Communications Specialist

The Communications Specialist leads and collaborates on creating content that aligns with the LSU Foundation's mission of cultivating and investing in philanthropic partnerships to advance LSU's academic priorities. The Communications Specialist is a brand ambassador, relationship builder, and key player in showcasing the difference that gifts to LSU make in the lives of students, faculty, and staff, and in the communities they serve every day. 

Baton Rouge, LA

LSU Foundation

<p>The LSU Foundation is the primary fundraising entity for academics at LSU. The LSU Foundation's sole purpose to provide philanthropic support to LSU, which we accomplish through the work of a campus-wide team of frontline development officers and a support team of advancement services, communications and marketing, donor relations, financial and talent management personnel.</p> http://www.lsufoundation.org/jobs

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Specialist

Overview: The Communications Specialist leads and collaborates on creating content that aligns with the LSU Foundation's mission of cultivating and investing in philanthropic partnerships to advance LSU's academic priorities. The Communications Specialist is a brand ambassador, relationship builder, and key player in showcasing the difference that gifts to LSU make in the lives of students, faculty, and staff, and in the communities they serve every day. As an integral member of a team of creative professionals, the Communications Specialist helps to shape and implement the LSU Foundation's development communications plans. The Communications Specialist will manage social media and web content and reporting, internal communications, various special projects, and business system materials. The Communications Specialist will serve as an editor of the LSU Foundation's biannual magazine and assist in the production of videography and photography. In addition, the Communications Specialist regularly writes and manages projects that include, but are not limited to, solicitations, articles, profiles, newsletters, event communications, and reports.&nbsp;
Responsibilities: <p><strong>Essential Duties &amp; Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>Work with the Web Communications Coordinator and other LSU Foundation teams as required to develop editorial calendars and create original content for social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, paid social advertising, and university or unit channels as requested), the LSU Foundation website and Fierce for the Future Campaign site, and screens on the donor wall and throughout the Center for Philanthropy. Manage the monthly reporting of these social media platforms, as well as reporting captured by our media monitoring tools, and draw conclusions based on this reporting to tailor content, messaging, and strategies accordingly.</li> <li>Serve as an editor of the LSU Foundation's biannual magazine, Cornerstone, by assisting in content selection, interviews, video and photo shoots, writing, and creative direction. Write philanthropy-focused content for other publications; manage internal communications; write video scripts; write cases for support and draft copy to be used in related print and electronic collateral; support development of talking points, press releases, presentations, reports, letters, and similar communications needs. Be part of sustaining, strengthening, and broadening the communications and marketing team's storytelling platform, with a focus on developing storytelling opportunities that feature the impact of philanthropy at LSU.</li> <li>Work closely with the annual giving team to produce annual giving solicitations and stewardship pieces for print, email, social media, and websites, and with the donor relations team to support writing needs for events (invitations, email communications, talking points, signage), selected impact reporting, and related donor-focused communications projects. Develop and manage production schedules and client relations for all projects for which the Communications Specialist serves as project manager.&nbsp;</li> <li>Collaborate with fellow communications and marketing team members to build communications plans and message tables that align with project-specific and overall organizational goals. These plans are inclusive of copy tailored for each platform; print and digital design; and photography and videography assets produced by the team to serve a broad and evolving range of development communications needs campus-wide.&nbsp;</li> <li>Proofread and copy edit development communications, including web forms, produced both in-house and by colleagues campus-wide. Maintain database of pride points to be used as-needed across communications platforms. Manage the ordering of LSU Foundation business system materials.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Marginal Duties &amp; Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>Proactively suggest opportunities to repurpose content.</li> <li>Build and maintain strong, cooperative relationships across campus.</li> </ul>
Requirements: <div class="job-listing-header"><strong>Requirements</strong></div> <div data-bind="html: Job.Requirements"> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in public relations, communication studies, marketing, journalism, creative writing, English, or related field</li> <li>Two years of professional experience in a position with similar responsibilities</li> <li>Superior knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar</li> <li>Demonstrated interest and experience in social media and other digital communications</li> <li>Understanding of how to segment and repurpose messaging strategically to communicate with multiple audiences</li> <li>Ability to adapt quickly and meaningfully to new priorities, time frames, deadlines, and requirements on a per-project basis</li> <li>Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite</li> <li>Interest in videography</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred Knowledge &amp; Skill Qualifications</strong></p> <ul> <li>Understanding of how to work creatively within the constraints of branding and style guidelines and designated messaging strategies</li> <li>Professional experience working in a marketing and/or communications department, especially for a nonprofit</li> <li>Professional experience in project management and effective communication among creative collaborators and/or clients</li> <li>Expertise in AP Style</li> <li>Knowledge and/or experience in videography</li> <li>Knowledge and/or experience in media relations</li> <li>Working knowledge of presentation software</li> <li>Proficiency in Adobe Suite</li> </ul> <p><strong>Desired Competencies</strong></p> <ul> <li><u>Collaboration</u>: Works collegially with others within the organization, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor and respect.</li> <li><u>Critical Thinking</u>: Practices objective rather than subjective modes of reasoning and action. Maintains perspective when assessing qualitative and quantitative information. Appropriately challenges and questions common beliefs.</li> <li><u>Effective Communication</u>: Shares and receives information using clear oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.</li> <li><u>Attention to Detail/Accuracy</u>: &nbsp;Focuses on paying attention to all details and aspects of a job or process to avoid substandard outputs.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Supervisory Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>None associated with this position</li> </ul> <p><strong>Work Environment Requirements</strong></p> <ul> <li>May be required to work extended workdays, evenings and weekends</li> </ul> </div>