About this Position
Posting Detail Information
Position Number SE1714
Position Title Senior News Writer
Job Type Staff
FT/PT Full-Time
Employee Class Description Staff
General Position Description
Responsible for developing, researching, writing and disseminating communications for a variety of news and public relations efforts including media releases, blogging, newsletters, magazine feature stories, social media posts, videos, and website content for Valencia College and its programs. This position plays a key role in strategic communications that help advance Valencia’s mission and convey core values to a variety of audiences that engage with Valencia directly and indirectly.
Grade 1623
Exemption Status Non-Exempt
Posting Number S800P
Primary Work Location Orlando, FL 32835 – District Office
If multiple locations, what are the other locations: Orlando, FL 32835 – District Office
Proposed Work Schedule (Please note hours subject to change based on business needs)
Currently, the team members work out of the West Campus in the CFEED collaboration room at least once per week and/or as needed.
Number of Vacancies 1
Posting Start Date 03/03/2022
Posting End Date 03/24/2022
Open Until Filled No
Quicklink for Posting https://valenciacollege.peopleadmin.com/postings/16790
Posting Detail Information
Temporary Position (Temp or Grant Funded) Details
This is a grant funded position for HELIOS III.
Salary Range $41,498 – $49,798
Essential Job Functions
Description of Job Function
1. Researches a wide variety of learning initiatives, programs, grant awards, new curriculum developments, faculty/student/staff recognition and honors, arts and entertainment events, speakers, authors and other college news to write appropriate articles for engaging general audiences, key stakeholders, alumni, students and potential students, faculty and staff, reporters, editors, and higher education audiences.
Description of Job Function
2. Creates and publishes content on behalf of Valencia College through social media accounts, email campaigns, websites, event scripts, newsletters and all relevant media sources. Verifies facts and details and conducts any additional research necessary to make articles meaningful, relevant and newsworthy.
Description of Job Function
3. Interviews faculty and staff to ascertain key details and facts about topics and translates into well written, engaging and informative articles and/or blog posts appropriate to the desired media placement. Assists in building and maintaining on-going relationships with faculty and staff for future story topics.
Description of Job Function
4. Follows national and local news stories and trending topics to effectively place Valencia stories in the context of relevant higher education, economic development, workforce, training, public policy and societal issues to engage wider interest.
Description of Job Function
5. Provides editorial assistance for all departmental written communications including brainstorming potential feature articles, topics, and series ideas as appropriate.
Description of Job Function
6. Collaborates with campus-wide communications team to build continuity and consistency in Valencia College messaging to internal and external stakeholders.
Description of Job Function
7. Actively seeks story ideas and news from the many sources at Valencia College.
Description of Job Function
8. Identifies opportunities for increasing website search optimization through relevant tags and other tactics to increase readership and “hits.”
Description of Job Function
9. Collaborates with project managers, team leaders, photographers, video producers to select and refine any visual components such as photos, figures, and tables for digital content and to contribute to the overall effectiveness of communications tools.
Description of Job Function
10. Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Required Minimum Education High school diploma or general education degree (GED)
Required Field of Study
Other Required Qualifications
Required License/Certification
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Education & Field of Study
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in communications, journalism, or public relations.
Preferred Type of Experience
Progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations or journalism.
Experience in written communications including journalism, print news and feature writing, and other communications.
Preferred Licenses/Certification
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of AP style and ability to reflect its proper use in written communications.
Ability to maintain the highest standards of journalistic style and quality in all written communications.
Strong interpersonal and organizational skills including the ability to self-direct workload and meet deadlines.
Strong interviewing and reporting skills in order to elicit relevant information from sources, and develop news and feature stories that are accurate, informative and relevant to readers.
Ability to write about complex technical or narrow interest issues in a way that connects with a wider, general interest audience.
Ability to work effectively in a diverse community and meet the needs of a diverse population.
Working Conditions
General Working Conditions
This job primarily operates in a professional office environment. The employee will routinely operate standard office equipment including but not limited to computers, keyboards, mouse, phones, photocopiers, printers, scanners, filing cabinets and fax machines. While performing the duties of this job, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
Typical physical competencies include but are not limited to frequently remaining stationary, moving, reaching, positioning self and occasionally ascending/descending, lifting/moving objects weighing between 5-15 pounds. This job also entails frequently communicating, discerning and exchanging information, detecting and perceiving objects up close, at a distance, and the ability to adjust focus. Cognitive abilities include but are not limited to frequently using discretion, judgment, reasoning, memory, learning, maintaining confidentiality, comprehension, problem solving, and decision-making.
The typical work environment, physical and cognitive demands listed above are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The College has a process to identify and make available reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Job specific working conditions
Diversity Statement
Diversity Statement
All employees must demonstrate a commitment to Valencia College’s Equity and Inclusion efforts. |