Job Description

ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY:
The communications and marketing officer (CMO) position is located in the USF College of Public Health (COPH) Office of Engagement and Constituent Relations (OECR). The office is primarily responsible for storytelling, increasing awareness, strengthening affinity and providing opportunities for engagement with the college. Specifically, the office includes professional staff and students responsible for: alumni relations, communications, marketing, media relations, videography and more. This position reports to the director. MHLP is one of 8 departments in the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences and one of 3 departments in FMHI. MHLP is home to 35 faculty members, 38 research, education, and training specialists, and 12 research support staff. The department promotes academic excellence by providing leadership and opportunities that enhance manpower development and personal growth in a fully engaged learner-centered environment. The mission of the department is to promote the health and quality of life of people with mental and substance use disorders by creating, evaluating, disseminating and translating state-of-the art knowledge to support effective practice across behavioral health and criminal justice systems.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The CMO supports the college's overall storytelling and branding efforts. They are responsible for integrating marketing concepts and utilizing communication vehicles that increase awareness of and engagement with the USF COPH. They will build and cultivate relationships with members of the COPH community, including students (current and prospective), faculty, staff, alumni, parents, donors, community partners and friends.
Additionally, the CMO will promote the COPH through storytelling. In this role, the incumbent serves as the college's head writer producing more than 90% of the stories highlighting college endeavors. The position holder should be adept in capturing photos and creating other graphics in support of their stories. The incumbent also serves as the college's head editor editing most content that is outward facing. In this role, the position hold maintains the college's style guide ensure that all marketing content meets the same standard, regardless of the source. The incumbent supports the director with media relations and is the primary point of contact in the director's absence.
The candidate must be proficient at relationship management and a true communications professional. They should have a flair for storytelling and translating science into easily digestible content for public consumption. Likewise, the incumbent should be comfortable engaging with others (at various levels of authority), possess the ability to work rapidly and with independence sometimes on short notice and with immediate deadlines.
Along with office team members, this position supports college enrollment goals. They will join team members in planning and implementing college-wide special events.
The work environment is hybrid and may include some evenings, weekends and holidays. The ability to execute in a collaborative, creative environment is expected.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Marketing/communication: Support brand management to ensure college, USF Health and university graphics are appropriately displayed and utilized. Contribute to efforts to continually improve marketing and communication strategies and advance the college's brand.
Collaborate with campus partners across USF and USF Health on matters related to marketing and communications. Monitor the narrative, visuals and tone to ensure consistency with the college's style guide.
Edit stories, marketing collateral (ad copy, video text, stories written by college authors, flyers and more) for content quality, clarity and consistency across the college. Partner with the webmaster and admissions staff to edit substantial content updates. Manage stories in WordPress and train other content creators in the use of it or the current content management system.
Serve as the college's head reporter and writer. Seek out story leads, translate research and write 90% of the stories to promote the COPH.

Media relations: Support the media relations effort by writing press releases, pitching stories and connecting reporters with college experts in a timely manner. Periodically train members of the college community on how to interact with the media. Serve as the media relations officer in the director's absence.

Data management: Manage WordPress or the current content management system for storytelling. Train college communication partners in the use of the platform.

Event planning: Assist with event planning and serve on committees related to key college and university events such as homecoming, National Public Health Week, commencement, orientation, week of welcome, etc.

Multimedia: Capture still photography and create graphics in support of storytelling. Contribute to and help maintain a digital assets library in conjunction with other communications and graphic design staff in the college.

Performs other duties as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:

MINIMUM:
This position requires a Bachelor's degree in communication, marketing, public relations, technical writing, digital media, or related field, with two years of experience in related positions; or a Master's degree in the fields listed above. Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience. Four years of direct experience may substitue for Bachelor's degree (SB1310).

PREFERRED:
Bachelor's degree in communication, English, journalism, creative writing or related field. Minimum of five years of writing experience. Superior writing skills with proven strength in academic and/or health communication. Work in a higher education environment and working knowledge of public health or the health professions.
Two years of writing stories on deadline. Storytelling in a digital medium.Skilled in the use of editing software programs for graphic design, storytelling and photography such as WordPress, Photoshop, Canvas, Adobe Creative Suite and digital camera. Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite. Familiarity with Associated Press style guidelines.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Excellent project management skills, including the ability to set and adhere to strict timelines and propose and implement effective solutions to roadblocks and problems. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team. Approachable and engaging attitude with constituents. Commitment to high customer service and excellence. At ease interacting with employees and constituents at all levels, including but not limited to alumni, students, staff, faculty, volunteers, college and university leadership, donors, media and the general population. Must be comfortable with public speaking. Excellent oral and written communication skills