Job Description

This position will perform information dissemination, communications, and media relations for the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE). ISSE’s program areas conduct research, provide continuing education, and advise agencies at local, state, and national levels, and ISSE has programs and agreements with universities world-wide; this position interacts with their faculty, students, and staff to enact new initiatives that shape the direction of the programs. This position determines information needed to be disseminated for all programs, then creates the content, designs the materials, and disseminates them via the most effective communication channels to both technical audiences and the general public. This position would be provided directives to base their decisions on the content they procure from the ISSE Director.

• Create, write, design, edit, and produce (both electronic and print) content for annual reports, annual magazines, and quarterly newsletters, including the Annual Report for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).
• Design, edit, and maintain ISSE promotional materials including brochures, newsletters, and posters and maintain database for mailings.
• Facilitate communications with affiliated faculty members regarding projects through ISSE, including the seed project program.
• Develop and maintain social media like LinkedIn for ISSE.
• Develop original content, such as stories and articles, to keep public informed of ISSE’s programs, accomplishments, and initiatives.
• Design, maintain, and update all ISSE websites.
• Determine and write the content for all pages.
• Advise ISSE director on all marketing components and assist with developing marketing strategies to best fit program needs.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Associate’s degree
• Experience: Web site design, implementation, and maintenance. Writing, proofing, editing, layout, and design. Social media marketing (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc)
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Ability to interpret highly complex scientific concepts for lay audiences.
  • Understanding of engineering and its impact on society to enable this person to draft speeches and create presentations for center directors.
  • Exceptional knowledge of English grammar and vocabulary.
  • knowledge of HTML coding, web application development, WordPress, image processing, social media, etc

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Two years’ experience. Experience in higher education or research institution. Experience communicating with non-native English speakers.

Position Details

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Hybrid
• Position Pay Rate: $20/hour
• Hours: 20 hour/week. Schedule would be Monday through Friday during the hours of 8am – 5pm
• Duration of Temporary Assignment: up to one year

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

About The Department

The Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE) develops policies, technologies, and educational programs that respond to pressing environmental and security issues. ISSE’s centers, programs, and initiatives cut across multiple disciplines, engage the university’s research faculty and staff, and address many issues that affect sustainability. ISSE houses the Appalachian Leadership Institute, ISSE Earth System Modeling Initiative, DriveElectricTN, East Tennessee Clean Fuels, FEWSUS (International Research Coordination Network to Create Transdisciplinary Nodes of Food-Energy-Water to Support Sustainable Urban Systems), Methane Center, and Tennessee Water Resource Research Center. Sponsored by federal and state agencies as well as local organizations and companies, they conduct research and provide education and outreach for water, energy, and economic sustainability.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!