Gephardt Institute for Civic & Community Engagement - Washington University in St. Louis
Position Summary
The Digital Communications Specialist supports the Marketing & Communications Manager with implementing a comprehensive brand vision and communications strategy to engage the Gephardt Institute’s internal and external audiences. This position is at the forefront of the Gephardt Institute’s brand and focuses on bridging the institute’s mission, vision, and values with our stakeholders through engaging visual and written storytelling content. The Specialist produces compelling, brand-aligned promotional collateral, implements communications plans for strategic initiatives and programs, manages student staff, and leads the process of regularly updating the Gephardt Institute website. Additionally, this role develops and oversees the schedule of written and visual content for social media and monitoring of marketing metrics.
The role includes designing and editing content and identifying key storytelling opportunities for the institute’s collateral materials, electronic newsletters, social media platforms, fundraising proposals, donor reports, event and meeting materials, and website. Graphic design and digital communications are the primary responsibilities for this role, and are best served by a full-stack communications professional with a strong aesthetic eye and an ease in learning and adapting to new tools and technologies.
This position requires the ability and willingness to work morning, evening and weekend hours for special projects, events and deadlines in service to the Institute’s mission.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities
Content Creation
Takes a lead role in conceiving, creating, and distributing content for external and internal audiences, and ensuring content is in line with brand guidelines and strategy.
Responsibilities include:
- Develops design concepts and executes print and digital campaigns promoting institute programs, initiatives, and events.
- Designs visually appealing and relevant content for electronic and print distribution, including but not limited to social media posts, e-newsletters, flyers, invitations, postcards, banners, posters, digital TV slides, event materials, and materials for fundraising and donor cultivation/stewardship in alignment with institute and university brand standards. Approximately 80% of this content is typically produced in Canva, while 20% requires ground-up creation using tools such as Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
- Supervises student interns focused on graphic design, collateral production, and newsletter creation for digital communications.
- Aligns digital collateral with Brand Strategy, Voice and Tone, and audience segmentation strategies, including diversifying content across channels.
- Manages the regular updating of existing templates for brochures, reports, and other materials.
- Analyzes the use of print and digital collateral to ensure cohesive design and strategy across mediums.
- Leverages cross-marketing opportunities within the university.
- Documents events through photography and videography.
- Photographs Gephardt staff and involved students’ portraits.
- Supports the Marketing and Communications Manager in video filming and post-production.
Digital Communications
Leads continuous website updates and improvements and helps manage Gephardt Institute social media, newsletters, website content, and marketing to grow an impactful online presence.
Responsibilities include:
- Plans digital content strategy and support to enhance website functionality and content, including webpage updates, sharing news and multimedia content, updating people and events, and sunsetting of prior content.
- Through WordPress content management, leads the process and procedures for ongoing development and improvement of website’s functions; regularly audit website for issues affecting content presentation, user experience, and branding/visual consistency.
- Maximizes digital performance through regular monitoring of site traffic and search engine optimization to guide web development process.
- Oversees weekly schedule of written and visual content for social media platforms (including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn) in alignment with marketing campaigns and communications priorities; Identify techniques to increase visibility and engagement. This includes recruiting followers and monitoring analytics.
- Oversees a regular process of monitoring trends in the digital communications landscape to engage target audiences and inform communication strategy.
Storytelling and Brand Strategy
Enhances the storytelling and brand awareness of the Gephardt Institute through the identification and development of compelling written and visual content.
Responsibilities include:
- Creates and manages vibrant, innovative, and compelling communication deliverables to foster student engagement and civic action, as well as stakeholder engagement among other key audiences (community partners, alumni, and donors).
- Identifies and creates opportunities for visibility and connection in the university community, St. Louis region, higher education, and civic learning and democracy efforts.
- Develops story content to share with Marketing & Communications team, Gephardt Institute leadership, and university news team.
- Writes collateral for newsletters, website, and fundraising Serve as an essential member of the team effort to review and design the Institute Brand and Communication Strategy.
Other Functions
- Serves as an essential member of the Gephardt Institute team
- Collaborates with program staff, operations staff, and relevant stakeholders to coordinate planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of all Gephardt Institute programs and services.
- Contributes to initiatives, meetings, and events of the Gephardt Institute, including donor cultivation and stewardship, developing strategy and vision for initiatives, planning processes, special projects, and special events.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions
This position requires the ability and willingness to work morning, evening and weekend hours for special projects, events and deadlines in service to the Institute’s mission.
Ability to travel to on- and off-campus locations for meetings and events throughout campus and the St. Louis community.Preferred Qualifications
- Eight years of experience in content creation and digital communications.
- Demonstrated design experience, excellent eye for creating and reviewing visual communications, and expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud apps including Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and/or Premiere.
- Demonstrated experience with social media management.
- Ability to craft marketing strategies, messaging, and tone for a wide variety of audiences.
- Three or more years of progressive responsibility in the area of marketing communications.
- Prior experience with nonprofits, civic engagement, public service, K-12 education, higher education, domestic/international volunteering, and/or social movements.
- Although not a requirement, experience or proficiency with photography and with video editing.
- Experience organizing and planning events
- Experience with fundraising communications.
- Experience with website management and email marketing software.
- Demonstrated design skills and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator).
- Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills, including with diverse populations, and for different mediums.
- Ability and sensitivity in developing communications for – and interacting with – a racially, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse range of stakeholders. Commitment to continuous learning about cultural humility and equity.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, problem-solving skills, and project management skills. Strong time management, attention to detail, and ability to plan ahead.
- Ability to function both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment with multiple functions, audiences, and priorities.
- Energy, vision, initiative, creativity, empathy, humility, tolerance for ambiguity, ability to embrace and navigate change, sound judgment, diplomacy, tact, and sense of humor.
- Enthusiasm and ability to work in a dynamic, highly collaborative environment with multiple functions, audiences, and priorities.
- Ability and willingness to work evening and weekend hours for special projects, events, and deadlines in service to the institute’s mission.
Applicant Special Instructions
Please include a cover letter and resume with your application.
Link to the application: https://gephardtinstitute.wustl.edu/digital-communications-specialist/
