Democracy Initiative Position Openings
Memory Project/Special Projects Manager
The Democracy Initiative and the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences invites applications for a new Memory Project/Special Projects Manager position. The Democracy Initiative is an exciting and ambitious interdisciplinary teaching, research and engagement effort bringing together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders and practitioners to study and advance the prospects of democracy around the world. The Democracy Projects and rotating Labs promote faculty and student research, teaching, and public engagement.
The Memory Project’s goals are to inform discussion about the politics and practice of memory and to promote an ethos of inclusion in public spaces and institutions. The Project both studies how memory is produced and reproduced, and seeks to participate in, catalyze and scale that process through support for educational initiatives and production of media and the arts, as well as public history and commemorative events. Its work is largely forward-facing and applied, bringing together theoretical investigation of the politics of memory with direct engagement with its real-world effects.
The Memory Project’s work is centered on Charlottesville, Virginia, which in recent years has become a pivotal space to define and shape broader debates about memory in the United States. The Project also works with partners in Richmond, Virginia and Greensboro, North Carolina, and in every instance, it draws on approaches being developed by communities to democratize the creation of public memory and develop models that cultivate forms of memory that promote democratic values.
The Project Manager works independently but in coordination with the faculty director of the Memory Project to develop and manage the program. More specifically, the position is responsible for project management, fiscal administration, communications, event planning, grant writing, and other such administrative functions. The successful candidate will be committed to the social sciences and policy studies within a liberal arts tradition, and demonstrate interest in racial justice advocacy.
Additional project management may include event curation, assisting with internal and external communication efforts, managing Lab/project selection processes, and working with UVA and external partners to amplify the work of the Democracy Initiative.
The position will send 60% of their time in support of the Memory Project, and 40% of their time on special projects as assigned by Democracy Initiative leadership.
Job Description:
- Gain familiarity with the entire scope and requirements of the Memory Project.
- Working with the project workplan, oversee deadlines and make recommendations to project leadership.
- Ensure that the Memory Project Faculty Director, the Democracy Initiative Co-Directors, and other key stakeholders are aware of project status and any barriers to successful project performance.
- Develop appropriate methods to handle information. Interpret information and make informed decisions based on analysis.
- Ensure that the Project is in compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
- Manage project budgets, handle financial transactions, and facilitate human resources needs of the Memory Project and other special projects.
- Participate in public and private event planning and execution.
- Track and communicate impact of The Memory Project and other special projects.
- Maintain website and social media accounts for the Memory Project and other special projects.
- In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.
Minimum Requirements:
This position requires a bachelor’s degree with at least two years’ experience in program or project management, administrative coordination, or academic affairs. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a complex environment.
- Demonstrated skills in team building and collaboration, cultivating relationships with partner faculty, and in navigating complex internal and external relationships are also required.
- Track record of demonstrating a high degree of initiative, flexibility and will have the skills to shape and be shaped by an evolving initiative program.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Microsoft PowerPoint is required.
- Experience with social media and website management (Drupal) preferred.
This position is a restricted position and is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.
Anticipated Hiring Range: $65K to $70K depending upon qualifications and experience.
Head of Communications
The Democracy Initiative and the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences seeks a dynamic and collaborative Communications leader. The Democracy Initiative program is an exciting and ambitious interdisciplinary teaching, research, and engagement effort bringing together a diverse range of scholars, government leaders, and practitioners to study and advance the prospects of democracy around the world. Within the Democracy Initiative, rotating Democracy Labs promote faculty and student research, teaching, and public engagement.
The Democracy Initiative’s head of communications will play a critical role translating our ideas, research and policy innovations to the world in a clear and compelling way. They will lead in planning communications strategy for research, policy and events, working with reporters to understand our work, developing public documents and presentations, managing our public relations efforts, and producing and managing content for our social media channels and website. The incumbent provides recommendations on content ideas, publications, content platform integration, and opportunities that advance the reputation of the Democracy Initiative.
Learn more about The Democracy Initiative here: https://democracyinitiative.virginia.edu/.
Job responsibilities:
- Develop communications strategy
- Lead a variety of large-scale marketing and communications activities on high-impact programs.
- Translate organizational goals into achievable plans, operationalizing desired outcomes and coordinating with other staff on execution.
- Manage high-profile web and promotional content, maintaining social media presence and the Democracy Initiative website. Raise the reputation and brand of the University and the College through all efforts.
- Lead design of compelling and attractive collateral pieces, tailor written copy to specific audiences. Proofread and edit to maintain established University style guidelines.
- Direct external vendors and agencies on specific projects and events, where appropriate.
- Manage events planner position staff position, and public events.
- Work collaboratively with members of the Democracy Initiative team, the Miller Center of Public Affairs, the UVA College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences communications team, as well as colleagues across the UVA Grounds.
- In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- A Bachelor's degree in English, communications, public relations or related field is required.
- At least seven years of experience in communications, marketing, journalism, writing, or a related position is required.
- Or a master’s degree plus 5 years relevant experience is required.
- Experience in higher education marketing and communications highly preferred
- Must have the ability to write in the voice of the organization, and to work independently and as part of a team.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a complex environment.
- Track record of demonstrating a high degree of initiative, flexibility and will have the skills to shape and be shaped by an evolving initiative program.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe InDesign is required. Proficiency in Adobe Creative, Photoshop, Drupal and Illustrator is preferred.
The anticipated hiring range for this position $90K to $110K commensurate with qualifications and experience.
This is an exempt level, benefited position. This position is a restricted position and is dependent upon, availability of funding and performance.
Preference will be given to applications received by April 29, 2021, though the position is open until filled.
The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check at time of offer per University Policy.