Communications Manager

Center for Agriculture and Food Systems

Full-time, exempt

Reports to: Deputy Director and Senior Researcher

Salary range: $55,000-$67,000

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VLGS Benefits and PTO include: 

- Full benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.). 

- 403b including 4% employer contribution.

- 2 weeks of paid vacation in addition to paid personal and sick days. 

- 11 paid holidays plus two weeks of paid “Dean’s Days” for Summer and Winter breaks. 

- Employee Assistance Program.

- VLGS course participation with tuition assistance.

- Flexible schedule potential.

Vermont Law and Graduate School is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness. We grow and learn better together with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. In recruiting for faculty and staff, we seek unique backgrounds to enrich and challenge our community. As part of our commitment to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, candidates who meet the qualifications for this position and who require accommodations to apply should contact Human Resources at jobs@vermontlaw.edu. Vermont Law and Graduate School strives to raise the bar for being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, place of birth, marital status, disability, veteran's status, HIV status, pregnancy, genetic information, health insurance status, and crime victim status. 

Position Summary: 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a preference given to applications received by July 8, 2024.

The Communications Manager is responsible for overseeing communications and outreach for the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) at Vermont Law and Graduate School (VLGS). The Communications Manager is responsible for developing, executing, and maintaining comprehensive communication, outreach, and engagement strategy to increase the visibility and profile of CAFS and its major national initiatives. This involves strategic planning, public relations, and direct outreach through social media, webinars, teleconferences, and written materials.

This position is also responsible for developing reports and contributing to research and programmatic efforts to help CAFS tell its story. With fellow CAFS staff, the Communications Manager will help with the delivery of CAFS’ initiatives, working directly with various partners and constituencies, as well as the national media and other external stakeholders. The Communications Manager reports to and is evaluated by the CAFS Deputy Director and work in collaboration with colleagues throughout the campus, including the Vice President of Communications. This position may involve occasional long-distance travel on behalf of CAFS for various events and requires representation of CAFS in public and private settings.

Essential Function and Principal Accountabilities:  

• Plan, coordinate, and edit all written content for publication by CAFS. Closely edit and proofread all guides, reports, project websites, and other resources, while implementing search engine optimization (SEO) best practices and adhering to VLGS brand guidelines. 
• Proactively coordinate with CAFS staff and faculty to create talking points related to food and agriculture issues in the news and pitch CAFS research and experts to food and agriculture media outlets. 
• Identify new topics and write editorial content that positions VLGS as a thought-leader in the field of food and agricultural law and policy. Ghost-write articles and opinion pieces for food and agriculture faculty members, written for a non-law audience of prospective students and the general public, for placement in top media outlets.
• Oversee, build, and manage CAFS’ webpages; supervise the work developers to maintain and build CAFS’ project websites. Update websites as needed to improve accessibility and SEO. 
• Develop content for press releases, articles, blog posts, social media, editorials, and newsletters, working with a variety of stakeholders on messaging and copy. Implement a continuum of messaging approaches that vary depending on the audience, while remaining consistent with VLGS’s brand, mission, and voice. Partner with VLGS Communications Team for review and publication/execution.
• Produce regular e-newsletters and print newsletters about CAFS; expand subscriber and outreach lists. 
• Direct and oversee the social media strategy for CAFS; design social media graphics and toolkits to promote news and events; and supervise external communications and media consultants. 
• Strategically oversee, assess, and report on analytics for CAFS communications and project websites. Implement changes to website based on assessments to improve analytics and increase accessibility and impact of CAFS resources.
• Manage freelance content and web developers, graphic designers, consultants, and other affiliates.
• Strategically conduct outreach to share CAFS job opportunities and recruit high quality candidates.

Required Education, Skills, and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree, and at least five years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and/or or strategic communications.
• Proven track record in writing persuasive, clear, and concise stories for a diverse range of audiences. 
• Portfolio that demonstrates excellent writing and familiarity with a range of content types. 
• Effective and persuasive communication skills. 
• Ability to work independently and be proactive. 
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, manage time effectively, establish priorities, and communicate expectations to colleagues and stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated interest in food and agriculture issues; experience in food/agriculture nonprofit sector preferred.
• Skills in web coding, graphic design, and social media management preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and deadlines and reorganize under pressure.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Must be able to work legally within the United States without sponsorship. 
• Ability to perform all essential functions of the job with or without basic accommodations.

Application Requirements:

Please attach a resume and cover letter for consideration. 

If you are applying from a third-party website (Indeed, etc.) and are unable to attach additional materials to your online application, please apply directly at https://www.vermontlaw.edu/community/about-vls/employment-opportunities or email required documents to Christine Moyer, cmoyer@vermontlaw.edu.