Communications Specialist l

Pay Grade/Pay Range:  56 Monthly (exempt): – Minimum – $ 31,003.60 Midpoint – $ 45,302.40

Department/Organization: 206261 – Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE)

Normal Work Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Job Summary: The Communications Specialist I works under immediate supervision with a department or area to craft communications and develop and implement plans, activities and tactics to support the goals of a specific department and/or college/division and the University. Knows fundamental concepts, practices and procedures of communications and public relations. This position does not supervise others.

Additional Department Summary: The ACRE Communications Specialist supports the delivery and management of the Center’s marketing and communications strategic plan through oversight of digital advertising and production of editorial content, including interviews, articles, and profiles. Reports to the Executive Director.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and one (1) year experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, or communications; OR master’s degree. Student or Graduate Assistant, Intern, or student-oriented experience will be considered. To be considered student experience, it must be detailed in the employment section on the application.

Skills and Knowledge: Knowledge of fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of content strategy, communications, and public relations. Superior writing skills. Knowledge in AP style. Strong organizational and project management skills. Ability to manage complex tasks simultaneously while also meeting deadlines. Ability to develop and implement marketing and communications plans. Fluency with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud for the production of professional-caliber content. Knowledge of content management systems and graphic design standards for print and media. Knowledge of the use of major social media platforms for institutional marketing and communications purposes. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively make public presentations. Photography, videography, and visual content editing skills. Ability to solve practical problems by relying on strong analytical, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Working knowledge of CRMs and/or email distribution platforms such as Mailchimp.

Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Advertising, English, Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism or a closely-related field. Some supervisory or leadership experience. Some experience with the use of major social media platforms for institutional marketing and communications purposes.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. “EEO is the Law” Poster