Job Information
University of Massachusetts Amherst Strategic Content Creator in Amherst, Massachusetts
Strategic Content Creator
Apply now (https://secure.dc4.pageuppeople.com/apply/822/gateway/default.aspx?c=apply&lJobID=523673&lJobSourceTypeID=801&sLanguage=en-us) Job no: 523673
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department:Fine Arts Center
Union:PSU
Categories: Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Theater/Performing Arts
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
About the UMass Fine Arts Center
The UMass Fine Arts Center is a central force in the cultural, social, and academic life of the university, the Five College campuses, and Western Massachusetts. The Fine Arts Center's combination of educational, visual, and performing arts programs not only makes us unique, but secures a vital position for us to meet the diverse needs of scholars, faculty, students, alumni, and the broader community.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, the Strategic Content Creator takes a lead role in telling the stories of the UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center — focusing on the organization’s mission; its arts, education, and community engagement programs; its people; its role within the university; its position as a campus and community leader in such areas as empowerment, social justice, and climate justice; and its critical position in bringing world-class performing and visual artists to western Massachusetts. The Strategic Content Creator creates, adapts, and repurposes Fine Arts Center stories to serve a variety of audiences and purposes, including but not limited to existing and prospective patrons, university leadership, campus and community constituencies, and grant-giving organizations.
Essential Functions
Creates promotional content and press releases and leads efforts to secure earned media exposure for Fine Arts Center visual arts exhibitions and events.
Works across multiple media formats, collaborating with professional colleagues and student workers from the marketing and communications team to produce content for the Fine Arts Center’s website, YouTube channel, social media platforms, print vehicles, and other communications channels.
Builds and maintains strong working relationships with staff from across all areas of the Fine Arts Center, organizational leadership, artists and artist management, campus and community collaborators, campus colleagues, and representatives of other regional arts organizations.
Employs a journalistic approach, drawing on their observational skills and interpersonal relationships with colleagues to seek out, identify, and develop stories that speak to the Fine Arts Center’s brand and impact narratives.
Establishes priorities in consultation with the Associate Director of Marketing and Communication, determines the best methods/media for telling each story, and shapes storytelling to best suit organizational goals.
Pursues collaborations within the marketing and communications team and among Fine Arts Center and university colleagues to deliver strong final products that engage, educate, entertain, and enlighten.
Harnesses their strong storytelling, writing, and editing skills to collaborate with Fine Arts Center colleagues—particularly those in programming and curation and education and engagement—in preparing grant applications.
Functions as a self-starter.
Values and models collegiality, seeks collaboration, invites input, and is open to feedback, direction, and editing. At the same time, they are confident in their ideas and expertise and ready to advocate for their point of view congenially, professionally, and with respect for the experience and subject authority of colleagues.
Manages multiple ongoing projects and is comfortable and ready to shift priorities in response to the changing needs of the Fine Arts Center.
Embraces new media and is eager to develop new skills in service to great storytelling and audience engagement.
Other Functions
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Bachelor’s degree.
Three (3) years of professional experience in journalism and/or other fields focused on narrative non-fiction.
Experience or training in grant writing.
Experience using Drupal, WordPress, or other web content management systems.
Demonstrable mastery of English grammar and usage (standard written American English).
Understanding of storytelling through the written word, and visual, electronic, or digital media.
Experience using industry-standard digital tools such as Adobe Creative Suite products and Canva, or similar solutions.
Strong organizational skills.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Understanding of and experience with AP and Chicago style.
Experience in photography, videography, and/or cinematography.
Professional experience in the arts or higher education.
Passion for the arts.
Professional experience in social media content creation.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Typical office environment.
Additional Details
Flexibility with time essential; ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:30am – 5pm.
Salary Information
Level 26
PSU Hiring Ranges (https://www.umass.edu/hr/documents/exempt-hiring-ranges)
Special Instructions to Applicants
Upload your resume along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
Advertised: Jun 12 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Sep 15 2024 Eastern Daylight Time