CAFNR EXTENSION NEWS & MARKETING STRATEGIST

College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Marketing & Communications

Are you driven to make a difference by telling stories that matter? Join the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources (CAFNR), in collaboration with MU Extension, as a news and marketing strategist, leading efforts to elevate the visibility of Agriculture & Environment (A&E) Extension's impact across Missouri and beyond.

In this senior-level role, you'll be the driving force behind communications and marketing campaigns that showcase the innovative, impactful work of A&E Extension and its events, Extension and Education Centers (EECs), specialists and programs across the state. You'll collaborate closely with CAFNR and Extension leadership, communications teams and Mizzou News & Info to craft or direct compelling narratives and make sure they get out to the audiences who would benefit from Extension programming most.

This position is ideal for a strategic communicator who thrives on building relationships, spotting newsworthy opportunities and marketing needs, and connecting experts and programming with audiences who need their insights. With the footprint of the A&E team across the state, travel will be essential to see its impact firsthand!

What You'll Do

• Strategic Marketing & Communications: Lead the development and implementation of marketing and communication strategies for A&E Extension, ensuring coverage of EECs and statewide initiatives. Proactively pitch story ideas, campaign concepts and promotional strategies that elevate A&E's profile and extend its reach. Work with internal teams to bring communications plans to life.
• Storytelling & Impact Promotion: Write or pitch internally compelling stories that promote A&E programming and showcase the impact of Extension efforts across Missouri, aligning with strategic communication goals and audience engagement priorities.
• Media Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with agricultural media professionals, expand earned media opportunities with regional agricultural and rural lifestyle outlets. Provide media training for A&E specialists, as needed.
• Media Monitoring & Metric Evaluation: Lead the use of tools such as CISION and NewzGroup to track visibility, measure impact (reach, engagement, earned media value) and inform and improve communications strategy.
• Leadership Support: Assist in developing talking points, presentations and other materials that enable administrators and specialists to effectively communicate A&E's impact.
  

8:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

What You Bring

• A deep understanding of what makes news and how to tell the impactful story of a specialist, a program or A&E Extension as a whole.
• Experience in media relations, journalism or strategic communications, preferably with media monitoring services.
• Familiarity with photography and WordPress, or willingness to learn. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud tools.
• Strong independent work ethic, combined with collaboration skills and the ability to work across various teams.
• A proactive, strategic mindset and a passion for the work done by Extension to support the growth and health of people, businesses and communities.

Four years' experience in the development of marketing and communication strategies, from conceptualization to execution is preferred.

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $59,737.60 - $85,000.00 annually.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: GGS-011
University Title: SENIOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT

To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

MU Application, Cover Letter, CV/Resume, and contact information for references will be required for hire.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.