Communications Manager

Job Summary

As a member of the central Student Affairs communications and advancement team, you will lead high‑level messaging and storytelling to convey the impact of student experiences outside the classroom and how these add value in pursuit of a college degree. The communications manager will spend most days writing, storytelling, editing, planning communications, and managing media or issues‑related needs, including executive remarks, talking points, presentations, media relations, crisis communications, and newsletter content.

• Identify, propose, and implement new or revised unit operational policies and procedures.
• Manage media relations, including proactive outreach and response coordination, and support crisis and issues‑related communication.
• Supervise a student writer, including hiring, performance management, task assignment, and approvals.
• Prepare executive remarks, messages, and presentations.
• Manage the day‑to‑day operational unit plans to align with strategic initiatives and meet established objectives.
• Develop, implement, and deliver communication materials through various mediums to designated audiences.
• Plan, write, and edit content for various internal and external stakeholders.
• Plan and direct unit programs and/or projects to ensure adherence to deadlines and budgets.

The starting salary range for this position is $72,500 up to $84,000 for highly experienced candidates. Actual pay within this range will depend on experience and qualifications. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax‑advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

• Experience authoring executive‑level messaging, scripts, and/or formal remarks.
• Experience with public and/or media relations.
• Experience with communication planning and execution.
• Ability to humanize initiatives with compelling narratives.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and perform effectively under tight deadlines.
• High attention to detail with superior editing skills, ensuring accuracy, tone, and brand consistency.

• Ability to exercise high discretion and sound judgment when interacting with executive and senior institutional leaders.
• Demonstrated experience using plain language principles to translate complex or technical information for general audiences.
• Familiarity with current public institution issues, trends, and governance in higher education.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience that includes executive messaging, media/public relations, strategic storytelling, and communications planning.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional‑level experience.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW‑Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinions enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin‑Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies.