Description

Position Overview

The Communications Coordinator will create and implement external and internal communications for the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. This position will report directly to the Dean of the School of Journalism, but will work closely with Assistant/Associate Deans, departmental chairs, faculty, and staff, as well as various university and third-party partners.

The Communications Coordinator will serve as the key communicator in efforts to boost the exposure of programs and recruitment activities. The successful candidate will attend key events on KU's local campuses, prepare written and social media marketing materials, oversee video production, assist with recruitment efforts, oversee websites and social media activity, supervise student employees, and assist with the strategic and tactical decisions around marketing and recruitment. The Communications Coordinator will need to be an excellent written and oral communicator as well as have the ability to work with a variety of constituents.

KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options, and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers employees educational and professional development opportunities.

Tuition assistance offers up to 12 credit hours per year for employees and Employee Dependent Tuition Assistance Scholarship (EDTAS) award opportunities! Details and additional KU Benefits information available at: Tuition Assistance | KU Benefits

KU's excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other's success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard, and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Job Description

75% Communications:

• Create news releases and other materials to promote personnel and events in the School.
• Provide an annual report on individual awards, research publication/achievements and School accomplishments.
• Maintain School's website and social media channels; monitoring and updating content regularly to ensure accurate and current information.
• Keep up to date on communication and website trends and technology, maintaining an effective and continuously improving digital footprint for the School.
• Develop and analyze admission materials, recruitment brochures and other communication pieces for academic programs within Journalism and Mass Communications.
• Partnering with Dean's office, Concentration Chairs, Faculty and Staff to implement communications plans.
• Acts as subject matter expert on communication/marketing strategies and technologies for School Leaders, Faculty, and Staff, maintaining adherence and leveraging KU branding.
• Collaborate with other KU schools and units as well as external partners of the School; this could include the Office of Public Affairs, KU News, KU Information Technology, KU Endowment Association and KU Alumni Association to implement university-wide public relations, acting as a liaison and representative for the School of Journalism.
• Create and place local and national advertisements, including AEJMC program ads, JEA/NSPA recruiting ads, specialty trade magazine ads, and others in coordination with HR Partner and Administration staff in the School.
• Create and edit visual content, including photographs and graphics, for a variety of outlets.
• Produce and distribute weekly Monday Memo e-newsletter.
• Manage public image areas, including display cases, photo exhibits, ticker, and building signage.
• Handle general e-mail ([email protected]).

20% Event Management:

• Coordinate Fall Scholarship and Alumni Event and special events such as the May graduation ceremony, annual student awards ceremony, and other special events.
• Assist with annual William Allen White Day preparations.
• Produce written materials and social media information as needed for events.
• Coordinate special events, including special visitors and guest speakers.
• Coordinate promotional item design and production for school.
• Give tours of school to alumni and visiting professionals.

5% Student Supervision/Other:

• Recruit and supervise student employees/interns, coordinating efforts for School tasks, projects, and coverage for events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications or related field.
2. Three (3) years professional experience in journalism, marketing communications, or public relations.
3. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, multitask, and be self-driven as evidenced by application materials.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Additional Candidate Instruction

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).

Review of applications will begin Monday, July 13, 2026, and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected. To ensure priority consideration, apply before the review date.

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or using the Title IX online report form and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or using the Title IX online complaint form.