A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file. 

The review of resumes will begin when the posting closes. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted via email. The interview process will consist of an initial 30-45 minute screening interview and one or two additional interviews for select candidates. Additionally, samples of relevant work may be requested. 

The Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning seeks a master storyteller to lead the development of compelling content about the creativity and innovative culture of Taubman College and its community of designers, educators, and changemakers. In this role, you will serve as chief writer and editor, creating engaging content tailored to specific audiences, including prospective students, alumni, donors, community partners, and media. In addition to original content, you will cull dynamic community-created content from students, faculty, and others, to adapt and amplify on college channels.

You are inquisitive and creative, with a keen sense of what makes a story worth telling and how to shape it for multiple audiences and communication channels. You have stellar interviewing and writing skills and intuitively understand what elements (words, images, audio) best convey a story and how to combine them for maximum effect to inform and encourage action. You also have a strategic mindset to align efforts with big-picture goals, thrive despite ambiguity, and manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

Reporting to the director of marketing and communications (our organizational chart), this hybrid job is situated in Ann Arbor and on-campus work is expected three days a week, with a few offsite weeks throughout the academic year and an offsite period from mid-May to mid-August. 

• Work collaboratively to manage and implement a multi-channel communications strategy using original and repurposed written, digital, and multimedia content to support college priorities.
• Develop and distribute alumni and donor-focused communications, including a biannual college magazine, impact reports, and fundraising campaign material, in collaboration with other members of the advancement team.
• Create and collaborate on content for student recruitment, the college website, and social media channels.
• Manage the college newsroom, including writing stories, assigning work to student and freelance writers, and partnering with campus colleagues and media outlets.
• Implement college communication strategies, including select internal efforts, email list management, and HTML email creation with MailChimp.
• Contribute to our positive community by creating communications that are inclusive and diverse, building partnerships, and working with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Support administrative responsibilities of the team, including budget tracking.
• Identify and use language that is picked up by search engines and large language models such as ChatGPT.
• Complete other research and special projects as assigned. 
• Manage a part-time student writer. 

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, or related field
• Conceptual, creative thinker with a passion for writing and storytelling
• 7+ years of experience with: 
  • Developing communication plans and executing multichannel strategies 
  • Project management of news content, publications and print material, digital assets
  • Writing and editing strategic, goal-specific materials
  • Writing for SEO, using an email tool such as MailChimp
  • Working with graphic designers, freelance writers and content owners, and website and digital marketing managers

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 $70,000 - $80,000. Factors used to determine salary include experience, knowledge and skills for the position. You are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor transparency throughout the recruiting process.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, U-M offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous time off; retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions after the first year; many choices for comprehensive health insurance; life insurance; long-term disability coverage; and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Learn more about U-M benefits. 

Please note:

• Relocation assistance is not provided for this position.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. Applicants will not be sponsored for work visas.

Our Shared Values

We aim to create a community of mutual respect and trust where everyone's backgrounds, identities, and views are represented without any threat of bias, harassment, intimidation, or discrimination. Learn more about the shared values we have for our community. 

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.