Events & Media Relations Manager (Hybrid Potential)

Job no: 522135 Work type: Staff Full Time Location: UMass Amherst Department: Dean - Humanities & Fine Arts Union: PSU Categories: Event Planning, College of Humanities & Fine Arts About UMass Amherst UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.
The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers.
In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
About the Slavery North Initiative Slavery North is a one-of-a-kind academic and cultural destination where scholars, thinkers, artists, and cultural producers build community and produce research and cultural outcomes that transform our understanding of the neglected histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North.
Slavery North seeks to advance social justice by recuperating and interrogating the complex histories of Transatlantic Slavery and European colonization of the Americas, thereby recovering and centering the cultures, experiences, lives, and resistance of enslaved peoples in Canada and the US North.
At the heart of Slavery North is a fellowship program that will welcome national and international students, artists, and scholars, providing them with the space, funding, time, and community to produce transformative research outcomes.
Job Summary The Events and Media Relations Manager is responsible for managing Slavery North’s image and developing strategies to increase awareness by cultivating strong relations with media outlets.
The Manager is responsible for social outreach and the management, planning, and execution of media strategy.
The Manager organizes and manages all aspects of planning, technical support, travel, and accommodation for lectures (director, associate director, visiting scholars, fellows, etc.
), panel discussions, exhibitions, screenings, conferences, and other in-person and virtual events.
Essential Functions Promotes academic outreach by organizing conference panels and panel series, exhibitions, screenings, conferences, lectures, interviews, workshops, and other in-person and virtual events.
Plans all logistics around Institute events such as participant communication, venue selection and reservations, technical support, photographic and video documentation, participant releases, event assistants, lodging accommodations, catering, travel and venue set-up.
Serves as program manager at events to ensure successful execution.
Records, documents, archives, and disseminates all Institute events and programming.
In collaboration with the Institute Administrative Assistant, responsible for documenting all Institute outcomes for funding and grant applications and for updates to the Institute website and other social media, digital, and face-to-face dissemination.
Secures all necessary legal releases for image, recording, and copyright permission for Institute outcomes.
In collaboration with the Director, Associate Director, and others, identifies and writes/co-writes grant and funding applications for Institute events and outcomes.
In collaboration with the Director, Associate Director, and others, creates/writes, packages, and delivers curriculum on Institute mandate areas for workshops and events directed at various constituents.
Coordinates with other campus departments and programs at UMass Amherst and the Five Colleges (as well as other external stakeholders and affiliates) to promote the mission and goals of Slavery North by hosting national and international conferences, events, and symposia.
In collaboration with University Relations and the UMass News and Media Office, acts as Slavery Norths media liaison.
Schedules, organizes, and supervises media bookings (for Director, Associate Director, fellows, visiting scholars, etc.
) and coordinates public outreach and promotion of the Institute’s goals and mission.
Creates original marketing and promotional materials for the Institute to support, maintain, and expand its reputation and to promote knowledge of its work and outcomes within academia and the general public.
Develops, oversees, and manages social media channels of the Institute.
Develops a dynamic and professional Institute podcast and creative podcast programming and expands the Institute’s podcast and social media presence to enhance the reputation of the Institute.
Organizes guest bookings for podcast materials and oversees technical and artistic aspects of the productions.
Represents the Institute at various scholarly and academic conferences and with community partners to develop a strong collaborative approach to expanding the Institute’s presence locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Supervises undergraduate and graduate student employees.
Maintains both professional and confidential relationships.
Maintains up-to-date information regarding current events and public opinion in helping the Institute to address and respond to current events and attitudes.
Other Functions Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet the Institute’s, College’s, and University’s goals and mission.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure) Master's Degree in Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, or a related field.
Expertise in Transatlantic Slavery Studies, the Visual Culture of Slavery, Black Diaspora Studies, African American Studies and/or African Canadian Studies or related field(s); specific knowledge of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and/or the US North preferred At least five years of conference and/or event management experience.
Expertise in event management and organization required.
Demonstrated experience in curriculum development and delivery.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively both collaboratively in a diverse group and independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to represent the Institute professionally amongst a wide array of people from different backgrounds including community leaders, visiting scholars, academics, general public, media, and University administrators.
Ability to work collaboratively with other University media offices to carry out the goals and missions of the Institute.
Massachusetts Class D equivalent driver's license required for travel.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure) History of demonstrated contributions to, engagement with, and/or interest in the issues related to Institute mandate areas: https://slaverynorth.
com/mandate-areas/.
Experience and demonstrated ability as effective public speaker and educator.
Demonstrated knowledge and prior experience with communications, social media, and media relations.
Personable, organized, creative, and enthusiastic about education for academic and lay audiences.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions Typical office environment but is required to manage set up at various venues for public presentations.
Ability to travel independently and work in various locations on- and off-campus to set up and oversee the successful outcome of Institute events and meet with Institute partners, stakeholders, media outlets, and others.
Additional Details This is a three-year, grant-funded position.
Work Schedule 37.
5 hours per week.
Flexible schedule.
Some night and weekend work will be required.
This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week.
As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
Salary Information Salary Level 28.
Exempt Hiring Ranges.
Special Instructions to Applicants Please provide a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three (3) professional references.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.
To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.
It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
Advertised: Jan 18 2024 Eastern Standard Time Applications close: Apr 18 2024 Eastern Daylight Time