Communications Officer at the Office of Communications

Job Title: Communications Officer

Department: Office of Communications 

Grade: Above grade 12

Basic Functions: The Communications Officer will play a key role in supporting the university's communications strategy and goals. The Communications Officer will report to the main Office of Communications but will be placed in a specific unit (e.g., faculty, center, institute) to support the unit's communications needs and goals, using a range of communication methods and means.

Duties Performed:

• Serves as the focal point for communications in assigned unit and act as the liaison between the unit (and sub-units) and the Office of Communications.
• Prepares communication plans, strategies, and calendars. Supports the implementation of communications and marketing initiatives that enhance visibility, promotes programs and achievements, and strengthens stakeholder engagement.
• Creates content across a variety of media, including print and digital, with high-quality writing that is engaging, accurate, and consistent with the AUB Style Guide. These can include news stories for the website, press releases, newsletters, invitations, event posters, reports, social media posts, and videos.
• Briefs and works with creatives (e.g., graphic designers, photographers, videographers) to produce high-quality deliverables, both digital and print. For Communications Officers with expertise in a creative area such as graphic design or photo/video editing, produces creative content in line with design guidelines and in coordination with the Office of Communications.
• Maintains the unit's website, including creating and updating content, while ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of web content and adherence to online communications policies and guidelines.
• Maintains and updates the unit's social media (or supervise those who do), including preparing content calendars, creating and uploading engaging content (text and visuals), managing campaigns, and monitoring and responding to engagement (community management).
• Performs regular audits of the unit's and sub-unit's social media platforms, reviewing content for errors, inconsistencies, and adherence to AUB's brand, editorial, and online communications policies and guidelines. Provides recommendations and corrective action when needed.
• Tracks, analyzes, and reports on the performance of communications and marketing activities using relevant metrics and analytics tools. Keeps abreast of best practices and trends, and provides recommendations for improvement.
• Coordinates with the Office of Communications to align strategies, campaigns, and communication plans with departmental and university-wide goals. If unit is grant-funded, ensures proper third-party coordination. 
• Ensures that all activities, events, initiatives, and content across print and digital platforms complies with AUB's communications-related policies and procedures, editorial guidelines, and brand standards, for both the main unit and any sub-units.
• Assists with the coordination, organization, and promotion of events and initiatives held by the unit.
• Performs other related duties as requested.

Work Contacts:

Internally: Maintains regular communication with colleagues across all levels of the organization, as well as with students and alumni, when required. 

Externally: Engages with agencies, partners and media as required to support operations.

Independence of Operation:

Reporting line: Reports to the Senior Editor and Content Strategist for overall strategic direction and content approval.

Dotted Reporting Line: Receives work directions from the Head of the assigned unit (e.g., dean, director) for day-to-day work supervision and to collaboratively set communications goals, objectives, and strategies.

Works independently with in broad and general guidelines. Completed work is subject to general review.

Supervisory Responsibility:

None. May lead a team of staff or student staff on specific projects.

Physical Effort:

Minimal.

Work Conditions:

Clean and pleasant.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Media Studies, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Content Creation, or related field 
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills in English; Arabic proficiency is an asset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Strong understanding of digital and social media platforms, analytics, and content management systems.
• Ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging messages for diverse audiences.
• Skilled in planning and executing communication and marketing initiatives.
• Experience coordinating with designers, photographers, and videographers to produce visual content.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and multitasking skills with attention to detail and deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively across units while maintaining consistency with institutional messaging and brand guidelines.