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Public Communications Specialist (Time-Limited)

University of North Carolina Wilmington
$56,000 - $62,000
paid holidays, sick time, retirement plan
United States, North Carolina, Wilmington
Sep 30, 2024
Posting Details


Benefits of Working at UNCW
Want to become a soaring UNCW Seahawk and work at one of the best universities on the East Coast? Want to put your toes in the sand after a day of work? The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers a wonderfully vibrant university community along with a beautiful location just miles from the beach.

Employees of UNCW are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other programs, resources, policies, and practices that help to support a work/life balance. Our programs have been designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Full time employees are eligible for dental, vision and health insurance plans. Health insurance benefit plans eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.

Full time employees are also eligible for the tuition waiver program which covers the cost of tuition and fees for up to three (3) undergraduate or graduate courses per academic year at UNCW or any other university within the UNC System. In addition, UNCW covers the cost of tuition and fees for one UNCW course each summer session.
As a full time employee, UNCW also offers a free membership to the Campus Recreation Center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, meditation and yoga sessions, voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays, 24 hours of paid community service leave time, paid vacation and sick leave accrual and family medical leave after 12 months of continuous service.

We also offer an abundance of training and development programs through our Dare to Learn Academy,and the employee assistance program, many of which are offered free of charge.
Recruitment Range $56,000 - $62,000
Vacancy Number S02519
Position Title Public Communication Spec
Working Title Public Communications Specialist (Time-Limited)
Competency Level Journey
Home Department Center for Marine Science - 30600
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Center for Marine Science ( CMS) is recognized both nationally and internationally for conducting research that contributes to the understanding of environmental processes and problems. CMS strives to engage communities to address societal issues and promote use-inspired innovations.

Research at CMS includes a variety of fields such as aquaculture; coastal water resources, risks and resilience; coastal and ocean observing and modeling; ecosystem health; genomics and bioinformatics; human health and preclinical research; marine and coastal biology; marine geology and paleoclimate; marine technology; natural products chemistry; and ocean and coastal policy. Currently, there are more than 150 scientists, staff, and students housed at or working with the unit.

The teaching and research facility located on the Intracoastal Waterway in southeastern North Carolina features state of the art core facilities in spectrometry and spectroscopy, light stable isotopes, biotechnology, aquaculture, DNA and water quality analysis as well as running seawater systems, a coastal workboat fleet and a wide range of oceanographic equipment that are available to all CMS researchers.

CMS supports educational programs related to coastal and marine science, including the Applied Coastal and Ocean Science Ph.D. program and MS Marine Science degree as well as courses and students from various marine-science related academic departments across the breadth of UNCW. It also supports several outreach entities, including NC Sea Grant, the NC National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Marine Quest, among others.
College Center for Marine Science - 306 College
College/School Information
University Information
The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state's coastal university, is dedicated to the integration of teaching, mentoring, research and service. Widely acknowledged for its world-class faculty and staff and continuously recognized at a national level for scholarly excellence and affordability, UNCW offers a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry and critical thinking and a community rich in diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

A public institution with nearly 18,000 students, UNCW offers a full range of baccalaureate- and graduate-level programs, as well as doctoral degrees in educational leadership, marine biology, nursing practice and psychology; and many distance learning options, including clinical research, an accelerated RN-to- BSN program, an Executive M.B.A. program structured for working professionals, and the nation's only bachelor's degree program focused on coastal engineering.

The university's efforts to advance research and scholarly activities have earned UNCW the elevated designation of "Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity" institution (R2 University) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

UNCW has been part of the University of North Carolina System since 1969.
Location of Workplace CMS Myrtle Grove
Brief Summary of Work for this Position
Knowledge-Technical and Professional:

  • Keep current on a variety of communication, design, and visual arts concepts for effective communication of NC PFAST Network activities and PFAS science.
  • Apply standard and specialized techniques and technology to promote the NC PFAST Network and new research in a wide variety of media.
  • Train others in use of new methods and technical tools and best practices for communication.
  • Additionally, will need to keep up to date with current PFAS science, policy, and news.


Communication:

  • Communicate complex and highly impactful PFAS science to varying NC PFAST Network stakeholders and target audiences.
  • Establish and maintain a variety of working relationships to meet Network communication needs
  • Develop and implement communication strategies, set communication standards and protocols, and serve as an internal media relations expert for the NC PFAST Network.

Consulting/Advising:

  • Advise and collaborate with program office staff and members of the NC PFAST Network regarding communication needs and issues, including media inquiries and scientific communication of results to the public regarding sensitive matters.
  • Develop a communication plan for the network.

Project Management:

  • Consult with and determine communication needs of principal investigators in the NC PFAST Network and for the program office.
  • Plan and manage multi-faceted and specialized projects to meet communication needs of the NC PFAST Network and members.

Organizational Sensitivity:
  • Assess potential impacts of internal/external communications efforts with awareness of NC PFAST Network goals and priorities and make necessary adjustments.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor's degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Preferred education, professional skills and experience

  • Experience in media relations.
  • Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills, especially in the context of translating complex scientific ideas into accessible language for the lay person and writing web feature content.
  • Experience using and effectively communicating issues related to the environment.
  • Experience of keeping current on latest innovations, trends and emerging issues as it affects the environment and human health.
  • Knowledge of graphic design software and tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver.
  • Ability to manage situations with tact and discretion.
  • Strong interpersonal skills in a team setting and on an individual basis.

Required Certifications or licensure
None
FTE 1.0 (40 hours per week)
Months Per Year 12 Months
Work Days Monday-Friday
Work Hours 8:00AM- 5:00PM
Type of Position Time-limited
Anticipated Ending Date if Time-Limited 10/31/2025
Position Number 8414
Job Posting Date 09/30/2024
Posting Close Date 10/20/2024
Number of Openings Single Incumbent
Special Notes to Applicants
This position is time-limited with the possibility of continuation pending availability of funds and department need.

Please provide a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to a general audience. Ideally, the sample should reflect your experience in translating technical or research-based information into accessible, engaging content, particularly in the field of emerging contaminants.

Required Documents include:

  1. Cover Letter
  2. Resume
  3. Writing Sample: Communicating scientific information and details (upload document)


PLEASE NOTE: This posting will close at 11:59PM (Eastern time) on the posted closing date. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have fully completed the entire application, including the 'Work History' section before you apply for this position. Applications must be submitted through the online application system to be considered.
EEO Statement
At the University of North Carolina at Wilmington ( UNCW), our culture reflects our values of inclusion, diversity, globalization, ethics and integrity and innovation and we are committed to providing equality of educational and employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, sex (such as gender, gender identity, marital status, childbirth, and pregnancy), age, color, national origin (including ethnicity), religion, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, veteran status, military service member status, genetic information, or relationship to other university constituents - except where sex, age, or ability represent bona fide educational or occupational qualifications or where marital status is a statutorily established eligibility criterion for State funded employee benefit programs. UNCW believes that embracing the unique contributions of our faculty, staff and students is critical to our success and paramount in being recognized for our global mindset.
Eligibility for Employment
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. UNC Wilmington participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.
External Link to Posting https://jobs.uncw.edu/postings/33488
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