Communications Assistant

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university where an inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell's global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs, and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, and flexible work options.

Our Mission

Cornell Human Ecology (CHE) improves human lives in every context, and at every scale, from cells to societies. CHE is one of Cornell University's four contract colleges - operated by Cornell under contract with New York State - and includes three academic areas: human centered design, nutritional sciences and psychology. The college is home to more than 1,000 undergraduates and nearly 200 graduate students, as well as centers and institutes including theBronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and the Action Research Collaborative. With the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, CHE leads Cornell Cooperative Extension, connecting research in nutrition and youth and family development with local experience in every New York county and all five New York City boroughs.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Communications in the CHE Office of Communications, the Communications Assistant performs a broad array of tasks related to communicating Human Ecology news and activities using a variety of media. In all media, the assistant will ensure compliance with college and university visual identity, branding, editorial style, message guidelines, and design standards. The Communications Assistant is responsible for creating and editing written, video and other content on the college's websites. The assistant will contribute to social media strategy, planning and posting. The assistant will also help promote highly visible events and new initiatives.

Cornell communicators share a mission to enhance and preserve the university's brand and reputation as a top research institution and a leader in higher education, and to support and promote critical programs that serve the university's teaching, research, and public engagement mission.

Communication services are carried out through a matrixed organizational system in which University Relations houses the departments of News (Cornell Chronicle), Media Relations (pitching and servicing media requests), Brand (cornell.edu, multimedia production, brand management and governance), Strategic Communications (communications plans, key messaging, social media management), and Cornellians (digital alumni publication).

Communicators in colleges, schools, and units regularly collaborate with, and consult, University Relations departments. University Relations serves as a partner and resource for all college/unit communicators. The College of Human Ecology Communications Office works collaboratively to improve the visibility and stature of the College through strategic storytelling across multiple communications channels.

Key Responsibilities include:

Content Creation and Editing

• Write, edit, and proofread communications and marketing materials.
• Create and edit written, video, and other digital content for the college's website, social media, and other platforms.
• Design and develop visual content such as photos and videos for social media, websites, and digital communications.
• Adapt and edit content submitted by students, staff, or freelancers, ensuring accuracy in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with faculty, staff, and students to gather information on research, events, and accomplishments.
• Maintain relationships within the college to keep up with important stories and news.
• Collaborate with the web designer to create on-brand visual content and assets.
• Support faculty and staff in pitching news and research for media relations.

Administrative and Academic Unit Communications

• Develop and pitch story ideas for university platforms and internal college communications.
• Coordinate content for department newsletters and other internal communications.
• Support event communication and promotion for department-level events.

Social Media Management

• Develop and post engaging content across social media platforms.
• Collaborate with the communications team on social media strategy, editorial calendars, and social listening.
• Monitor social media channels, respond to interactions, and report on social media analytics.

Branding and Strategy

• Ensure compliance with college and university branding, editorial style, and visual identity.
• Use communication metrics to guide and improve strategic outreach and marketing efforts.
• Implement brand guidelines and ensure consistency across various communications materials.

Event and Promotion Support

• Help promote and create content for events, initiatives, and promotions, ensuring alignment with the department's goals and overall mission.
• Develop promotional materials for events, including flyers, presentations, and social media content.

The successful Communication Assistant will have excellent written and oral communication skills, with expertise in writing, editing, and proofreading content for various platforms. Experience in social media strategy and content creation, along with proficiency in design tools like Canva and Adobe Creative Suite, is essential. Strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines, and creative problem-solving are crucial. The role also requires the ability to build positive relationships with diverse individuals and a keen attention to detail to ensure high-quality content and event support.

This is a part-time (up to 30 hours per week), benefits eligible position that is based in Ithaca, NY. Our office business hours are M-F, 8:30am - 5:00pm.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. The hybrid schedule will be determined at the time of hire with a minimum of 3 in-person days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree and 4-6 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, along with organizational, planning, time management, interpersonal skills; solid writing, copy editing, and proofreading skills.
• Experience creating social media content and managing social media accounts and websites.
• Working understanding of strategic, brand, and multimedia communications.
• Basic photo editing skills, including resizing images for web and social media use.
• Basic experience with design software programs including Canva and the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Ability to work independently and use sound judgment in decision making, including setting and managing priorities and meeting competing deadlines.
• Creative problem solving and the ability to network and build positive relationships with a wide variety of individuals within the College and University.
• Strong service orientation and attention to detail. Ability to interact well with diverse constituents. Must be able to handle high volumes of work during peak periods and resolve problems using sound judgment.
• Ability to work successfully under pressure in a fast-paced, team-oriented setting, handling multiple tasks with differing deadlines, and to prioritize work on projects happening simultaneously.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, writing, or related field
• Experience in higher education communications or in communications for complex organizations
• Experience in video production, photography and editing software.
• Experience using communications metrics to quantify audience engagement and inform strategy.
• Strong project management skills.
• Graphic design experience.
• Experience and/or familiarity with Associated Press style.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and CMS (preferably Drupal), email distribution platforms (e.g., Constant Contact).

A cover letter and resume are required for further consideration for this position.

No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance are provided for this position.

Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.
• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part ofCornell University'sheritage. We're an employer and educator recognizedfor valuingAA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities.

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.