Classification: Public Affairs/Communications Specialist I
Hours: Full-time / 40 hours per week
FLSA: Non-exempt
Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $3,878 - $4,291* mo.
CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.
Priority Screening Date: May 12, 2024
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled
ABOUT CSUMB
California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year.
With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.
As one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.
PURPOSE:
Under the general supervision of the Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communication and the daily lead oversight of the Marketing Strategy Lead, the incumbent will implement plans, using established procedures and process to develop and create marketing materials, publication designs, invitations and other communications for University Communications and its clients using templates and other structured creative strategies. The incumbent will work under the oversight of a lead staff member to design, layout, disseminate, track, and gather information to evaluate a verity of digital and print publications and use a verity of publications methods, collecting identified information to update reports on their effectiveness.
The Specialist also creates a verity of materials, templates, and finished products to support university programs, service, and strategic objectives. The Specialist performs a variety of administrative and technical duties such as assists lead staff members with brand cohesion activities, maintaining databases and archive of assets, utilizes graphic design skills to create assets and layouts, copywriting of content, editing/proofreading content as requested, and uses established procedures and processes to coordinate the content elements of a product.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Uses established procedures and process to plan and execute assigned day-to-day marketing activities across various channels including web, email, social media, and digital and print publications.
Completes assigned tasks for the production and distribution of both print and electronic publications, which includes design, layout, writing, editing, proofreading, and distribution. This includes making templates, tools, and other layout support assets for use others on campus to create and deeply efficient and effective, on brand content.
Assists lead staff members in planning, marketing, and executing outreach campaigns and events to promote the organization or institution.
Utilizes skills in graphic design, web design, photography, and videography to create engaging content for both print and digital platforms. This includes creating content that enhances the user experience and communicates the organization's messages effectively. Achieves a high level of rapid response support by making and using templates, tools, and other layout support assets to efficiently and effectively generate fast and on brand content. This may include print, digital, web, and social content for organic promotion or paid advertising. Will collaborate and support staff and students assigned to managing the university social media accounts as well as website and layout support tools.
Completes assigned design and layout projects from concept to completion, including storyboarding, mood boards, scripting, shooting plans, editing, and quality control using established procedures and processes. They also asset a lead staff member to ensure proper releases are obtained and safety practices are followed during shoots.
2. Develops, designs, and lays out content for web pages, websites, e-newsletters, brochures, posters, and other marketing materials. Follows best practices and guidance from a lead staff member to focus efforts on maximizing user experience and achieving marketing and communications goals through digital marketing processes and engagement strategies.
Assists lead staff members to conduct both high-level and day-to-day maintenance of websites in collaboration with University Communications, Information Technology, and other client departments. This includes reviewing existing website content using established procedures and practices to assess and implement tactics for improving user experience and interaction.
Creates, curates, produces, and publishes various types of content (written, graphic design, photos, videos) to keep the community informed about current news, events, and happenings at CSUMB with lead staff member oversight. Using established procedures and practices to check that content is aligned with the university's brand and messaging goals including promotional, collateral, and advertising materials.
Using established procedures and practices to verify university brand elements are accurate and ensure requests for brand utilization align with brand standards, notifying lead staff member if any issues are identified for further action. Assists lead staff member in maintaining, documenting, and evolving the university's brand standards over time.
3. Tracks, reports, maintains, and cleans email and contact lists to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of email marketing and communication databases with lead staff member oversight. Using established procedures and practices to check that lists are organized and updated to improve targeting and engagement.
Using established procedures and practices to maintain a multi-tiered and automated process strategy to maximize the reach and user interaction with communications including completing assigned tasks to set up automated journeys and lifecycle communications using various tools and programs to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Works with lead staff member to implement processes to re-engage list members with lower engagement scores.
Uses task and project tracking tools to update and report on task progress for assigned daily work efforts. May provide Tier 1 training, mentoring, and support for staff and student interns. Follows trouble shooting guides to offer tier 1 guidance and assistance as needed.
Other Functions:
- Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.
- May assist with university events in a verity of roles including operating a teleprompter, display screens, cue cards, or other complementary visual supports and production devices.
- May be required to occasional work evenings or weekends with same-day notice in the event of an urgent operations and crisis management communications need or during a campus emergency.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of: standard theories, practices, principles and techniques related to communications to a diverse public demographic, media, and marketing areas; copyright and other applicable laws pertaining to publications and the social media; web communication techniques, vehicles and formats.
Skills: Strong story development and journalistic writing skills, as well as advanced editorial skills. Exceptional interpersonal skills, including strong listening and interpretive skills.
Ability to: Effectively use web technology to achieve communication goals; analyze and select pertinent facts and integrate them into communication vehicles; apply market research to identify department needs and target audiences; apply appropriate statistical techniques and methods to research information; and provide lead work direction.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Thorough knowledge of marketing and design fundamentals across multiple platforms. This background normally is obtained through a college degree, which includes relevant coursework in the field, and more than two years of related professional or technical experience. In addition, strong written and verbal communication skills with a solid foundation in grammar, spelling, and the composition of various communication vehicles are essential to initial entry to this classification.
SPECIALIZED SKILLS:
Demonstrated skill with spreadsheet, database, e-mail, social media, publication and multimedia presentation software. Technical fluency with Microsoft Office Professional Suite, and Google mail and calendaring programs. Demonstrates an expert skillset in various digital arts software programs including Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat. Advanced Skills in graphic creation, print design, and directing photography for publication purposes. Skilled in developing, coordinating, designing and implementing annual reports and other publications. Advanced skills in managing vendors, such as; mail houses, printers & photographers.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience in a higher education, nonprofit organization or related environment with an emphasis on donor interaction. Experience in marketing and design coordination. Highly desirable: Working knowledge of Blackbaud software including Raiser’s Edge and Net Community, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and Web CMS (Terminal Four). Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to CSUMB’s Vision.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT & POSITION DESIGNATIONS:
- All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
- The person holding this position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order EO 1095, EO 1096, and EO 1097 as a condition of employment.
- This position is required to comply with confidentiality requirements outlined in the Department of Education’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California’s Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.
- Must possess and maintain a valid license to drive in the State of California, pass the Defensive Training Class, and be insurable under the University's liability coverage.
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:
Office environment with standard equipment and tasks. The position requires working at a computer and desk for extended periods of time. May require travel between campus offices and off-campus locations.
The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.
BENEFITS/PERKS:
CSUMB offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, dental and vision plans; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS); and 15 paid holidays a year. For more information, visit Employee Benefits Summary. As a perk, the University Corporation at CSU Monterey Bay provides access to affordable campus housing based on availability; visit Schoonover Employee Housing for more information.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
For full consideration, applicants must complete the required online application prior to the priority screen date found at Careers at CSUMB. Application submissions received after the application screening date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. Materials submitted become the property of CSUMB and will not be returned.
CSUMB is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Human Resources at (831) 582-3389 or emailing humanresources@csumb.edu. All employees must be eligible for employment in the U.S.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
CSUMB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States and is an E-Verify employer. In compliance with federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics, you can view the notice of availability and access the Cal State University, Monterey Bay annual security and fire safety reports at https://csumb.edu/clery/asr-and-fsr-notices-availability/.
CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
CSUMB is an Equal Opportunity employer seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. We consider qualified applicants for employment for their anticipated contributions and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
