Arts Writer and Media Relations Officer

Posted On: July 10, 2023

Media-Related Job

Media Organization: University of California Santa Cruz

Company Description

UC Santa Cruz was founded in 1965 as the movement away from the conservative '50s was in full swing and America was experiencing a transformation. The founding faculty, administrators, and students embraced and embodied this change. They were open and revolutionary in their thinking—more than mere radicals, they dared to imagine a living and learning environment that would foster a community whose passion came from a deep sense of social justice.

Job Description

Arts Writer and Media Relations Officer

Location: Scotts Valley

Job ID: 55403

JOB POSTING

Special requirements - For full consideration, applicants are required to provide 3-5 writing samples and a diversity statement on what is your experience working to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Candidates must reside in California.

NOTIFICATIONS

The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California's COVID-19 vaccine program.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/index.html on our Talent Acquisition website.

• https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/how-to-apply/index.html
• https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/troubleshooting.html
• https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/tips-for-applicants/index.html
• https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/Frequently-Asked-Questions/index.html

INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD. Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, https://shr.ucsc.edu/talent-acquisition/applicant_resources/ird-and-applicant-review-process.html.

The IRD for this job is: 08-14-2023

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

University Relations supports the teaching, research, and public service of UC Santa Cruz by making and keeping deep, heartfelt connections. Building enduring relationships among students, alumni, faculty, donors, and others is the lifeblood of our work and helps to make UC Santa Cruz a thriving community of knowledge, inquiry, public service, and social mobility.

We are a welcoming group of ambitious and creative professionals pursuing our mission in support of the university's overarching purpose. We take our work seriously because we care - but we don't take ourselves too seriously! The University Relations culture is lively and dynamic; we value collaboration; and our staff is resourceful, enthusiastic, and hard-working.

The division is a fun, friendly, and open place, and staff is supportive of and positive about one and other's goals and aspirations. We often jump in to help where needed, rolling up our sleeves to get the job done. We dare to approach challenges as opportunities. Our custom is to seek creative ways to overcome obstacles, at times with limited resources, while keeping our eye on the objective: helping students achieve their goals, providing crucial public service, and advancing life-changing research and discovery.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. We are looking for candidates who do great work, and we hope they come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We aspire to build an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position but possess transferable skills and experiences.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the associate director, communications and marketing for the Arts Division, the Public Information Officer (PIO) will be communicating news of the Arts Division's achievements and activities to the news media and other external audiences as well as to the campus community, ensuring that storytelling is in alignment with the vision and priorities of the Arts Division as well as the dean of the Arts Division. The PIO also will work with faculty and staff to develop leads for news stories and features for the Arts Division, and is expected to develop productive working relationships with local, regional, state, and national reporters and editors, particularly those that cover the arts, in order to achieve prominent placement of news stories on a regular basis. The PIO's work is expected to enhance local, regional, state, and national understanding of the teaching, research, and public service missions of the University of California, Santa Cruz, in general and of the divisions of Arts in particular.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $70,000 - $73.850/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Scotts Valley

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 004017 (WRITER EDITOR 3)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

70% - Arts Promotion

• Monitor developments in the Arts Division at UCSC and in alignment with the dean's vision and priorities, disseminate information on research and creative scholarship performed; teaching activities; gifts, grants, honors, and awards received; noteworthy appointments; and other events of general interest. Areas covered include the activities of faculty, staff, students, and alumni in all arts and humanities departments, centers, the Institute of Arts and Sciences, and graduate programs.
• In carrying out these tasks the PIO works independently to accomplish the following examples of duties:

• Monitor activities across the arts to identify, report, and write newsworthy stories, and develop dissemination strategies.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and productive contacts with the dean of the arts, department chairs, faculty members, and other appropriate administrators and support staff, meeting with them as needed.
• Establish and maintain productive working relationships with local, regional, state and national media.
• Develop and implement strategies for external dissemination of story leads, including but not limited to the following: press releases, editor's advisories, public service announcements, press conferences, short items for periodic "tip sheets," media interviews, photography, video and other visuals, social media, and external distribution vehicles.
• Initiate contact with reporters to pitch story ideas and to offer the expertise of UCSC Arts Division faculty members who are available to comment on timely news developments.
• Respond to media requests on topics by arranging interviews with faculty or sending photos or other background information.
• Maintain accurate and thorough media mailing lists.
• Coverage includes news releases and other news media communications, writing for campus periodicals, including Tuesday Newsday and UC Santa Cruz magazine, and alumni, student, and faculty profiles for the Arts Division website.

25% - Miscellaneous Writing Assignments

• Under the direction of the associate director, communications and marketing for the Arts Division, the PIO accomplishes other writing, editorial, and office assignments. Such assignments may include collaborating with faculty members on opinion pieces for news outlets, helping faculty prepare for major media interviews, and coverage of general campus or administrative news or of other divisions on a fill-in basis.

5% - Miscellaneous

• Participate in governance activities of Communications and Marketing and University Relations by attending meetings, retreats, and planning sessions.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Excellent demonstrated writing skills, including news and feature writing.
• Demonstrated ability to independently synthesize difficult material quickly and to produce high-quality, succinctly written copy under deadline pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to interact, frequently and effectively, with university administrators, faculty members, and staff.
• Ability to communicate the university's achievements and priorities to a broad range of audiences. This includes the working press, campus community, and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate productive relationships with the working press and to develop specific tools that help them do their jobs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of news media operations, including print, TV, radio, and digital.
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective communication strategies and interviewing techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and meet deadlines for all work.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a marketing and communications team, with particular emphasis on collaborating with colleagues in social media and videography.
• Demonstrated ability to provide advice and assistance to senior administrators regarding sensitive and/or controversial media subjects.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding the research, teaching and public service conducted at a major research university.
• Must embrace diversity in all its forms and strive for an inclusive community that fosters an open, enlightened and productive environment.
• Working knowledge of basic audio and visual equipment, including standard camera systems and professional-quality recorders.
• Experience with and knowledge of arts-related publications media resources, both nationally and locally.
• Minimum 3-5 years' experience in PR or related field.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• Must be able to work remotely from a home office and be able to fulfill requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Will be required to work a hybrid work schedule, days of the week and number of days to be determined, and be able to fulfill requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE UCSC ON-LINE PROCESS

View full job description and access on-line application:

https://apptrkr.com/4351813

To ensure review of application materials by the hiring unit, they must be submitted on or before the initial review date (IRD) via the Staff Employment Opportunities web site; https://jobs.ucsc.edu. A computer is available at the UC Santa Cruz Staff Human Resources Office located at Scotts Valley Center. The Scotts Valley Center is located at 100 Enterprise Way, Suite E100, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. To learn more or to request disability accommodations, call 831-459-2009. Hearing impaired are encouraged to use the California Relay Service at 800-735-2922. UC Santa Cruz is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

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