International Social Marketing Association

Description

External Retirement Plan TRS or ORP Employment Type Employee Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible Full/Part time Full Time Work Schedule Additional Schedule Information
8:00am-5:00pm; Must be willing and able to work evenings or weekends as necessary
Advertised Salary $57,000+ commensurate with qualifications and experience Posting Date 10/15/2025 Open until filled Yes Closing Date Proposed Starting Date 12/01/2025 Special Instructions to Applicants

• This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Location of Vacancy Athens Area EEO Policy Statement
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).
USG Core Values Statement
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Position Information

Classification Title Copywriter I FLSA Exempt FTE 1.00 Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent
Preferred Qualifications

• At least 1-2 years of work experience in marketing, communications, or public relations.
• Experience in a role that requires frequent/heavy writing, whether for media, social, web or print materials.
• Experience in media relations, digital advertising, email marketing and/or social marketing.
• Ability to manage 20+ writing assignments with varying deadlines at any given time.
• Knowledge of AP Style writing.
• An understanding of and experience with search engine optimization writing.
• Experience with graphic design and/or knowledge of design programs.
• Experience with building, editing, and proofing blogs and pages in web development programs like WordPress.
• Experience in higher education and/or fundraising.
• Experience in a public relations or marketing agency.
• Experience in project management or developing project timelines.
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia.

Position Summary
The employee in this position develops and implements marketing and public relations efforts for the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) within the Office of Communications (DARCOMM). The DARCOMM team of 15-20 staff members is responsible for producing all communications and marketing materials to support the university's alumni engagement, fundraising, and career development efforts. This employee takes the lead on content creation for many materials, including (but not limited to) copy and content for websites, news releases, emails, social media, blogs, scripts, university publications, and direct mail. This employee is responsible for conducting research and interviews in the development of these materials, producing on-brand and accurate final deliverables, and partners with designers, videographers, other writers, and web developers (both in-house and hired) to review work for quality and accuracy.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Eager to learn, pursue new/unconventional communications tactics and expand writing skills and repertoire.
• Ability to navigate complex projects and ensure they are completed on deadline.
• Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups.
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal).
• Organizational skills and ability to multitask.
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service.
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct.

Additional Division Expectations:

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Some after-hours work and/or traveling may be involved
• Work in a standard office environment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, video calls, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No Is this a Position of Trust? Yes Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No Does this position require a P-Card? No Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes Credit and P-Card policy
Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.
Background Investigation Policy
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities
Deliver on-brand written content in pursuit of unit, division, and university goals.

• Develop high-quality content that includes (but is not limited to) copy for: news releases, websites, emails, social media, blogs, scripts, university publications, and direct mail.
• Collaborate with DARCOMM colleagues (Creative, Digital, Communications) to enhance content with appropriate visuals.
• Ensure all content and final products:
  • Follow AP Style and use correct/consistent grammar
  • Are factually correct
  • Positively reflect the UGA brand
  • Support DAR/UGA goals
  
  
  
• Master the UGA brand voice and tone, as well as any other sub-brands such as those developed for alumni, fundraising, parent giving, Mentor Program, etc.
• Customize content to channels (web, email, social, print, events, advertising, etc.) and ensure content is written in UGA brand voice/tone and at length for those channels.
• Develop relationships across the division and campus to enhance research when needed.
• Gain knowledge from constituent database to develop accurate and thorough profiles on alumni, donors, students, and friends of the university. Enhance with online and campus research.
• Interview story subjects to gain background knowledge, quotes, and other information, and follow up with them later for reviews and approvals of content.
• Craft persuasive language to show target audiences the importance of and impact of their engaging with the university.
• Ensure content is reviewed, approved, and shared with appropriate internal and external audiences.
• Understand timelines and adhere to deadlines. Keep colleagues informed about projects on a regular basis by following DARCOMM's workflow processes and leveraging the team's project management system.
• Help prioritize projects to ensure DARCOMM is focused on the most strategically important work. Identify assignments that overlap and could benefit from collaboration to ensure efficient work across the DARCOMM team.
• Collaborate with and seek input from creative, communications and
• digital colleagues.

Percentage of time 60 Duties/Responsibilities
Participate in marketing meetings and strategy discussions that focus on content development.

• Enhance concepting process in the role of creative writer.
• Join appropriate meetings to lend a strategic eye to what content should be developed to achieve target unit, division, and UGA goals.
• Collaborate with DARCOMM and campus colleagues to determine effective content needs for a variety of projects.

Percentage of time 15 Duties/Responsibilities
Proofread materials developed by others in the Office of Communications and the division.

• Ensure DARCOMM is consistently putting forth excellent work that is both high-quality and accurate.

Percentage of time 10 Duties/Responsibilities
Maintain a database of potential story ideas and profiles.

• Organize potential story and profile ideas that may come from members of the DARCOMM team, campus colleagues, or internal/external media channels.
• Share story ideas with other members of the DARCOMM team who could benefit from and/or are seeking story ideas for a variety of projects.

Percentage of time 10 Duties/Responsibilities
Stay up to date with AP Style and other writing tools that can support all writers in the DAR Office of Communications.

• Stay informed of any changes to AP Style and leverage this style in all content being developed for UGA.
• Monitor content trends in media channels and with input from DARCOMM colleagues to ensure final deliverables are as effective as possible.
• Share any interesting/helpful information about trends or writing with colleagues as appropriate.

Percentage of time 5

Contact Information

Recruitment Contact

Contact Details
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name Development & Alumni Relations' Office of Talent Management Recruitment Contact Email dartalent@uga.edu Recruitment Contact Phone

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
   • Chronicle of Higher Education
   • DAR Careers Page
   • DiversityJobs.com
   • Handshake
   • Insight Into Diversity
   • Inside Higher Ed
   • LinkedIn
   • UGAJobs (UGA's job board)
   • Other (please provide name of source)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents