A cover letter and resume are required and should be submitted as a single document with your online application. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline your skills and experiences that directly relate to this position. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The Events & Communications Coordinator jointly supports the activities of two distinctly separate units: the Department of Sociology (50%) and the Organizational Studies Program (50%). This position coordinates the units' internal and external communications, including graphic design and creation of written content, dissemination of student and faculty news to the community, and regular communications about upcoming events. They closely collaborate with other members of the staff, faculty, and students to develop engaging student-focused events and to identify newsworthy events to cover on social media and in weekly update electronic emails and annual newsletters.

An enthusiastic, welcoming, and cheerful personality is critical, in addition to the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.  We are a robust intellectual community dedicated to excellence through research and teaching.

This position reports to the Sociology Chief Administrator, Elizabeth Jahn, and the Organizational Studies Chief Administrator Makeda Turner. 

The DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY at the University of Michigan is one of the premier sociology departments in the world and the Events & Communications Coordinator manages our internal & external public relations. Learn more about the department at www.lsa.umich.edu/soc. The sociology staff are a team of dedicated and creative professionals that support students and faculty in providing exceptional, engaging, and innovative opportunities for teaching, learning, and research. Our focus is developing and sustaining a collaborative and inclusive culture, which encourages outreach and engagement throughout our department, institution, community, and society. 

ORGANIZATIONAL STUDIES (OS) is a competitive undergraduate program housed in the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts (LSA). Focusing on organizations ranging from corporate to nonprofit, governmental and educational, students choose courses in the social sciences and across schools and colleges to craft a pathway that is uniquely based on their specific areas of interest (leadership, motivation, globalization, etc). Students are highly motivated. The OS faculty and staff have a deep commitment to an inclusive and highly individualized academic experience with lots of support for its undergraduates. We have a strong alumni network that engages with our students as well. Learn more about the program at (https://lsa.umich.edu/orgstudies)

LSA offers you connection to a community of practitioners across the College who share ideas and best practices in the field of communications, event planning, and social media.
 

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Graphic Design 

• Develop (or re-develop) professional-quality collateral material for the unit's programs and major events; including brochures, flyers, handouts, posters, diag boards.
• Collaborate with staff on design and procurement of departmental swag.
• Design ads for marketing our programs for the Michigan Daily and Festifall special issues (OS).

Web/Social Media 

• Strategize, coordinate, compose, and post online content via unit websites, social media outlets, and regularly-scheduled unit electronic newsletters.
• Manage the main page of the unit's website, using Adobe Experience Manager (AEM).
• Compile analytics/reports for unit leadership about the efficacy of our digital presence.
• Photograph and record videos of  unit major events and develop a visual catalog of the unit's history.
• Maintain organized repository of digital media for use in publications.

Events Support and Publicity 

• Publish unit, faculty, and student events on the University's event calendar, unit websites, and on social media platforms as appropriate.
• Compile and publish the weekly 'events bulletin' to the unit community.
• Co-lead coordination of the following OS events: welcome and senior week activities, career and adhoc recruitment events, and social committee events.

Newsletter & Development Communications 

• Coordinate the creation and distribution of the unit's quarterly electronic newsletter (Sociology) and annual newsletter (OS), working with the Unit Chair and Chief Administrator on messaging priorities.
• Write and disseminate new stories; maintain detailed records of new items, stories, and featured personnel and activities.
• Partner with the staff at University News Services on publicizing outside of the university community.
• Coordinate annual fundraising campaigns (Giving Blueday), including creation of donor websites, strategy to maximize incentives, and manage social media and communication leading up to program launch. 
• (Sociology only) Manage communications with donors, including thank you and annual stewardship letters to major donors.

Supervision of Student Staff (OS)

• Oversee student leadership team members associated with social media and event planning.
• Take part in interview and hiring process for selection of Student Leadership Teams
• Participate and co-facilitate Student Leadership Team meetings.

The successful candidate must possess the following skills and experience:

• An enthusiastic, detail-oriented and positive persona is critically important to this position.
• An extremely high level of organizational skills, the ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team while promoting a culture of respect and cooperation.
• Exhibit excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Flexible schedule, allowing for occasional evening and weekend events.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to follow complex directions; be a self-starter; ability to prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and successfully meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement.
• A high level of proficiency with technology and specific experience using the Microsoft Office suite of software.
• Demonstrated graphic design skills and proficiency with graphical design software (Adobe Cloud and InDesign).
• Proven facility with a wide variety of social media, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Knowledge of and experience with website and social media management tools.
• This job requires the ability to move materials weighing up to 25 pounds to a height of 3-4 feet and set them on tables, carts, or other surfaces.
   

• Demonstrated experience with complex, large-scale, multi-venue academic conference and seminar planning, including those on a national level.
• Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Communications or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of University and LSA policies and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of operations and implement changes.
• Knowledge of AEM website software.

As per current LSA modality, this is a hybrid position split equally between the two departments (Sociology and Organizational Studies). After the orientation period is complete (estimated to be 6 weeks for current UM employees, 3 months for external hires), this candidate may be allowed to work from home two days a week, with the knowledge that some flexibility may be needed to accommodate event schedules.

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.

The salary range for this position is $41,500 to $51,500, please note a higher salary may be offered based on the selected candidate's experience.

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit https://lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

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 anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.