Communications Officer, Digital & Social Media
Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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Overview The role develops and implements a comprehensive communications strategy aimed at enhancing visibility and engagement for the university’s initiatives. The Communications Officer creates and manages content across print, digital, social media, and video, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners to promote the mission and accomplishments. They ensure consistent and strategic messaging to diverse audiences, enhancing the brand and supporting strategic objectives.
Social Media Management
Serves as the primary social media manager for the Office of Communications; manages the school’s social media platforms, developing and maintaining a strategic content calendar, writing and scheduling posts, and ensuring a consistent engaging presence across channels.
Monitors social media platforms for community engagement, responding to comments and audience interactions in a timely professional manner; addresses negative comments or misinformation appropriately.
Tracks, analyzes, and reports on social media metrics and analytics; researches emerging platform trends and algorithm changes to continuously optimize content strategies and audience reach.
Collaborates with communications team colleagues to design and implement targeted social media campaigns aligned with the school’s strategic priorities; updates guidelines and best practices as platforms evolve.
Content Creation & Development
Writes and edits engaging news and feature stories, web profiles, student spotlights, social media content and other content for Yale Engineering’s target audiences.
Generates original compelling story ideas that highlight Yale Engineering’s innovative and impactful community both on campus and through alumni work worldwide.
Drafts, prepares, and assists with internal communications for distribution to faculty, staff, and students, as well as external communications including national mailings, the annual magazine, and outreach materials.
Sends school-wide announcements and communications using Yale Message and other university communication systems.
Visual Content & Photography
Photographs research, milestones, and community moments across Yale Engineering; serves as the primary photographer and coordinates photo and video coverage with staff and student workers to ensure high-quality visual content.
Coordinates with and manages relationships with external vendors including photographers and videographers for key projects and events.
Contributes to the school’s digital asset management, maintaining an organized accessible photo and media library.
Web & Digital Communications
Supports website content updates, including posting stories, managing web content, and ensuring that website content is current and accurate.
Supports short- and long-term communication planning; works with colleagues across Yale Engineering and Yale to identify, evaluate, and measure the impact of the school’s communications vehicles and campaigns.
Brand & Team Support
Helps maintain and disseminate Yale and Yale Engineering brand and graphic identity standards; supports and maintains standard operating procedures.
Supports the communications team in proofreading, content scheduling, and other collaborative tasks as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills & Abilities
Demonstrated experience managing social media platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, and others) for an organization, brand, or institution. Proficiency with social media scheduling and analytics tools and the ability to translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
Ability to understand, distill, and communicate complex concepts—including engineering and scientific research—to general audiences in a clear, accessible and engaging manner.
Demonstrated ability to develop narrative stories, write short copy, proofread and edit content on deadline, creating engaging accurate impactful material across platforms and audiences.
Well‑developed written and verbal communication skills with the ability to use sound judgment while working independently and/or in a team, manage multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to tight deadlines.
Excellent people skills to build rapport with diverse faculty, staff, alumni, and students; manage relationships with key campus stakeholders professionally, with sound judgment and understanding of stakeholder goals; represent the school and communications team in a variety of settings and diverse external audiences.
Preferred Education, Experience & Skills
Degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, or equivalent field; in‑depth knowledge or interest in science, engineering, or technology is a strong plus.
Experience with graphic design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
Ability to plan, shoot and edit short‑form video content.
Experience with content management systems (Drupal, Concrete CMS) and/or Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
A genuine curiosity about and enthusiasm for engineering, science, and technology research.
Principal Responsibilities
Brand & Communications Strategy: Develops and executes public relations strategy, output, and performance for the department with the goal of increasing media impressions in local, national, industry‑specific and alumni media. Creates communications strategy to showcase top technologies available for license. Ensures consistent look and tone for all department communications, including written content, website and social media.
Media Relations: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with media representatives. Identifies opportunities to work with other departments, university publications and the Office of Public Affairs to develop and publicize stories.
Content Creation: Assesses the University faculty inventions and student startups for newsworthiness and creates compelling news and public relations content. Creates engaging, dynamic content for the public, including press releases, blog articles, website updates, newsletter articles and social media.
Outreach: Manages delivery channels for newsworthy content, including updating and maintaining the department websites, social media accounts, and articles for email newsletters, and creating video, print, and on‑campus events. Creates websites that embed existing content from Yale and external sites (publications related to the technology, videos featuring inventor, profile on Yale Bulletin and Calendar innovators webpage).
Other: Seeks out, negotiates with and recommends external organizations that can provide services that optimize both cost and functionality of the new communications strategy. Ensures that all communications conform to the University guidelines. Hires student workers as needed to assist in producing copy. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and four years of experience in website design, production, marketing, project management or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran. Yale is a tobacco‑free campus.
