Position Summary

The Opportunity:
The Communications and Social Media Manager is a key role on the Strategic Marketing and Communications team focused on communicating key messaging for the college. The primary function of this role is developing internal and external communications about the college’s activities and efforts in an impactful and strategic way. Responsibilities include effectively managing our primary social media accounts and elevating current efforts and supporting the conceptualization and implementation of various internal and external college communications strategies. This position reports to the Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications.

About SVC: Established in 1926, Skagit Valley College is a comprehensive community college within the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) providing associates and bachelor’s degrees, as well as certificates, in high-quality academic transfer pathways, workforce training, basic education for adults, and lifelong learning opportunities. Our equity goals align with SBCTC’s Vision statement; “Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities.”

SVC's commitment to equity and social justice drives our collective work to increase access to higher education, inspire student learning and achievement, and strengthen our diverse community. We embrace equity through our core themes of access, achievement, and community by pursuing the continuous examination and revision of norms, policies, and practices to foster the success of all.

SVC aspires to reflect the diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic demographics in the district, particularly a growing Latinx population. As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) SVC seeks equity minded leadership, faculty, and staff that are committed to inclusive practices and to diverse environments where students from all backgrounds can thrive via multidisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of an array of services. Candidates representing all aspects of diversity are encouraged to apply.

Mission: Skagit Valley College cultivates student learning and achievement; contributes to the educational, personal, and economic success of students; and promotes equitable and thriving communities.

Vision: The primary focus of Skagit Valley College is student-centered teaching and learning. We are committed to:

• 
  Equitable student outcomes in access, achievement, and community;
• Our Guiding Principles;
• Decisions based on strategy and evidence;
• The development of our employees;
• A diverse and inclusive college community where everyone belongs.

The Location: Skagit Valley College is on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish People’s, especially on Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Samish Indian Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe. Located in a geographically diverse region between the dynamic metropolitan hubs of Seattle and Vancouver, BC, SVC is never far from world-class outdoor recreation, urban arts scenes, and local cultural events. SVC serves our local communities with a campus in Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, and centers in Friday Harbor, a Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, and a Brewing Academy in Burlington.

Guiding Principles : Respect, Integrity, Open and Honest Communication, Collaboration,
and Compassion.

Did You Know: Skagit Valley College is an innovative community college committed to offering inclusive access to educational opportunities, supporting student achievement, and engaging our community. SVC is nationally known for learning communities and support for high impact teaching practices that improve the lives of our students. We are committed to creating student learning experiences that foster equity and diversity to strengthen our local and global communities. We practice a high degree of collaboration among faculty, staff, and administrators to lead initiatives that advance student success and strengthen our increasingly diverse district. We value student and colleague engagement in creating an equitable, diverse, innovative, learning-centered environment.

Skagit Valley College offers:

• An unrelenting focus on our mission to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our diverse community.
• Support for innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship.
• Exciting opportunities for personal and career growth.
• Diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban and urban lifestyles.
• Friendly, supportive, and diverse work environments.
• Excellent benefits including competitive leave packages and an array of health, dental, vision, and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Communications and Marketing (45%)

• Write, develop, and assist with feature stories, marketing collateral content, online blog posts, newsletters, press releases, website copy, executive quotes, speeches, scripts for radio and TV, and customer service projects.
• Serve on college committees to collaborate and support college marketing, recruiting, and public relations efforts.
• Write and edit copy of the college website and other digital media as needed.
• Review, proofread, and edit a variety of written materials from individuals and departments to ensure accuracy, effectiveness, clarity, and adherence to brand standards. Rewrite material as necessary to create a cohesive unifying voice for the college.
• Identify stories for promotion in internal and external publications.
• Collaborates on development and implementation of marketing strategies and digital advertising campaigns to increase enrollment and brand awareness and drive traffic to the college website.

Social Media Strategy (45%)

• Content Creation: Planning, creation, and editing of written, video, and photo content that is engaging and effectively reaches the College’s target audiences.
  • Creates digital graphics such as banners, custom images, icons, ads and photos for daily social media content and campaigns.
  • Produce and host live streamed events on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. that align with institutional priorities.
  • Attend school events, take photos and post timely content on social media
  • Collaborate in developing content with students and employees across campus
  • Provide consultation to other departments on social media best practices and assistance with their social accounts
  • Collaborate with Student Ambassadors to develop student-generated social media content.
• Branding: Work collaboratively across the college to implement new storytelling strategies through social media.
  • Maintain unified brand voice across different social media channels.
  • Provides education and direction to college departments and programs in developing their social media presence, including training on social media best practices and college branding.
• Content Calendar: Implement a content editorial calendar to manage content and plan specific, timely marketing initiatives.
• Social Media Campaigns: Develops social media micro campaigns that exceed intended goals set by Marketing department
  • Create paid social media campaigns to promote College initiatives
  • Produce metrics to measure the success of social media campaigns.
  • Optimize content strategies and tactics based on platform performance, using a combination of paid and organic campaign efforts
  • Responsible for monitoring, developing, and administering social media content designed to engage users and create an interactive relationship between various audiences and the College.
  • Research and stay up to date on social media trends to keep SVC at the forefront
• Evaluation and Reporting: Monitor effective benchmarks for measuring impact of social media campaigns.
  • Develop and deliver performance reports to Executive Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications.
  • Maintain database of all college social media accounts.

