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Academic Affairs Communications Specialist (Public Affairs/Communications Specialist II)
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Position Number: 1735766
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Position Type: Communications - Public Relations and Advertising

Academic Affairs Communications Specialist (Public Affairs/Communications Specialist II)
Sonoma State University

Job ID: 104951
Location: Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, CA)
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Department Name
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost's Office

Salary and Benefits
Starting salary placement depends on qualifications and experience and is anticipated to be in the range of $3,515 to $4,917 a month.

This position is eligible for a broad range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, retirement (CalPERS), tuition waiver, vacation and sick leave. In addition, 14 paid holidays are offered each year; 13 scheduled on specific days and a Personal Holiday that may be taken any time during the year.

A comprehensive benefits summary for this position is available online by clicking the View Benefits Summary link or by request from SSU Human Resources.

Application Deadline
This position is open until filled. For full consideration, please submit application, along with cover letter and resume, by 8am on December 16, 2019. Please refer to the Application Process section of this posting for additional details.

Conditions of Employment
This is a full time, exempt position, which will lead toward permanent status following the successful completion of a probationary period.

Responsibilities
Sonoma State University is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning and inclusion. In line with our Strategic Plan and our Seawolf Commitment, our values include diversity, sustainability, community engagement, respect, responsibility, excellence and integrity. We strive to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. We encourage innovation, experimentation and creativity, as well as contributions to equity and inclusion, in the pursuit of excellence for all members of our university community.

Reporting to the Director of Continuous Improvement, the Academic Affairs Communications Specialist is responsible for working independently and exercising judgment on broad and more complex range of projects involving the execution of communications, marketing, and media relations in support of the Division of Academic Affairs. The Academic Affairs Communications Specialist will assist the Division of Academic Affairs in ensuring the department website is updated and current, may be involved with other communication projects as deemed necessary and will work with leadership to developed and execute a communications strategy in conjunction with campus and division strategic goals. The work involves daily contact with university management and other key constituencies.

Working fairly autonomously under general supervision, the major duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Execution of projects related to communication strategy and ensure adherence to implementation timelines
- In conjunction with the Academic Affairs Management team, review and assess key analytics to determine the success of the communication strategy
- Maintain and enhance the Academic Affairs website to ensure the most current, accurate, and timely information is provided to the campus community
- Act as a backup website editor for units within Academic Affairs
- Write, edit, and revise written communications in conjunction with unit management as appropriate
- Meet with department management and staff to participate in the design of communication templates to ensure consistency
- Development and coordination of small-scale or a major portion of larger communications and web projects within the Division of Academic Affairs
- Ensure appropriate design and hosting of online forms in conjunction with Division and University strategy
- May provide project leadership and/or lead work direction to less senior staff including assisting in the selection process and making and reviewing work assignments

Performs other secondary duties as assigned.

Duties take place mostly in an office setting however additional duties may be performed in various locations on the Sonoma State University campus, including working both indoors and outdoors to support and participate in university activities and events. The normal work schedule is Monday through Friday aligned with regular campus hours. As an exempt employee you have some flexibility in your schedule however must be available during the regular campus hours Monday through Friday to meet the operational needs of the campus and department. Evening and weekend hours may be required and will be specified only by the supervisor to meet operational needs. The incumbent must maintain regular and acceptable attendance at such levels as is determined by the Appropriate Administrator. The position may require occasional travel, by automobile and airplane, and the incumbent must be able to work some night and weekend hours with overnight stays.

Qualifications
This position requires knowledge of the fundamentals of public affairs and/or media relations, and/or some exposure to marketing and marketing research. This background normally is obtained through a college degree, which includes relevant coursework in the field, and up to two years of related professional or technical experience. In addition, strong written and verbal communication skills with a solid foundation in grammar, spelling, and the composition of various communication vehicles are required. Intermediate to advanced proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office required. Knowledge of Google Suite, PeopleSoft, and web design software and experience preferred. Experience with composition of various communication vehicles including social media platforms and working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and AdobeSign preferred.

The Academic Affairs Communications Specialist must be self-directed, motivated, and possess exceptional interpersonal skills. The incumbent must possess working knowledge of and ability to apply standard theories, practices, principles and techniques related to communications in media and marketing; thorough knowledge of web communication techniques, vehicles and formats and the ability to effectively use web technology to achieve communication goals. The incumbent must have the ability to analyze and select pertinent facts and integrate them into communication vehicles; work fairly autonomously, and exercise sound judgment and discretion in the completion of assignments and projects ; the ability to take initiative and plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved and be skilled in research, development and evaluation of policies and programs, including skill in the collection, evaluation, and interpretation of data or materials to develop sound conclusions and make appropriate recommendations. The incumbent must possess working knowledge of marketing and research techniques and methods; ability to apply market research to identify communication needs and target audiences; and demonstrated ability to keep abreast of campus events and subject matter expertise in relation to current events to identify and capitalize on opportunities that will promote the University and the Division of Academic Affairs. The incumbent must possess the ability to investigate and analyze problems with a broad administrative impact and implications with a demonstrated ability to effectively interpret, organize, and present information and ideas in written or presentation form. Ability to provide lead work direction.

Must have the ability to effectively communicate with all levels within the university and establish and maintain productive and effective, inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, students, and other internal and external constituents. Must be able to accept constructive feedback and work cooperatively in group situations.

Application Process
Click the "Apply Now" to apply to this position, materials submitted with your application will not be returned. For questions related to the application process, please reach out to Human Resources (hr@sonoma.edu | 707.664.3100).

Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:
1. Cover Letter and Resume - application system only allows one document to be uploaded, so cover letter and resume must be included in the same MS Word or PDF file (file name should not contain any spaces or special characters)
2. Online Employment Application (complete entire application, resume/cover letter will not substitute for any part of the application)

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.

The ADA Coordinator is available at 707.664.2664, to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

Other Information
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

Mandated Reporting: This position may be considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

About Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University, located 48 miles north of San Francisco, is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University. Sonoma State University is a liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students and 530 full-time and part-time faculty. Our beautiful campus is located in Rohnert Park, at the foot of the Sonoma hills in the Wine Country.

Sonoma State University is proud to be a smoke-free campus, where smoking and other uses of tobacco products, such as smokeless tobacco, the use of e-cigarettes and similar devices, are prohibited.

Sonoma State University's Jeanne Clery Act Annual Security Report is available at http://www.sonoma.edu/ps/about/jeanneclery.html; Annual Campus Housing Fire Safety Report is available at http://www.sonoma.edu/housing/general-info/emergency-prep/fire-safety.html.

Contact Information
Sonoma State University
Human Resources
Main (707) 664-3100
Fax (707) 664-3196
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
hr@sonoma.edu