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Published on Tuesday, 26 April 2022 10:18

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provides supercomputing and advanced digital resources for the nation's science enterprise. At NCSA, University of Illinois faculty, staff, students and collaborators from around the globe use these resources to address research challenges for the benefit of science and society. NCSA has been advancing many of the world's industry giants for over 35 years by bringing industry, researchers and students together to solve grand challenges at rapid speed and scale.

 

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.

 

PRIMARY POSITION FUNCTION: Part of the Marketing and Communications team, the Marketing and Communications Specialist–Feature Writer will be responsible for exploring, researching, developing and placing feature articles, and helping write and produce videos supporting the stakeholders we serve, including personnel profiles, science stories and news articles, maximizing story placements and interest to media furthering the organization’s brand. 

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

External Communications

• Create multi-length features about research being produced at NCSA for campus and other external audiences via print and digital channels, developing 1-2 features weekly.
• Work with external partners to coordinate amplification of shared features.
• Collaborate with NCSA Marketing and Communications (MarComm) team members to concept, draft scripts and produce videos for select stakeholders to advance the NCSA brand.
• Utilize a media-relations platform to establish, build and maintain relationships with key media and pitch stories to editors about NCSA and the research it facilitates.
• Explore possibilities with newer media, such as podcasts, and inform and lead team in production.
• Assist team with marketing copy, writing attention-getting headlines, concise body copy and taglines.
• Manage projects from start to finish using the MarComm project management tool.

 

Other MarComm Support

• Develop and execute stakeholder communications plans.
• Edit and proofread materials as needed by the department.
• Provide event support, including conference attendance as needed.
• Maintain adherence to brand style guidelines set forth by the NCSA MarComm leadership in cooperation with the University’s style.
• Draft communications, such as internal communications or press releases, as needed.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business administration, communications, public relations, or a closely related field.

Education Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in journalism.

 

Experience Required:

• Two years of professional work experience in marketing, public relations, communications, brand management, or a related professional area, including writing, editing, media relations, and/or publications management.
• Experience drafting video scripts and supporting production teams on video shoots.  

 

Experience Preferred:

• Experience as a writer or editor in print, digital or broadcast media. Experience in media relations, either with a public relations firm or a large institution.
• Experience working at a university or other large non-profit agency.

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven ability to understand and clearly communicate complicated technical and/or scientific information and coordinate multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.
• Understanding of Web and emerging technologies as tools in communicating messages, including video.
• Exceptional storytelling skills for written features, videos and other media (for example, podcasts).
• Proven ability to find news stories within an organization.
• Ability to maintain brand voice across media.
• Capacity to draft marketing copy, powerful, attention-getting headlines and creative taglines.
• Excellent organization skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously using a variety of technologies.
• Ability to take direction as well as work independently in a diverse, sometimes fast-paced environment.
• Capacity to function in a hybrid environment of in-person and remote work.  

 

Environmental Demands:

• Due to the nature of the work, some nights and weekends are required. 

 

SALARY AND APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is a full-time Civil Service Marketing Associate position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is immediately upon selection. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

 

To Apply:

Applications must be received by May 16, 2022. Apply for this position using the “Apply for Position” button below.  If you have not applied before, you must create your candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu.  If you already have a profile, you may be redirected to that existing profile via email notification.  To complete the application process:

Step 1) Submit the Staff Vacancy Application.

Step 2) Submit the Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability forms.

Step 3) You must then upload your cover letter, resume (months and years of employment must be included), and academic credentials (unofficial transcripts or diploma may be acceptable) for all degrees attained including Bachelor's degree, and names/contact information for three references.  Academic credentials will be verified before hire. 

In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for the position using the “Apply for Position” button below. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. For further information regarding this position, you may contact janalenz@illinois.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

 

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer.   Convictions are not a bar to employment. 

 

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

 

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment.

 

University of Illinois faculty, staff, and students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, you may seek approval for an exemption in accordance with applicable University processes.

 

The University of Illinois System must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.