Communications Manager

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Communications Manager Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Communications Manager Job Duties: Reporting directly to the Assistant Chancellor for University Relations and Strategic Communications, the Communications Manager serves as a lead day-to-day owner of UW–Oshkosh’s newsroom and media relations operation. This position combines strong news judgment, exceptional writing and editing skills, proactive media relations, and public-information expertise to tell the University’s story accurately, strategically, and in a timely manner. The Communications Manager manages the UWO Today/newsroom pipeline, develops and advances story opportunities aligned with University priorities, writes and edits a variety of institutional communications, coordinates contributors and deadlines, and maintains high standards for accuracy, clarity, and institutional voice. The position serves as a primary day-to-day contact for media inquiries and builds productive relationships with local, regional, and statewide media. The Communications Manager proactively pitches University stories, experts, research, programs, and community impact and prepares media statements, talking points, background materials, and interview preparation. The position also coordinates newsroom and media needs with social, photography, video, creative, and digital colleagues to maximize opportunities for integrated and reusable content across University communications. The position also supports the University Relations function by helping coordinate the University’s engagement with government, business, civic, nonprofit, and community partners. This may include supporting University and government events, coordinating partnership meetings and institutional visits, assisting with chambers of commerce and University-led alliances, maintaining timely follow-up and two-way communication, and helping advance collaborative opportunities and shared initiatives. The Communications Manager identifies opportunities to extend this work through earned media, storytelling, and coordinated content across University platforms. The Communications Manager provides day-to-day direction, editing, and coaching to communications staff, student employees, and interns as appropriate and contributes to the development of newsroom, media relations, and writing standards, templates, and resources. The position also supports issues and crisis communications through fact gathering, message development, media coordination, and monitoring, serving as backup crisis communications support as assigned. Routine editorial and media relations matters are handled independently within established University priorities, while crisis, legal, personnel, safety, and high-profile reputational matters are…