Communications Assistant - Student Hourly
Position Overview
The KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum is looking for a creative and organized individual to help us share our mission, engage with current and prospective students, and support our overall marketing strategy. As the student communications assistant, you will help the communications coordinator with the creation and planning of digital content for social media and print materials for programs and events, track social media data analytics, assist with event promotion and organization, and assist with general office operations. This position requires skills in graphic design, photography, videography and writing. The applicant should be detail oriented, a quick learner, and able to manage numerous tasks at once using strong organization skills.
Per the State of Kansas, student employees may hold concurrent appointments not to exceed maximum appointment and hours worked levels. However, concurrent student appointments must be of matching FLSA designation (exempt/salaried or non-exempt/hourly).
Per the State of Kansas, student employees may hold concurrent appointments not to exceed maximum appointment and hours worked levels. However, concurrent student appointments must be of matching FLSA designation (exempt/salaried or non-exempt/hourly).
Job Description
50% Social Media
- Support key social media campaigns by brainstorming and writing social media content.
- Assist in social media strategy and reporting.
- Shoot and edit photos and videos for use on various social media platforms, the website, and marketing collateral.
- Design graphics, posters, and flyers in Adobe Creative Cloud or Canva for events, digital displays, etc.
- Assist in creating general marketing collateral.
- Provide event marketing and logistic support for outreach events.
- Assist with inventorying promotional items.
- Perform other communication tasks as assigned.
- Assist in editing and proofreading collateral.
Required Qualifications
- Must be at least sophomore status as indicated in application materials.
- Majoring in, marketing, museum studies, public relations, journalism or related field as stated in application materials.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Some experience with social media as demonstrated through coursework or previous work experience.
- Must have some experience with Adobe Creative Suite (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Premier Pro), Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Availability to work some evenings and weekends.
- Available to work in shifts of at least two consecutive hours between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday as stated in application materials.
- During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: 1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or 2) be pre-enrolled in upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or 3) be enrolled in summer session or 4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience taking photos and/or shooting and editing video.
- Experience with writing about science or research.
- Writing and editing skills.
- Knowledge of AP style.
- A working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator.
- A working knowledge of Drupal, WordPress or a similar web program.
- Highly organized, detailed and an excellent communicator.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly position and a salaried graduate position (GRA/GTA/GA) concurrently.
(2) This is an hourly position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly position and a salaried graduate position (GRA/GTA/GA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete application will include a cover letter, resume and one writing sample. Apply online and submit a letter describing your qualifications for this position. Only complete applications will be considered.
Please apply by 11:59pm on 04/20/2025 to be considered. Application review begins 02/28/2025.
Please apply by 11:59pm on 04/20/2025 to be considered. Application review begins 02/28/2025.
Contact Information to Applicants
Natalie Vondrak
Communications Coordinator
nvondrak@ku.edu
Communications Coordinator
nvondrak@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$13.00/hr
Anticipated Start Date
Monday May 19, 2025