**This is an Onsite position where you will work in the office 5 days/week.
Summary:
The Innovation Lab is part of the University’s Research and Development department, we are tasked with the mission of reimagining the education experience by infusing leading-edge technology, content and methodologies leading into exceptional and enduring student outcomes.
The Communications Specialist role will coordinate the day-to-day office operations of the Innovation Lab and reports to the Director of Innovation. This individual is responsible for keeping the lab open and ready for guests during business hours, coordinating and attending lab events, and performing a wide variety of highly responsible and complex administrative clerical support tasks as assigned by the Director of Innovation and Managing Director of Innovation, Research and Development.
As a Communications and Training Specialist, you will manage initiatives around various digital communication tools (such as the Intranet site and Innovation Platform), lead faculty engagement and support to ensure their engagement across all our programs. Provides in-depth best practices in communication to engage faculty and academic leaders. Support the distribution and maintain a library of the labs SOP’s as they are implemented under the direction of the Director of Innovation. Ensure the production of high-quality digital communication tools that showcase positive, evidence-based outcomes for students.
Responsibilities:
Responsible for maintaining daily operations of the Innovation Lab, providing demonstration of current ideas on display at various experience stations, and gathering feedback to support the movement of projects through the innovation framework.
Partner with User Experience Researcher and project managers to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback from students and faculty in various modalities.
Ensures that the Innovation Lab space and equipment are in functioning order.
Responsible for maintaining the Innovation department’s Intranet pages, Innovation Platform, and other similar tools with content updates and community engagement.
Collaborate with management and peers to maintain project documentation, department SOPs and other documents as needed.
Provide weekly and monthly reporting and insight on lab activities.
Provide administrative support to Innovation Lab leadership. Assists in making travel arrangements, submission of expense reports, ordering supplies, coordinating meetings with vendors and other constituents.
Provide support of digital communication tools to faculty and administrators.
Assume responsibility of system administration where appropriate including coordination, planning, and troubleshooting of lab facility technology and operation.
Attends required meetings. Assists with open projects as needed. Collaborate with Innovation Lab staff to assist with tasks as per the stage gate process.
Maintains confidentiality of all customers, student, associate, and/or university information as required.
Maintains regular and timely attendance, reports to work as scheduled and assures time worked and/or time-off is recorded properly.
Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with the standards set out in the University’s Code of Ethical Conduct, Compliance Agreement, Sexual Harassment Policy or any of its policies and procedures, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable professional standards.
Education:
BA/BS Communications, Education, or equivalent experience; Master’s degree desired.
Knowledge/Experience:
3+ years of experience working in communications and technology.
2+ years of teaching experience, preferably at a post-secondary level.
Experience working with or training faculty and students at a higher education institution is a plus.
Qualifications/Skills:
Solutions-focused individual with excellent organizational skills.
Demonstrable ability to learn new technologies and communicate value to audience at various levels.
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills to interact with internal stakeholders.
A self-starter who loves collaboration and is open to feedback, comfortable working independently as well as in cross-functional teams.
Impressive presentation and communication skills, both verbally and written.
Ability to navigate in ambiguous situations while delivering meaningful and documented results.
Experience working with cross-functional teams (technology, academics, communications).
