Communications Strategist

Position Summary
As a team, we are hiring a Communications Strategist to lead the portfolio for communications within our two units: Trotter/MESA and Spectrum Center. The offices hold unique histories rooted in social justice, advocacy, and activism that live on through our programs and services. You will mindfully lead strategic communications, develop marketing and design using traditional and digital media to grow the work and amplify the stories of these units, and supervise a diverse student staff involved in photography, social media engagement, and graphic design.

You will report primarily to the Director of the Trotter Multicultural Center with a secondary reporting structure to the Director of the Spectrum Center. The role is hybrid (3 days onsite, 2 days remote) in Ann Arbor, MI.

Strategic Communications (40%)

Develop, coordinate, and evaluate strategic communications plans for each unit.

Create and annually review standard operating procedures for unit communications processes and tools.

Provide content expertise and professional coaching on issues related to branding, communications, marketing, public relations, and social media.

Write for different audiences (donors, general public, parents, students, etc.) and provide best‑practice guidance to unit staff.

Set content calendars and direction for stories, social media, newsletters, and coordinated campaigns.

Coordinate and support communication responses to urgent and emerging issues impacting the campus community with the unit's leadership and Student Life Communications, Marketing, and Design (CMD).

Identify, implement, and train units on tools that aid in internal and external communications.

Enhance unit work across campus through storytelling and promotion.

Work with units to design and distribute annual reports.

Web and Digital Marketing (30%)

Coordinate social media strategies, policies, and best practices.

Provide units with guidance on social media efforts.

Develop and deliver engaging and useful content for specific unit websites.

Maintain best practices for the use of communications platforms and assist staff in using the platforms.

Support videography and photography needs for celebrations, events, and educational engagements.

Collect and analyze data and stay up to date on student trends and work with IT and other partners to gather information about students we serve.

Development and Stewardship (10%)

Collect the narratives of alumni and the impacts of donors to improve awareness and increase giving.

Implement strategies to maintain communication between the unit's alumni, staff, faculty, and students.

Coordinate with Student Life Development to develop alumni outreach and response materials.

Organize Giving Blue Day and other development‑driven campaigns.

Administration (20%)

Lead the units' communications portfolios.

Represent the unit and serve as a primary liaison to Student Life Communications, Marketing, and Design (CMD) and Student Life Technology Solutions (SLTS). Additionally, serve as a liaison to U‑M and Student Life communities of practice for communications, web, and social media.

Participate in campus communities of practice, including Student Life Connect and U‑M Communicators Forum.

Provide unit leads with periodic reports on communications efforts and strategies for improvement.

Propose and manage communications and marketing spending.

Hire, train, and manage 2–4 communication student employees including graduate and undergraduate students.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in business, communications, information science, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Three or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications, marketing, public relations, or digital content management.

Demonstrated experience developing comprehensive communications strategies aligned with organizational goals.

Experience working with tools like Canva, Asana, Google Suites, Market Cloud, or related platforms.

Demonstrated cultural competence, including experience creating and delivering communications about complex and sensitive topics related to identity, social justice, and community engagement in ways that are authentic, inclusive, and responsive to the experiences of diverse communities.

This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

Selected candidates whose start date is 4/1/2026 or after, will not be eligible for the university FY26–27 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified.

Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.

Relocation will not be offered for this role.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

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