Public Relations Specialist II

Rutgers University

United States, New Jersey, New Brunswick

Mar 05, 2025

Position Details

Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Public Relations Specialist II
Job Category	URA-AFT Administrative
Department	Eagleton Institute of Politics
Overview	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses. For two consecutive years, Rutgers is ranked on Forbes' list of America's Best Large Employers. Rutgers holds #64 of 500 employers and is the #1 New Jersey employer on the publication's 2023 list. Rutgers' commitment to its employees includes maintaining and fostering a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace environment, creating employment opportunities for our nation's military veterans, and ensuring accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
Posting Summary	Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Public Relations Specialist II for the Rutgers Democracy Lab ( RDL) which is part of the Eagleton Institute of Politics. The RDL was established through a transformative gift received in November 2024. Its mission is to serve as a vibrant hub for civic engagement and a collaborative workshop for studying, analyzing, and addressing the challenges and opportunities of contemporary democracy. RDL embodies a bold commitment to equipping students with the tools and knowledge to engage with, strengthen, and sustain democracy for future generations. The Lab also seeks to examine emerging threats, such as the influence of social media, and explore their profound impact on democratic processes. Among the key duties of the position are the following: Helps further RDL's mission by executing strategic communication plans to highlight groundbreaking programs. Connects RDL with students, faculty, staff, practitioners, and external stakeholders/partners. Coordinates RDL's public profile and relationships with key audiences through targeted outreach and strategic communications plans. Serves as primary liaison to the media for the RDL. Builds relationships across traditional and social media, both in New Jersey and nationally, to increase awareness of and engagement with RDL's research, education, events, and resources. Partners with leading democracy-focused organizations to promote shared content and messaging. Partners with the RDL's student digital content creators to disseminate engaging, student-led social media content. Participates in Institute-wide and/or cross-team projects.
Position Status	Full Time
Hours Per Week
Daily Work Shift
Work Arrangement
FLSA	Nonexempt
Grade	04
Position Salary
Annual Minimum Salary	57356.00
Annual Mid Range Salary	71372.00
Annual Maximum Salary	85388.00
Standard Hours	37.50
Union Description	URA-AFT Administrative
Payroll Designation	PeopleSoft
Benefits	Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.
Seniority Unit
Terms of Appointment	Staff - 12 month
Position Pension Eligibility	ABP

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Minimum of a BA in Communications, Journalism, Digital Communications, Political Science, or a related field as well as two years of work experience in the political or communications field, including as a journalist or a communications specialist for a non-profit organization, elected official, or government entity.
Certifications/Licenses
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities	Must have excellent writing, editing, proofreading, and verbal communications skills. Creativity and excellent organizational skills are a must. Demonstrated digital media marketing skills and the ability to identify and master new communications tools quickly are required. Must have strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable meeting and working with a broad range of people - from high-level public officials to media representatives to vendor staff to students - in a variety of highly visible settings. Must be able to independently manage multiple tasks and short deadlines in high-stress situations. Must be very organized, efficient, and detail oriented. Must be comfortable working for an organization that is political yet non-partisan and straddles the worlds of politics and academia. Must be proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher), Photoshop, email marketing tools, social media, and desktop publishing. Must be proficient in CiviCRM or equivalent contact management platforms. Must be available to work some evenings and weekends. Must be proficient in website management. Thorough grounding in U.S. and New Jersey politics and government is essential, whether through coursework, professional experience, or personal involvement. Because RDL and Eagleton's research and programs focus on American politics, the incumbent should understand the relevant positions, processes, and relationships and be aware of sensitive political issues.
Preferred Qualifications	Some web development experience preferred.
Equipment Utilized	Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, or other basic photo editing tools, CiviCRM, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Must also know how to use social media management tools like Hootsuite and Buffer.
Physical Demands and Work Environment	Eagleton offices are located within a historic building with no elevator. The duties of this position regularly involve navigating stairs numerous times a day. An applicant may request a reasonable accommodation if they have a disability that restricts them in their ability to climb and/or navigate stairs.
Special Conditions	This position is paid from a five-year gift, and continuation is contingent upon available funds.

Posting Details

Posting Number	25ST0271
Posting Open Date	03/05/2025
Special Instructions to Applicants
Regional Campus	Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Home Location Campus	Douglass (RU-New Brunswick)
City	New Brunswick
State	NJ
Location Details

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement