Senior Manager for Marketing and Communications, Extension Marketing and Communications

Senior Manager for Marketing and Communications, Extension Marketing and Communications

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Everything we do is designed to improve the quality oflife of the people in the state of Illinois, across the nation, and around theworld. We discover, develop, translate, and disseminate knowledge to address societal concerns and train the next generation of experts and leaders in a waythat empowers them to expand the boundaries of science to higher levels of understanding and influence.
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. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities.

Illinois Extension has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming around the state. University of Illinois Extension isbased in the College of ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Responsible for implementing strategic messaging, leading media relations and brand reputation efforts, providing team supervision and mentorship, and executing internal communications as part of the statewide Illinois Extension Marketing and Communications (Mar Com) team.

• Supervise two media communications coordinators, a media communications manager, Extra Help employees, and student interns assigned to communications projects, including assigning work, establishing expectations, and supporting successful project completion.
• Conduct performance reviews, provide timely feedback on work quality and performance, establishing professional development goals, and provide supportive and corrective guidance when needed.
• Mentor and provide strategic guidance tomembers of the state Mar Com team, fostering collaboration, accountability,professional growth, and an inclusive work environment.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify, develop, and deliver marketing and communications training and professional development opportunities for Illinois Extension personnel.
• Comply with all University of Illinois Extension Affine

• Develop and execute media-centered communications strategies that increase Illinois Extension's statewide visibility, strengthen organizational reputation, and advance strategic priorities.
• Build and maintain relationships with media,University partners, affiliate organizations, and other key stakeholders toexpand the reach and impact of Illinois Extension communications.
• Lead media relations efforts, including identifying and developing news opportunities, coordinating media pitches, and disseminating news releases, feature stories, and statewide messages.
• Develop key messaging strategies and communications tools, including message frameworks, creative briefs, pitch materials, and other resources that support consistent and effective communications.
• Identify and pursue strategic promotional,trade, partnership, and paid advertising opportunities in collaboration with
  
  MarCom colleagues.
• Provide guidance on emerging communications trends, audience needs, and opportunities to strengthen organizational visibility and engagement.

• Lead the development and prioritization of feature stories and other strategic content, balancing organizational priorities with the needs of multiple stakeholders and audiences.
• Collaborate with writing, digital strategy, language translation, design, photography, and videography staff to develop and distribute integrated communications across platforms.
• Collaborate with the Art Director and other creative staff to support brand unity and develop effective photography,videography, storyboarding, and visual storytelling approaches.
• Define communications and publicity goals anduse performance data to inform content strategy, channel selection, and future communications efforts.

• Manage the administration and documentation of strategic marketing and communications priorities, including development of appropriate communications plans, processes, and supporting materials.
• Collaborate with the Project Manager to establish priorities, keep stakeholders informed, manage expectations, andensure communications projects remain on schedule, particularly clients withouta strategy…