Careers

Public Information and Media Relations Officer

Location: Scotts Valley
Job ID: 24200

Notifications
Special requirements - For full consideration, applicants are required to provide 3-5 writing samples and a diversity statement on what is your experience working to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Please include these along with your cover letter. 

Telecommuting- We are working remotely during the COVID pandemic and in the future when on-campus work is possible again positions in University Relations may be conducive to remote work.

UC Vaccination Policy: With limited exceptions, COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all faculty, staff, academic appointees, and students accessing facilities at any UC campus this fall. Employees and students can submit proof of vaccination online or request an exemption.

UCSC Statement
UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the intimacy of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university.

Initial Review Date (IRD)
UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. NOTE: Materials submitted after the IRD will be forwarded only at the request of the hiring unit. Submit your materials before the IRD to ensure consideration by the hiring unit. 

The Initial Review Date (IRD) for this job is: 10-18-2021

Dept Marketing Statement
University Relations supports the teaching, research, and public service of UC Santa Cruz by making and keeping  deep, heartfelt connections. Building enduring relationships among students, alumni, faculty, donors, and others is the lifeblood of our work and helps to make UC Santa Cruz a thriving community of knowledge, inquiry, public service, and social mobility. 

We are a welcoming group of ambitious and creative professionals pursuing our mission in support of the  university's overarching purpose. We take our work seriously because we care - but we don't take ourselves too seriously! The University Relations culture is lively and dynamic; we value collaboration; and our staff is resourceful, enthusiastic, and hard-working. 

The division is a fun, friendly, and open place, and staff is supportive of and positive about one and other's goals  and aspirations. We often jump in to help where needed, rolling up our sleeves to get the job done. We dare to approach challenges as opportunities. Our custom is to seek creative ways to overcome obstacles, at times with limited resources, while keeping our eye on the objective: helping students achieve their goals, providing crucial public service, and advancing life-changing research and discovery.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. We are looking for candidates who do great work, and we hope they come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We aspire to build an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications for the position but may have transferable skills and experiences.

Job Overview

Under the general direction of the Executive Director of University Communications, and Director of Communications of the Baskin School of Engineering, this position is responsible for publicizing and promoting the activities and achievements of Baskin Engineering. In collaboration with the Director of Communications of Baskin Engineering, the incumbent develops and implements a media communications plan for Baskin Engineering that helps position it as a distinctive school promoting interdisciplinary education and research, preparing students for productive careers in rapidly evolving high-technology disciplines, and serving the greater Silicon Valley region and the state of California with innovative research and educational programs. This position serves as a communications liaison between UC Santa Cruz and various news media, public agencies, universities, companies, organizations, and the general public. The incumbent is responsible for understanding current and potential audiences and developing and maintaining professional contacts with diverse news media (print, broadcast, and digital/social) in order to broaden outreach and the dissemination of information. The incumbent collaborates with other University Relations staff to identify opportunities for publicity and devise communications strategies to promote and leverage events and activities of the engineering school as well as collaborate across the school to advance philanthropy and marketing strategies. This position uses a broad range of communications vehicles (email, web, print, etc.) to reach both internal and external audiences. The incumbent is responsible for communicating to the media as well as to the campus community about news and events relating to Baskin Engineering. The incumbent works with engineering faculty, staff, students, and administrators to identify and generate news and feature stories; maintains strong contacts with local, regional, and national news media; and conducts appropriate follow-up to maximize the impact of communications efforts.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule
Salary Information: Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

No. of Positions: 1

Benefits Level Eligibility: This position is eligible for Full benefits

Schedule Information:
Full-time, Fixed
Percentage of Time: 100%
Average Hours Per Week: 40
Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: This is a Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz main campus

Union Representation: None

Job Code Classification: 007477 (COMM SPEC 3)

