CEAE Outreach and Communications Specialist
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our team as CEAE Outreach and Communications Specialist. This multifaceted role will involve developing and implementing a comprehensive social media and communications strategy for the academic unit, creating and executing outreach strategies, and managing technical conferences organized by the department.
Job Description
40% Technical Conference Management
10% Misc.
- Manage the planning and execution of technical conferences organized by the CEAE department, including the Structural Engineering Conference, Environmental Engineering Conference, Asphalt Paving Conference, and Geotechnical Engineering Conference.
- Coordinate with stakeholders, including faculty members, other CEAE staff, industry professionals, and vendors, to ensure successful and engaging event experiences.
- Work closely with the CEAE Accountant to develop and manage budgets, track expenses, and negotiate contracts with conference venues, exhibitors, and service providers.
- Coordinate event logistics, including registration, speaker arrangements, session scheduling, catering, and audiovisual setup.
- Oversee marketing and promotion efforts, utilizing social media and other channels to attract attendees and ensure a high level of engagement. Marketing materials include postcard advertisements, conference programs, and website content and updates.
- Develop and maintain a database of attendee mail/email lists.
- Produce individual conference packages, coordinating parking passes, name tags and conference program.
- Provide logistical support during the conference, ensuring smooth operations and addressing issues that may arise.
- Produce and distribute certificates for Professional Development hours.
- Conduct post-event evaluations, collecting feedback from attendees, and making recommendations for future conference improvements.
- Develop materials to be used in student outreach activities, collaborating with other administrative staff in CEAE and in the School of Engineering and CEAE faculty on development and deployment.
- Implement communication campaigns; craft compelling messaging and content to engage stakeholders.
- Coordinate and implement undergraduate engineering outreach efforts for the CEAE department, including events such as engineering summer camps and high school visits, working closely with the CEAE Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, departmental committees, and School of Engineering staff.
- Engage current students and student groups in outreach activities.
- Organize and participate in events, both online and in-person, to engage with stakeholders and provide information about civil, environmental, and architectural engineering.
- Track and analyze the effectiveness of outreach strategies, making data-driven recommendations for improvements.
- Develop and execute a social media strategy aligned with the goals and objectives of CEAE, focusing on enhancing the unit’s digital presence.
- Create engaging and relevant content for social media and digital platforms, including but not limited to LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and the CEAE website, to promote the unit’s programs and achievements.
- Monitor and track analytics, utilizing data-driven insights to refine the social media and digital strategy and improve audience engagement.
- Stay up-to-date with emerging social media trends and best practices, and effectively implement them to maximize online visibility of CEAE.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to coordinate social media campaigns and initiatives that support the unit's overall marketing and communication goals, including regularly interfacing with CEAE faculty and students to collect success stories to be shared via social media and departmental website.
- Proactively manage the unit's social media accounts by monitoring comments, addressing inquiries, and maintaining a positive brand presence.
- Identify and leverage opportunities for partnerships and collaborations with other relevant organizations to enhance our unit's social media presence.
- Provide regular reports on social media performance, including key metrics and recommendations for improvement.
- Leverage social media content using the CEAE website; Coordinate and collaborate with other CEAE staff on alignment of the CEAE website with goals and objectives of CEAE and social media strategy.
- Develop strong graphics to showcase CEAE’s activities and successes, to be shared out in various platforms (social media posts, newsletters, CEAE website, etc.).
- Coordinate and collaborate with other departmental staff on development and deployment of the annual CEAE Update newsletter.
10% Misc.
- Supervise student hourly assistants.
Position Requirements
This position is required to work on-site at the Lawrence, KS campus.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree or Bachelor’s plus three years related experience.
- Computer skills in a PC/Windows environment, including MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as demonstrated by application materials and previous experience.
- Strong written communication skills and attention to detail, as demonstrated by application materials and previous experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s or Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
- Proven professional experience in developing and implementing successful social media strategies for organizations or academic units.
- Demonstrated expertise in using various social media platforms, analytics tools, and social media management software.
- Demonstrated experience with Photoshop or similar and/or graphical design.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft engaging content for different social media channels and audiences.
- Strong understanding of current social media best practices and trends.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data to inform strategy and decision making.
- Creative and innovative mindset, with the ability to generate fresh ideas and strategies to engage our target audiences.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines.
- Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete application consists of the online application, cover letter, and resume. Only complete applications will be considered.
Review of applications will begin on September 28th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Review of applications will begin on September 28th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Caroline Bennett, Professor and Chair, crb@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with experience
Work Schedule
40hrs/week
Application Review Begins
Thursday September 28, 2023
Anticipated Start Date
Sunday October 15, 2023