Working/Functional Title

Health and Nutrition Inst Communicator

Position Summary

Michigan State University Extension is committed to fostering a welcoming and collaborative environment, which requires all staff to contribute toward a vision for success regardless of title or position within the organization. We strive to create a positive culture, access to resources, and a sense of belonging for staff, partners, and programming participants. This means that all staff at MSU Extension are dedicated to the following:

• We work together to ensure that programming is available to all audiences, creates meaningful and positive impacts for participants, and demonstrates partnership and collaboration across communities.
• We understand that a welcoming and respectful environment is built through the efforts of everyone.
• We foster an environment that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences, ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
• We ensure that every team member is prepared with the skills and resources to contribute to our welcoming and supportive culture.
• We foster an environment that values a range of perspectives, skills, and experiences by working to ensure access to programming for communities.
• We commit to continuous learning and engagement to better serve Michigan residents and meet the evolving needs of communities.
• We recognize that broad accessibility and collaboration are essential elements of our work and are vital to organizational and programmatic success.
• We embrace a culture of understanding, coaching, and feedback toward achieving a vision of success for the entire organization and its staff.
• Together we will achieve success, and we commit to these goals in our work, continued education, and ongoing efforts.

POSITION SUMMARY

Manages the information, public relations, and marketing activities for Michigan State University Extension with an emphasis on health and nutrition programs.

As part of MSU Extension (MSUE) and the Health and Nutrition Institute (HNI), this position works directly with the MSU Extension Health and Nutrition Institute director and associate director and is part of a team of communicators that support MSUE. The position also works with institute work team leaders to determine strategy, budget, and goals for communication and marketing campaigns designed to increase participation in programming and educate the public about the work of MSU Extension and HNI.

Working as the HNI Communications Manager, you will work with a team of communicators to provide leadership and support for the education, communication, and marketing efforts of MSU Extension, specifically for the Health and Nutrition Institute. Programs include but are not limited to the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education mental health and stress management including mindfulness and farm stress, food safety and food preservation, disaster preparedness and response, chronic disease prevention and management, aging and caregiving, and more.

In this position, you will develop and manage communications and marketing strategy in concert with institute directors and other leads. You will prioritize use of best practices related to culture, access, and belonging (CAB) to identify and assist in the development of materials in support of programming created through a CAB lens that supports growth and understanding of critical issues facing target audiences. Additionally, you will review and provide administrative guidance across communications for events, processes, outreach strategies, program delivery and communication pathways to identify and remove barriers in reaching potential participants. Culture, access, and belonging are essential elements vital to the culture MSU Extension endeavors to cultivate.

As the HNI Communications Manager, you will work with Extension instructors, educators, specialists, and support staff across all 83 counties, primarily within MSU Extension’s HNI institute but also in other institutes for cross-collaboration. You will serve as a liaison with MSU Extension communicators, health and science professionals, media, funding and implementing partners, and others. Major efforts will focus on developing and producing educational and promotional resources; updating websites; creating, and managing content for social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram; advising on media relations matters and media engagement strategy; and developing tip sheets, news articles, news digests, bulletins, posters, videos, and other staff training and support materials as necessary.

Working with internal and external editors and designers, you will manage the development and branding of communications and marketing content, both print and digital. Your work will include planning, developing, editing, and posting digital content for the MSU Extension website in consultation with subject matter experts, as well as writing and developing impact-focused stories, marketing materials and legislative and grant reports for MSU Extension.

Although negotiable, there will be space available for this position to work from the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

This position may be eligible to utilize a flexible work environment, however, there is an expectation to work from a MSU Extension county office. The needs, responsibilities, and opportunities of an individual’s position and office location drive the ability and amount of work-location flexibility.

Characteristic Duties/Responsibilities

• Plans new strategies, campaigns, and directs public relations efforts for the Health and Nutrition Institute.
• Plans and implements public relations budget and establishes policies and procedures related to the daily operation of Public Relations.
• Develops promotion and marketing  plans for the institute and associated work teams.
• Coordinates special events such as team and institute meetings and conferences.
• Recommends web development and technology enhancements for the institute.
• Plans, creates, produces, photographs, edits, records or drafts releases and feature materials for media and publications in order to inform the public and University of issues and events.
• Identifies sources of information in research, reviews, and surveys in order to obtain information.
• Negotiates rates and orders advertising for print, television, or radio.
• Designs and presents trainings, workshops and presentations on news article and success story writing, radio usage, newsletters, and marketing strategies.

Minimum Requirements

• Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in journalism, telecommunications, marketing, advertising, public relations, or related field.
• Three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in public and media relations, composing, editing and publication production, news, broadcasting, and print media, and/or marketing, advertising, and creative services; graphic design; word processing; desktop publishing; web design; presentation; spreadsheet and/or database software; public presentation; or radio production; or computer programming/technology; and/or experience in a field related to the area of employment.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Self-starter who can effectively work both independently and in a team environment.
• Experience and proven ability working productively with a team serving in both leadership and contributor roles.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships intra- and inter-organizationally, many of which require distance technology.
• Experience supervising and managing communications personnel.
• General knowledge of health and nutrition content, as well as MSU Extension and higher education.
• Experience working with community outreach and engagement organizations and building stakeholder relationships or partnerships, as well as a working knowledge of community outreach best practices.
• Ability to identify communication and marketing needs and assist in the development of promotional and educational materials that support programming created with a culture, access, and belonging lens, and understanding of critical issues facing target audiences.
• Knowledge of culture, access, and belonging communications best practices and/or experience creating communications materials with a culture, access, and belonging lens preferred.
• Review and provide administrative guidance across events, processes, outreach strategies, program delivery and communication pathways to identify and remove barriers in reaching potential participants.
• Experience developing social media content for platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
• Ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Ability to demonstrate sound decision-making skills.
• Five plus years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or a closely related area.
• Five plus years of work experience managing marketing and communications.
• Experience in health-related media campaign creation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective communication strategies for reaching various audiences, and the ability to disseminate information based on audience demographics.
• Demonstrated commitment to reach populations representative of the communities that MSU Extension serves.
• Experience in the use of AP Style writing and editing techniques, digital communications, social media, and general communications support.
• Ability to use web-based content management systems, such as dotCMS.
• Experience managing content and executing content for social media channels.
• Strong writing, proofreading, and editing skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with Constant Contact, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Knowledge of computer software and usage (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, scheduling, Internet browsers, etc.).
• Basic photography and graphic design skills.
• Knowledge of MSU branding.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment while adhering to aggressive deadlines.
• Ability to lift and carry materials, equipment, etc. up to 25 lbs.
• Able to demonstrate sensitivity, knowledge, and use of appropriate approaches, skills, and techniques, which reflect an understanding and awareness of social, cultural, and varied economic backgrounds and perspectives of the target population served.
• Understanding of and ability to implement Civil Rights principles and compliance standards.
• Other skills and/or physical abilities required to perform duties of the position.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Current resume/CV.

Cover letter.

Four (4) professional references including two (2) current or previous supervisors.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

https://youtu.be/KjG34cLt9a8

Bidding eligibility ends August 12, 2025, 11:55 PM