Job Duties
70% - Baskin School of Engineering Promotion

• Monitor developments in Baskin Engineering at UCSC and disseminate information on research performed; teaching activities; gifts, grants, honors, and awards received; noteworthy appointments; and other events of general interest. Areas covered include the activities of faculty, staff, students, and alumni in all Baskin Engineering departments, centers, institutes and graduate programs.
• In carrying out these tasks the incumbent is expected to be able to work independently  to accomplish the following examples of duties:
  •  Monitor activities and actively pursue prospective news stories across Baskin Engineering to identify, report, and write newsworthy stories.
  •  Establish and maintain cooperative and productive contacts with the dean of engineering, department chairs, faculty members, staff, and other appropriate administrators, meeting with them as needed.
  •  Establish and maintain productive working relationships with local, regional, state and national media and actively engage in content placement through these relationships.
  •  Develop and implement strategies for external dissemination of story leads, including but not limited to the following: press releases, editor's advisories, public service announcements, press conferences, short items for periodic tip sheets, radio interviews, photography, video and other visuals, social media, and external distribution vehicles, such as The Conversation.
  •  Initiate contact with reporters to pitch story ideas and to offer the expertise of UCSC faculty members who are available to comment on timely news developments
  •  Respond to media requests on topics in engineering by arranging interviews with faculty or sending photos or other background information.
  •  Maintain accurate and thorough media mailing lists in engineering and other areas.
  •  This coverage includes news releases and other news media communications, plus writing for campus periodicals, including Tuesday Newsday and UC Santa Cruz magazine.

25% - Other Writing Assignments

• Under the direction of the University Communication Executive Director and communications director for Baskin Engineering, the incumbent accomplishes other writing, editorial, and office assignments. Such assignments may include collaborating with faculty members on opinion pieces for news outlets, helping faculty prepare for major media interviews, and coverage of general campus or administrative news or of other divisions on a fill-in basis.

5% - Miscellaneous

• Under the direction of the University Communication Executive Director  and communications director for Baskin Engineering, participate in campus and systemwide meetings, conferences, and on systemwide conference calls; participate in governance activities of Communications and Marketing and University Relations by attending meetings, retreats, and planning sessions.

Required Qualifications

• Excellent demonstrated writing skills in engineering, science and/or technology, including news and feature writing.
• Demonstrated ability to independently synthesize difficult material quickly and to produce high-quality, succinctly written copy under extreme deadline pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to interact, frequently and effectively, with university administrators, faculty members, and staff in engineering and other areas.
• Ability to communicate the university's achievements and priorities to a broad range of audiences. This includes the working press, campus community, and the general public. Demonstrated ability to cultivate productive relationships with the working press and to develop specific tools that help them do their jobs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of news media operations, including print, TV, and radio.
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective communication strategies and interviewing techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a hectic atmosphere, with frequent interruptions and under pressure of deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and meet deadlines for all work.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a marketing and communications team, with particular emphasis on collaborating with colleagues in social media and videography.
• Demonstrated ability to provide advice and assistance to senior administrators regarding sensitive and/or controversial media subjects.
• Knowledge of principles of media training and demonstrated ability to develop and offer media training services to senior administrators and faculty.
• Demonstrated ability to assess the services offered to the campus by the Marketing and Communications office and to expand the office's offerings.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate records and files of work.
• Demonstrated ability to independently establish priorities and successfully juggle competing demands in a high production office.
• Working knowledge of the internet and Web-based technologies, including content management systems, social media, and more.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Understanding the research, teaching and public service conducted at a major research university.
• Working understanding of public-information programs at a major university.
• Ability to oversee the production of video, in either a news or feature format.
• Working knowledge of Macintosh computers.
• Working knowledge of basic audio and visual equipment, including standard camera systems and professional-quality recorders.

Special Conditions

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.

Safety Statement
All UCSC employees must know and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.  

How to Apply
Attach your resume and cover letter when applying for this job opening. Do not attach any documents to 'My Activities'. Visit our https://www.google.com/url?q=https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/how-to-apply/index.html&source=gmail&ust=1632246603210000&usg=AFQjCNHbcl01iafGI2kVz5Cg3izHhpO5YQ' href='https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=2511538&targetURL=https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/how-to-apply/index.html' target='_blank'>How to Apply tutorial for detailed instructions on our applicant process. 

EEO/AA
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. 



APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE UCSC ON-LINE PROCESS
View full job description and access on-line application:
https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucsc/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=11&JobOpeningId=24200&PostingSeq=1

To ensure review of application materials by the hiring unit, they must be submitted on or before the initial review date (IRD) via the Staff Employment Opportunities web site; https://jobs.ucsc.edu. A computer is available at the UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources Office located at Scotts Valley Center. The Scotts Valley Center is located at 100 Enterprise Way, Suite E100, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. To learn more or to request disability accommodations, call 831-459-2009. Hearing impaired are encouraged to use the California Relay Service at 800-735-2922. UC Santa Cruz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.





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