Public Communications Manager

The USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability has an immediate opening for aPublic Communications Manager. Reporting to the Wrigley Institute Executive Director, the Public Communications Manager will be tasked with developing and implementing the institute’s communications and public relations activities to support the institute’s strategic objectives. The Public Communications Manager will be responsible for the institute’s communications with both internal constituents (students, faculty, alumni, and advisory boards) and external audiences (prospective students, external partners, peer universities and institutes, and other sustainability thought leaders) through content creation and curation, and promotion of the institute.

This is a hands-on position, but the Public Communications Manager will also lead a small communications team at the institute (composed of a graphic designer and photographer/videographer) and will be supported by the USC Dornsife and USC’s offices of communication.

The Public Communications Manager will, in partnership with the Wrigley Institute’s Director and Executive Director, implement the institute’s annual communications strategy and workplan to engage the community and broader stakeholders through storytelling in publications, digital marketing, the Wrigley Institute website, social media, photography and videography, blogs and podcasts, and other media. The Wrigley Public Communications Manager will also serve as institute liaison with fellow communicators at USC Dornsife and the University of Southern California, campus student and administrative units, external media, and relevant stakeholders.

The Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability was founded in 1995, though its predecessor organizations date back more than 125 years. Its mission is to create a more sustainable future for our planet and all who live on it by: educating, training, and empowering the next generation of leaders and change agents; leading solutions-focused research at the intersection of people and planet; and engaging with the public and our partners to raise awareness and inspire positive change.

The Wrigley Institute maintains a strong and high-profile presence on the USC University Park Campus and at its research station on Catalina Island. Wrigley-affiliated faculty members conduct research and teach classes across a broad range of environmental topics. The Wrigley Institute also offers public- and campus-facing programming and works with the private and impact sectors to foster awareness and critical thinking about environmental challenges and solutions. The institute is a unit of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Duties:

• In collaboration with senior leadership, develop near- and long-term communications and public relations strategies for the Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability.
• Stemming from the communications and public relations strategy, plan, implement, and manage specific communications and public relations events, activities, social media platforms, projects and/or programs to enhance the public's awareness of the Wrigley Institute.
• Lead media outreach efforts for the institute. (Note: Crisis communications are led by the central university’s communications office, although the Wrigley Public Communications Manager would be consulted on such matters as they relate to the institute.)
• Support program and event planning, and related marketing communications.
• Plan, write, edit, produce, or otherwise present or distribute Wrigley communications and public relations materials.
• Supervise employees on the communications team, as well as student workers, as assigned. Schedule, assign and prioritize workloads. Set appropriate deadlines. Monitor employee performance on a regular basis. Ensure timely completion of work by the institute’s communications team.
• Manage program, project and/or event budgets relating to communications and public relations.
• Represent the Wrigley Institute at professional meetings, conferences, seminars and other events. Develop and maintain contacts with university officials, media representatives, community leaders and professional colleagues. Maintain currency with professional organizations and publications.
• Develop and administer the Wrigley Institute’s communications and public relations calendar. Monitor schedules, production, and distribution arrangements and other details to ensure timely, successful completion of public relations materials, events, etc.
• Ensure the appropriate use of university and/or Wrigley Institute logos, emblems and indicia.
• Define metrics and analytics to track the impact, and when necessary, adjust the course of Wrigley Institute communications and public relations activities.
• Oversee the maintenance of the institute’s website.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The Wrigley Institute reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in marketing, journalism, or other communications fields.
• Demonstrable experience in communications regarding the environment, sustainability, or closely related topics.
• 3 years of experience in communications and/or public relations, including supervisory experience.
• Exceptional writing, storytelling, and communication skills.
• Strong managerial, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and a fluctuating workload.
• Proficiency with managing social media, websites, and other forms of digital and email communications.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience in marketing, journalism, or other communications fields.
• 7+ years of experience in communications and/or public relations, including supervisory experience.
• Experience Adobe Creative Suite, HTML, MailChimp, MyEmma, WordPress, SEO best practices, Google Analytics, and other communications/public relations/multi-media tools and platforms.

Schedule:    Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Some weekend and after-hours work required. This position is not eligible for overtime.

Location:Los Angeles, USC University Park Campus (flexibility to work 1-2 days remotely)

Salary Range:The salary range for this position is: $110,000 - $125,000 depending on experience; generous benefits package, including health insurance, a retirement account, life insurance, tuition benefits, and a wide range of discounts. The university invests hundreds of millions of dollars every year to provide these benefits, and they represent an important and substantial part of your overall compensation package. For more details on USC Benefits and Perks, visit:employees.usc.edu/benefits-perks.

When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

About the Wrigley Institute

The mission of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability is to inspire global environmental solutions through frontier research and education. Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, one of the nation’s premier research universities, we also have a satellite campus on California’s beautiful Santa Catalina Island. Through education, research, and engagement, we train the next generation of environmental leaders, develop original solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental problems, and encourage nonpartisan action for sustainability and environmental justice.

WIES is part of USC’s oldest and largest school, the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and a key player in the university’s high-profile sustainability initiatives. We are home to:

·     Dornsife’s Environmental Studies academic program, which grants both undergraduate and graduate degrees;

·     The Wrigley Marine Science Center, our Catalina Island research base;

·     The USC Hyperbaric Chamber, which serves the Southern California dive community;

·     USC Sea Grant, which conducts research and outreach on the urban ocean; 

·     Research centers on Earth & Environmental Systems, Applied Environmental Solutions, and Social Transformation; and 

·     Signature public events that bring together business leaders, policy makers, activists, and scholars for conversations of consequence on the environment and sustainability

A job with the Wrigley Institute is an opportunity to help solve one of the most important challenges of our era.  Join us to help create a more sustainable future!

Position is eligible for USC benefits and is open until filled.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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