Media Relations (10%)

• Foster relationships with local and regional media.
• Identify media news needs, identify and write college stories that meet those needs, and pitch stories to the media.
• Maintain a database of media mentions while monitoring SVC’s media presence.
• Prep and advise college employees for interviews with the media.
• Assist with emergency communication efforts, including serving as a backup PIO.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge or understanding of:

• Extensive knowledge of and experience in the use of SnapChat, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.
• Experience using Sprout Social or similar social media management tool
• Experience with design software and applications including but not limited to Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, etc.
• Experience with analytics and measuring social media engagement
• Knowledge of trends and best practices in social media and digital engagement.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office programs such as Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint.
• AP Style.
• Demonstrated ability to use social media to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Scheduling, planning, and project management processes.

Skill in:

• Strong writing, editing, proofreading, analytical and project management skills
• Photography and videography skills
• Experience with online creative and design tools such as Photoshop and Canva, as well as social media management tools such as Sprout Social.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized and self-motivated
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office programs such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Ability to:

• Demonstrated ability in successfully developing social media content, and creating and implementing social media strategies for an organization, business, or institution
• Demonstrated attention to detail, managing multiple tasks, planning and organizing work in order to meet changing priorities, tight timelines and deadlines, and high client expectations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to community college values, mission, equity, and a learning-centered climate.
• Ability to work calmly and professionally under deadline and/or emergency conditions
• Ability to work occasional evenings and/or weekends and to travel within the service area
• Demonstrated cultural competence in actions and interactions with colleagues, students, administrators, and community members.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, think critically, creatively, and exercise independent judgment.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Represent the college in a positive and professional manner.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 
  Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in communications, marketing, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience on a high-performance marketing and communications team focused on marketing/advertising communications and/or public relations and social media activities.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bilingual – reading and writing in Spanish.
• Three or more years working on high-performance marketing and communications team focused on marketing/advertising communications and/or public relations and social media activities
• Previous experience in higher education, especially at a community college.

Salary, Benefits, Conditions of Employment, Application Procedure

Salary and Benefits:

• Annual salary rate for this twelve-month, 100% of full-time position is $68,000 - $73,000 depending on experience;
• Contracts are written annually for the period of July 1 to June 30. This position will be filled as soon practical after a candidate is identified and the salary will be pro-rated for the remaining contract period.
• This position is exempt from the overtime pay requirements of The Fair Labor Standards Act and is civil service exempt;
• Salary, retirement, medical and insurance benefits are provided in accordance with state regulations and may be subject to change in accordance with legislative mandates. Additional information on benefits can be found at https://fortress.wa.gov/hca/pebbhealthplan/compare.aspx.

Conditions of Employment:

• Prior to employment, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
  
  Additionally, pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant’s current or past employer. By law, post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who refuses to declare the existence or non-existence of an investigation or findings subject to this statute.
• In the interest of providing a healthy, safe and secure educational and work environment, and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation, it is the policy of Skagit Valley College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.
• If hired you will be required to provide proof of identity and documentation of U.S. Citizenship or appropriate authorization to work in this position as required by the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986.
• Per Proclamation 21-14, employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than date of hire. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process. Exemption may be granted for religious or medical purposes, subject to approval based on the essential functions required of the position.
• Completion of academic degree(s) will be verified through receipt of official transcripts at the time of hire.

Application Procedure:
To be considered for this position, applicants must:

• Meet the minimum qualifications and;
• Submit a complete application to the online recruitment system at www.skagit.edu that includes the following:

• The online application, which includes answers to all supplemental questions and contact information for at least three (3) professional references;
• A current resume; (Attachment: Resume)
• A letter of interest addressing the minimum, desired qualifications, and your education and experience as it supports the responsibilities of this position; (Attachment: Cover Letter).

In order to be considered for the position, you must complete the online application in full and attach the required supplemental documents. Failure to provide this information may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Application Deadline: Priority screening will begin after January 6, 2023. Applications received on or before this date will receive first consideration. Applications received after the screening date may be considered until the position is filled.

Please be aware that the College hiring authorities reserve the right to hire one or more candidates and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted.

Recruitment Timeline:
Application Screening Completed by: January 18, 2023
Interviews: Week of January 30, 2023
Applicants will be asked to provide a portfolio of their work including writing, social media and project samples.
Anticipated Start Date: February, 2023

Application Assistance: If you have questions about the position or require special accommodation, you may contact Human Resources at (360) 416-7794, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. SVC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the recruitment process may leave a TDD/TTY message at (360) 416-7718 by the application closing date. Information on SVC's Reasonable Accommodation policy can be found at OPPM 3040 .

For questions regarding the online application system, you may call NEOGOV Applicant Tech Support at (855) 524-5627 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time. For best results, apply using one of the following browsers supported by NEOGOV: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and later versions of Internet Explorer.

SVC Annual Security Report: The U.S. Department of Education and the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act requires all colleges to provide information to current and prospective students and employees about campus safety policies, procedures and statistics on certain crimes, including hate crimes, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault. We are required to report our campus security information and statistics in an Annual Security Report, which is updated annually each October. All prospective employees may obtain a copy of the Annual Security Report from the Human Resources Office by calling (360) 416-7794 or by accessing the Report at: https://www.skagit.edu/about/safety-security-parking/

Skagit Valley College is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all groups in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices. SVC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, age, marital status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. All faculty and staff hired at Skagit Valley College are encouraged to embrace, continually support, and enhance diversity and equity on our campus and in our community. Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination.