EH Communications Specialist - Siebel Center for Design

Extra Help – Communications Specialist

Siebel Center for Design

The Grainger College of Engineering

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Join Our Team at the Siebel Center for Design
Are you a creative thinker with a passion for people and storytelling? Do you find energy in curiosity, innovation, and building culture through design-driven marketing? At the Siebel Center for Design (SCD), we’re looking for someone like you—someone eager to grow their portfolio, explore new skills, and help shape meaningful experiences. Whether you’re a disruptor, a dreamer, or a thoughtful observer, this is a place where creativity meets purpose. If you’re ready to contribute to a collaborative, hands-on environment where ideas turn into action, we’d love to meet you.

The Communications Specialist (Extra Help) at the Siebel Center for Design (SCD) will serve as a key member of the Marketing and Communications team, operating as a marketing manager within a collaborative, fast-paced, and creatively driven environment. This role is designed for an early-career professional seeking hands-on experience managing marketing campaigns, coordinating content strategy, and guiding a team of undergraduate creators. The Communication Specialist will work closely with the Assistant Director of Programming & Marketing and will be instrumental in expressing the unique voice and values of SCD across multiple platforms. The hourly wage is competitive (see below), and benefits are not included.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Social Media Management:
  Schedule and manage content through Buffer; coordinate with graphic designers and content creators; draft captions for review and posting.

• Team Leadership:
  Support the training and management of the Concierge marketing team (undergraduate content creators); assist with implementing strategy, delegating tasks, and providing feedback.

• Email Marketing & Communications:
  Edit and send monthly newsletters (e.g., The Readout and the Affiliate newsletter) and other targeted emails using the Illinois Webtools platform.

• List & Data Management:
  Maintain and organize email subscriber lists; manage audience segmentation and list hygiene through Webtools.

• Content Editing & Light Copywriting:
  Edit marketing content written by others on the team, ensuring clarity, voice, and alignment with SCD branding; assist with light copywriting as needed.

• Graphic Design Coordination:
  Support visual content needs with light design work when necessary; collaborate with the Graphic Design Specialist to meet creative needs.

• Storytelling & Insight Gathering:
  Attend SCD events and internal meetings to gather insights, collect stories, and ensure marketing strategy is informed by real experiences and opportunities.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Marketing, Communications, Advertising, Public Relations, or a closely related field.
• Experience managing or contributing to social media or marketing campaigns (two years combined between professional, internship, or organizational/club level experience).
• Demonstrated familiarity with scheduling tools (e.g., Buffer, Hootsuite), email marketing platforms (e.g., Webtools, Constant Contact or similar), and basic graphic design tools (e.g., Canva or Adobe Creative Suite).
• Strong writing and editing skills with an eye for detail and tone.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, take initiative, and work within a team environment.

Rate of Pay:

The rate of pay for EH Communication Specialist – Siebel Center for Design starts at $25.00 per hour and increases based on the level of work.

Work Schedule:

This position will work approximately 35-40 hours per week, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hybrid work options may be available for this position, with the ability to be on-site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as needed per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy .

We offer short or long-term assignments up to 900 hours, which is about 6 months of full-time work. Employees can work either full or partial days and full or partial weeks.

Extra Help Positions:

Extra Help employees are appointed to fulfill casual or emergent needs within units. The amount of time for which services are needed is not usually predictable, and payment for work performed is on an hourly basis and based on actual hours worked. Extra Help employees do not receive holiday pay or paid sick or vacation leave. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

Extra Help employees are required by State Universities Civil Service System rules to take a 30-calendar-day break after working 900 hours. At the end of the 30 days, you may begin another 900-hour employment cycle in a new position if available. Working Extra Help will in no way affect any other employment opportunities with the University of Illinois, including your position on a Civil Service register.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on August 15, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for three references. Application instructions can be found at he following link:

Questions:

If you have additional questions regarding this Extra Help position, please contact Emily Bear at [email protected] . For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing [email protected] .

Requisition ID : 1031821
Job Category : Professional and Administrative
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