety of media including print collateral, digital assets, web pages, emails, etc.
• Assist with development of press releases.
• Assist with creating, preparing, scheduling and publishing assigned content on division social media accounts.
• Create and assist with multimedia assets.
• Effectively partner with Public Relations and Marketing, Govs Print, licensing, and other university communications teams.
• Ensure communications are consistent with university and division branding, voice, style, accessibility standards, procedures and guidelines.
• Assist with regular maintenance and updates of webpages.
• Assist with the development and implementation of communications campaigns that increase awareness of and engagement with Student Affairs programs, services and initiatives.
• Strengthen consistency and alignment of divisional messaging across platforms.
• Maintain project tracking information and compile monthly reports on communications team project volume, completed work and progress on team projects by established deadlines.
• Maintain project management documents, shared communication assets, files and related documentation to support project coordination and continuity.
• Evening and weekend work may be required at times.

Department and Division Leadership

• Maintain regular communications with the director regarding project status, priorities, deadlines, emerging issues and opportunities to improve communications processes to fulfill goals.
• Openly collaborate and participate with Student Affairs communications team.
• Collaborate with division departments on communications requests.
• Effectively manage job related priorities and deadlines for deliverables.
• Participate in related professional organizations for continuing development and other professional development opportunities.
• Participate in and support division-wide activities, programs and initiatives as appropriate.
• Other projects and duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of marketing, public relations and communications principles, practices and techniques for engaging diverse audiences.
• Strong verbal and written communication, editing and proofreading skills with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and their application to communication materials.
• Knowledge and application of Associated Press style and established university and division branding, style and communication guidelines.
• Proficiency with digital design and multimedia software.
• Ability to effectively use web technology, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Basecamp and other related software platforms.
• Ability to develop effective, audience-centered promotional materials and digital content.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Ability to manage and meet competing priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to provide guidance and day-to-day direction to student interns or student assistants.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or related field.
• At least one (1) year of relevant experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or related area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or related field.
• At least two (2) years of progressively relevant experience in communications, public relations, marketing, or related area.
• Experience with communications in a higher education setting

Physical Requirements

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly moving objects.

About Us: Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.

Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/ .

Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at [email protected] | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at [email protected] | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.