Assistant Director of Communications (Communications Generalist)

With your application, please include 2-3 samples that best represent your experience in marketing and communications. These may include writing samples (e.g., social media campaigns, newsletters, press releases, etc.) or strategic materials (e.g., marketing plans, brand guidelines, etc.). If samples are part of a collaborative effort, please indicate your role in their development.

POLIS (IN-POLI-IUINA)

The Polis Center is an applied research center at IU Indianapolis in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. We partner to use data and research for community good. Polis makes place-based data widely accessible, and we collaborate with community and academic partners to use these data to identify and address our community's most pressing challenges. Through data-informed decisions, policy, and actions, we help improve health, equity and resiliency of places throughout Indiana and beyond. We build capacity in nonprofits, community-based organizations, government, and researchers to use data effectively for community good.

From inception, The Polis Center has been guided by core values that include making a difference, collaboration, developing creative solutions to real-world problems, accountability, integrity, respect, and stewardship. The Polis Center values a positive work/life balance.

We are seeking an effective collaborator with proven success in creating and implementing marketing strategies and the ability to write compelling and engaging content in simple language for a variety of audiences.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Leads strategic marketing efforts to elevate The Polis Center's visibility, promote its initiatives, and support partnership development.
• Responsible for developing and executing an integrated communications and marketing strategy, public relations, and the production and promotion of creative print and digital collateral.
• Leads the development and execution of an integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with the goals of The Polis Center and its major initiatives.
• Directs the implementation of digital marketing initiatives of the center across relevant platforms.
• Plans and guides social media strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Ensures consistency in branding, tone, and messaging across all communication channels.
• Conducts market research.
• Evaluates marketing and communications impact and recommend refinements based on findings; develop impact reports for center leadership and stakeholders.
• Takes on special projects.
• Writes compelling and engaging content in simple language for a variety of audiences.
• Creates and manages print and digital content (e.g., newsletters, reports, presentations, brochures and other marketing collateral).
• Develops summaries of Polis initiatives for funding proposals, public outreach, and research dissemination.
• Contributes to website content strategy, creation, and optimization (including SEO and accessibility best practices).
• Coordinates scheduling for social platforms and associated content development.
• Mentors social media interns or contributors.
• Monitors and analyzes trends and engagement data to optimize digital content.
• Utilizes various communications platforms to deliver targeted, accessible content to diverse audiences.
• Develops and distributes press releases, make media pitches, monitor media coverage, and track engagement.
• Organizes and promotes events, ensuring strategic alignment with marketing and communication objectives.
• Cultivates and maintains collaborative relationships with external partners, contractors, and media representatives.
• Works closely with information designers, graphic designers, and external collaborators to produce creative marketing materials.
• Collaborates with graphic designers and information designers on visual and content development.
• Collaborates with IU and Luddy marketing and communications staff.
• Stays informed on trends and best practices in nonprofit, research, and academic marketing and communications.
• At director's discretion, the employee may be assigned different or additional duties from time to time.
  
  

General Responsibilities

• Independently creates basic and complex communications for print and e-distribution on behalf of department or large multi-faceted department and in support of departmental goals and objectives; communications may be interdepartmental; staff, faculty, or student-focused; or external.
• Responds to inquiries and requests and explains policies, procedures, and context of communications.
• Manages relationships with various internal and external stakeholders and creates communications coverage for relevant initiatives, events, and programs.
• Prepares communications timelines and shares progress of communications toward relevant deadlines with manager, team members, and other relevant constituents.
• Regularly monitors relevant social media and news sites; researches relevant subject matter to increase knowledge in area(s) of specialty.
• Utilizes various communications software programs and delivers communications in multiple formats to a variety of audiences.
• Monitors industry trends and best practices and makes process and operational recommendations to manager.
• May provide guidance to lower-level Communications Generalists.
  
  

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, public relations, or related field
  
  

Required

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 5 years in relevant field
  
  

Preferred

• Demonstrates success in creating and implementing a marketing strategy
• Demonstrates success in translating complex research findings and/or information technology concepts into accessible content for non-specialist audiences
• Familiarity with place-based research, public interest technology, or academic-community partnerships
  
  

Skills

Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty
• Highly thorough and dependable
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure
• Possesses a high degree of initiative
• Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents
  
  

Preferred

• Proficient in various marketing and communications software programs, creative platforms, and engagement analytics tools
• Highly collaborative
  
  

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

This position is grant funded with expected annual renewals. Renewals are contingent on the availability of grant funds.

IU Indianapolis Campus

Indianapolis, Indiana

This position is eligible to work a hybrid schedule (mix between 2 days remote and 3 days in-person work), subject to change in the future based on university policy and business needs.

$65,000 - $75,000 annually, based on education and experience.

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
  
  

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Advanced

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Marketing & Communications

Job Family: Communications Generalist

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This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

If you wish to include a cover letter, you may include it with your resume when uploading attachments.

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discrimination here which includes contact information.

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