Communications Manager

The University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension (IANRE) seeks a dynamic and highly organized Communications Manager to lead its communications team. This position is responsible for developing, executing, and overseeing a comprehensive communications strategy that elevates the institute's mission and impact. The Communications Manager will directly supervise staff, manage complex projects, and implement project management tools to streamline workflows and facilitate reporting of activities across the institute.

UAF is a Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution, and the state's largest university. IANRE is dedicated to improving the lives of Alaskans through research, education, and community engagement in agriculture, natural resources, and family and consumer sciences. Our work is diverse, impactful, and vital to the state's well-being.

Key Responsibilities
Communications Strategy: Develop, implement, and maintain a strategic communications plan that aligns with IANRE's goals and priorities.
Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of communications professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment. This includes performance management, professional development, and workload distribution.
Project Management: Design, implement, and manage project management tools and systems (e.g., Asana, Trello) to ensure efficient workflow, project tracking, and timely completion of deliverables for the communications team and other institute-wide initiatives.
Reporting & Analytics: Establish metrics and provide regular reports on communications activities, reach, and impact to institute leadership.
Content Creation: Oversee the creation and distribution of high-quality communications materials, including press releases, newsletters, social media content, website updates, and publications.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with faculty, staff, and external partners to identify communications needs and opportunities.
Brand Management: Ensure all communications adhere to UAF and IANRE brand guidelines and maintain a consistent voice and visual identity.

To thrive in this role, you'll need to be a team-oriented individual who is driven by a passion for IANRE's mission of serving Alaskans. You'll excel at leading and mentoring a team while also collaborating with faculty and staff and partners across a wide range of disciplines. Success will depend on your ability to think strategically about communications, leverage data to measure impact, and utilize project management tools to ensure an organized and efficient workflow. Your enthusiasm for telling diverse and impactful stories will be key to elevating the institute's work and its vital role in the state.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications or related field and six years of progressively responsible experience relevant to the program or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Master’s degree in related field preferred.

2 years of progressively responsible personnel management experience.

Position Details:

This position is located on the Troth Yeddha' campus in Fairbanks Alaska. This is a full-time, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA Staff Salary Schedule, Grade 82, based on education and experience.

Applications will be accepted for review on September 15, 2025, to ensure consideration, please apply by 11:55 PM, Alaska Standard Time on DAY BEFORE REVIEW DATE September 14, 2025. Submission of an application does not guarantee review or a job offer.

📃To view the full list of job responsibilities, please click HERE.

☎️If you have any questions regarding this position, please contact Kenna Metivier, Signers' Business Office at kjmetivier@alaska.edu or 907-474-1847

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction.  Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution.  The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report which contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus.  The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.  

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA: (Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension) Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or police@uaa.alaska.edu / 907-786-1214 or uaa_deanofstudents@alaska.edu. 

UAF: (Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus) Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or uaf-orca@alaska.edu.

UAS: (Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus) Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: Hendrickson Building, Suite 202 on the Juneau campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing uas.clery@alaska.edu.