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Communications Specialist

Communications Specialist

  • JR10009948
  • Hybrid
  • Madison, Wisconsin
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Full time
  • Opening at: Apr 6 2026 - 11:00pm CDT
  • Closing at: Apr 22 2026 - 11:00pm CDT
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Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Communications Specialist

Job Summary:

The Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering has an opening for a communications specialist focused primarily on communications and marketing strategy including key components of alumni and donor engagement and events. This position is part of a small collaborative staff who work together to support the faculty, students, staff, and alumni in its community. This position will need experience in events and in communicating with various stakeholder audiences in multiple modalities including online elements (blogs, social media), group elements (presentations, meeting planning), and individual elements (letters, emails). The strongest applicants will demonstrate enthusiasm for engaging with students and alumni, a proactive approach to planning events and initiatives, and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Key Job Responsibilities:

  • Communicates with stakeholders to verify requests and identify editorial resources
  • Writes, edits, and publishes content for various communication projects and marketing platforms to align with strategic initiatives and established communication campaigns
  • Provides project management and execution of communications programs, initiatives, and tactical plans
  • Monitors reach and effectiveness of communication campaigns, projects, and initiatives
  • Plans editorial content according to established goals and objects

Department:

College of Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISyE)

Compensation:

The starting salary for the position is $65,000 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications). 

Required Qualifications:

  • Experience with event planning and execution OR experience communicating with stakeholder audiences

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with donor activities (communications, campaigns, stewardship, etc)

  • Experience with event planning and execution

  • Experience with alumni organizations and alumni engagement

  • Experience with student involvement and student engagement

  • Experience with digital graphics and social media

  • Proactive strategic approach to planning

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking

Education:

Required: Bachelor's Degree

How to Apply:

Click the "Apply" button to start the application process. You will be prompted to upload the following document:

(1) Cover Letter

(2) Resume. If you would like to provide professional writing samples please include them (not required). Caliber of writing in all submitted materials will be reviewed for written communication skills. Professional references will be requested from finalists.

When applying, there will be only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents in the attachment field.

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1 STEM OPT Extension participants.

Contact Information:

Dave Kantor, Department Administrator, dkantor@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. 

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

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