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Overview The role develops and implements a comprehensive communications strategy aimed at enhancing visibility and engagement for the university’s initiatives. The Communications Officer creates and manages content across print, digital, social media, and video, collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners to promote the mission and accomplishments. They ensure consistent and strategic messaging to diverse audiences, enhancing the brand and supporting strategic objectives.
Social Media Management
Serves as the primary social media manager for the Office of Communications; manages the school’s social media platforms, developing and maintaining a strategic content calendar, writing and scheduling posts, and ensuring a consistent engaging presence across channels.
Monitors social media platforms for community engagement, responding to comments and audience interactions in a timely professional manner; addresses negative comments or misinformation appropriately.
Tracks, analyzes, and reports on social media metrics and analytics; researches emerging platform trends and algorithm changes to continuously optimize content strategies and audience reach.
Collaborates with communications team colleagues to design and implement targeted social media campaigns aligned with the school’s strategic priorities; updates guidelines and best practices as platforms evolve.
Content Creation & Development
Writes and edits engaging news and feature stories, web profiles, student spotlights, social media content and other content for Yale Engineering’s target audiences.
Generates original compelling story ideas that highlight Yale Engineering’s innovative and impactful community both on campus and through alumni work worldwide.
Drafts, prepares, and assists with internal communications for distribution to faculty, staff, and students, as well as external communications including national mailings, the annual magazine, and outreach materials.
Sends school-wide announcements and communications using Yale Message and other university communication systems.
Visual Content & Photography
Photographs research, milestones, and community moments across Yale Engineering; serves as the primary photographer and coordinates photo and video coverage with staff and student workers to ensure high-quality visual content.
Coordinates with and manages relationships with external vendors including photographers and videographers for key projects and events.
Contributes to the school’s digital asset management, maintaining an organized accessible photo and media library.
Web & Digital Communications
Supports website content updates, including posting stories, managing web content, and ensuring that website content is current and accurate.
Supports short- and long-term communication planning; works with colleagues across Yale Engineering and Yale to identify, evaluate, and measure the impact of the school’s communications vehicles and campaigns.
Brand & Team Support
Helps maintain and disseminate Yale and Yale Engineering brand and graphic identity standards; supports and maintains standard operating procedures.
Supports the communications team in proofreading, content scheduling, and other collaborative tasks as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Skills & Abilities
Demonstrated experience managing social media platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, and others) for an organization, brand, or institution. Proficiency with social media scheduling and analytics tools and the ability to translate data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
Ability to understand, distill, and communicate complex concepts—including engineering and scientific research—to general audiences in a clear, accessible and engaging manner.
Demonstrated ability to develop narrative stories, write short copy, proofread and edit content on deadline, creating engaging accurate impactful material across platforms and audiences.
Well‑developed written and verbal communication skills with the ability to use sound judgment while working independently and/or in a team, manage multiple projects simultaneously while adhering to tight deadlines.
Excellent people skills to build rapport with diverse faculty, staff, alumni, and students; manage relationships with key campus stakeholders professionally, with sound judgment and understanding of stakeholder goals; represent the school and communications team in a variety of settings and diverse external audiences.
Preferred Education, Experience & Skills
Degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, or equivalent field; in‑depth knowledge or interest in science, engineering, or technology is a strong plus.
Experience with graphic design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop).
Ability to plan, shoot and edit short‑form video content.
Experience with content management systems (Drupal, Concrete CMS) and/or Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
A genuine curiosity about and enthusiasm for engineering, science, and technology research.
Principal Responsibilities
Brand & Communications Strategy: Develops and executes public relations strategy, output, and performance for the department with the goal of increasing media impressions in local, national, industry‑specific and alumni media. Creates communications strategy to showcase top technologies available for license. Ensures consistent look and tone for all department communications, including written content, website and social media.
Media Relations: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with media representatives. Identifies opportunities to work with other departments, university publications and the Office of Public Affairs to develop and publicize stories.
Content Creation: Assesses the University faculty inventions and student startups for newsworthiness and creates compelling news and public relations content. Creates engaging, dynamic content for the public, including press releases, blog articles, website updates, newsletter articles and social media.
Outreach: Manages delivery channels for newsworthy content, including updating and maintaining the department websites, social media accounts, and articles for email newsletters, and creating video, print, and on‑campus events. Creates websites that embed existing content from Yale and external sites (publications related to the technology, videos featuring inventor, profile on Yale Bulletin and Calendar innovators webpage).
Other: Seeks out, negotiates with and recommends external organizations that can provide services that optimize both cost and functionality of the new communications strategy. Ensures that all communications conform to the University guidelines. Hires student workers as needed to assist in producing copy. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and four years of experience in website design, production, marketing, project management or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran. Yale is a tobacco‑free campus.
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