Communications Strategist

How to Apply

The hiring team requires a cover letter and resume to get a sense of your experience. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file, due to system limitations.

Job Summary

Position Summary:

As a team, we are hiring a Communications Strategist to lead the portfolio for communications within our two units. Trotter/MESA and Spectrum Center. Our offices hold unique histories rooted in social justice, advocacy, and activism that lives on through our programs and services today. You will mindfully lead strategic communications and develop marketing and design using traditional and digital media to grow the work and amplify the stories of these units. You will supervise/co-supervising a diverse student staff who may have responsibilities like photography, social media engagements, and graphic design.

You will report primarily to the Director of the Trotter Multicultural Center with a secondary reporting structure to the Director of the Spectrum Center. You will work hybrid (3 days onsite, 2 remote) in Ann Arbor, MI.

Find The Complete Job Description Here.

Responsibilities*

Strategic Communications (40%)

• Develop, coordinate, and evaluate strategic communications plans for each unit.
• Create and annually review standard operating procedures for unit communications processes and tools.
• Provide content expertise and professional coaching on issues related to branding, communications, marketing, public relations, and social media.
• Write for different audiences (donors, general public, parents, students, general audiences, etc.) and provide unit staff with best practices for professional communication.
• Set content calendars and direction for stories, social media, newsletters, and coordinated campaigns.
• Coordinate and support communication responses to urgent and emerging issues impacting the campus community with the unit's leadership and Student Life Communications, Marketing, and Design (CMD).
• Identify, implement, and train units on tools that aid in internal and external communications.
• Enhance unit work across campus through storytelling and promotion.
• Work with units to design and distribute annual reports.
  
  
  

Web and Digital Marketing (30%)

• Coordinate social media strategies, policies, and best practices.
• Provide units with guidance of social media efforts.
• Develop and deliver engaging and useful content for specific unit websites.
• Maintain best practices for the use of communications platforms and assist staff in using the platforms.
• Support videography and photography needs for celebrations, events, and educational engagements.
• Collect and analyze data and stay up to date on student trends wWorking with IT and other partners to gather information about students we serve.
  
  
  

Development and Stewardship (10%)

• Collect the narratives of alumnx and the impacts of donors to improve awareness and increase giving.
• Implement strategies to maintain communication between the units' alumni, staff, faculty and students.
• Coordinate with Student Life Development to develop alumni outreach and response materials.
• Organize Giving Blue Day and other development-driven campaigns.
  
  
  

Administration (20%)

• Lead the units' communications portfolios.
• Represent the unit and serve as a primary liaison to Student Life Communications, Marketing, and Design (CMD) and Student Life Technology Solutions (SLTS). Additionally, serve as a liaison to U-M and Student Life communities of practice for communications, web, and social media.
• Participate in campus communities of practice, including Student Life Connect and U-M Communicators Forum.
• Provide unit leads with periodic reports on communications efforts and strategies for improvement.
• Propose and manage communications and marketing spending.
• Hire, train, and manage 2-4 communication student employees including graduate and undergraduate students.
• Other duties as assigned
  
  
  

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's Degree in business, communications, information science, or related field; Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three or more of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications, marketing, public relations, or digital content management.
• Demonstrated experience developing comprehensive communications strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Experience working with tools like Canva, Asana, Google Suites, Market Cloud, or related
• Demonstrated cultural competence. Including experience creating and delivering communications about complex and sensitive topics related to identity, social justice, and community engagement in ways that are authentic, inclusive, and responsive to the experiences of diverse communities.
  
  
  

Why Work at Michigan?

Benefits At The University Of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
  
  
  

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

Selected candidates whose start date is 4/1/2026 or after, will not be eligible for the university FY26-27 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified.

Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.

Relocation will not be offered for this role.

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Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.