Strategic Communications Consultant - Office of Strategic Initiatives

Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSIN) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

The Visual Communications & Design Consultant is a hands-on creative professional responsible for producing high-quality visual and digital communications that supports the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Critical Materials Crossroads (CMC) Engine and the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI).

The position is primarily focused on visual campaign development, including PowerPoint presentation design, graphic design, website development and maintenance, and social media content creation. The individual will take provided content, concepts, data, and direction and turn them into polished, professional materials appropriate for internal and external audiences.

This position requires strong print and digital production skills, attention to detail, creativity, responsiveness, and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving quickly from request to execution, developing materials independently, incorporating feedback, and delivering finished products that meet university and project standards.

ROLES

1. Presentation Designer
2. Graphic Designer & Visual Content Creator
3. Website Developer & Content Manager
4. Social Media Content Creator
5. Digital Asset & Brand Coordinator

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Presentation Design & Production
   • Responsible for creating, formatting, and improving professional PowerPoint presentations for research, programmatic, executive, stakeholder, and external audiences
2. Graphic Design, Visual Content & Campaign Development
   • Responsible for producing graphics, diagrams, infographics, charts, figures, and other visual materials that clearly communicate technical, research, and programmatic information for Critical Materials Crossroads engineering, finance, business, workforce, research and development, and operations teams. Campaign development to encompass multi-channel strategies that include both print and digital outreach from form building and email campaigns to event collateral and channel tracking and maintenance
3. Website Development & Maintenance
   • Responsible for developing, updating, and maintaining CMC and OSI website pages and digital content to ensure information is current, visually engaging, functional, accessible, and aligned with university standards.
4. Social Media Content Development
   • Responsible for creating visual and written content for CMC social media channels that highlights programs, research, events, accomplishments, opportunities, and other organizational activities.
5. Brand & Digital Asset Management
   • Responsible for consistently applying CMC, NSF, and university branding and maintaining organized templates, graphics, photographs, presentations, and other digital assets.
6. Security & Compliance
   • Responsible for appropriately handling project information, research materials, photographs, digital assets, and other content in accordance with university requirements.
7. Other Duties as Required
   • Provides additional graphic design, presentation, marketing, conference and events, web, social media, and communications production support as organizational needs evolve.

DUTIES

• PowerPoint & Presentation Design
  • Create polished PowerPoint presentations from outlines, written content, existing presentations, data, and other source materials
  • Develop presentation templates, slide layouts, graphics, diagrams, and visual storytelling elements
  • Redesign and improve existing presentations for clarity, consistency, readability, and visual impact
  • Translate complex information into clear visual formats appropriate for technical and nontechnical audiences
  • Create charts, process diagrams, timelines, roadmaps, organizational graphics, and other presentation visuals
  • Ensure presentations consistently follow applicable brand and formatting standards
  • Prepare presentation materials for meetings, conferences, proposals, stakeholder briefings, and other events
  • Make timely revisions based on stakeholder feedback
• Graphic Design & Visual Content
  • Design graphics, infographics, diagrams, figures, posters, one-pagers, flyers, signage, reports, and other communications materials
  • Create visual assets for proposals, websites, presentations, social media, events, and external communications
  • Improve researcher- or staff-developed graphics so they are visually consistent and presentation-ready
  • Develop reusable templates and design elements to improve efficiency and consistency.
  • Resize and adapt graphics for multiple digital and print formats
  • Prepare production-ready files for digital distribution and printing
• Website Development & Maintenance
  • Develop and update website pages using approved university platforms and tools
  • Maintain current website content, graphics, photographs, links, documents, and other digital assets
  • Create new webpages and page layouts as program needs evolve
  • Format web content for readability, usability, and visual consistency
  • Support improvements to website navigation and user experience
  • Coordinate website updates, corrections, announcements, events, and other time-sensitive content
  • Ensure website content meets applicable accessibility and university requirements
  • Perform routine quality checks to identify outdated content, broken links, formatting issues, and other needed updates
  • Coordinate with university technical teams when changes require additional system or administrative support
• Social Media & Digital Content
  • Create social media graphics, posts, announcements, event promotions, researcher highlights, project updates, and other digital content
  • Develop content from information provided by program staff, researchers, leadership, and other stakeholders
  • Adapt content and graphics for different social media platforms
  • Maintain a consistent visual identity across social media channels
  • Schedule and publish approved social media content
  • Maintain a social media content calendar aligned with program activities, events, announcements, and milestones
  • Monitor basic engagement metrics and use results to inform future content
  • Maintain organized files of approved photographs, graphics, captions, and other reusable social media assets
• Project & Asset Management
  • Manage multiple concurrent design and communications requests
  • Track assigned projects, deadlines, revisions, approvals, and final deliverables
  • Maintain organized source files and final production files
  • Maintain presentation, graphic, website, and social media templates
  • Create, maintain, and update data collection forms embedded in websites or Emma emails for conferences and events
  • Archive completed materials so they can be easily located and reused
  • Coordinate with stakeholders to obtain necessary content, data, photographs, logos, approvals, and other inputs
  • Communicate proactively when information or approvals are needed to meet a deadline

EXPECTATIONS

The Visual Communications & Digital Design Consultant is expected to:

• Be a hands-on producer. The position is expected to personally create, edit, and deliver presentations, graphics, webpages, social media content, and related materials
• Work efficiently from direction and source materials. The individual should be able to receive an objective, content, data, or rough concept and develop a polished product without requiring extensive direction at every stage
• Produce professional, accurate work. Materials should be visually polished, consistent, proofread, and ready for their intended audience
• Meet deadlines. The position must be comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment where priorities may change quickly, particularly around proposals, events, announcements, presentations, and external communications
• Manage multiple requests simultaneously. The individual should maintain an organized workflow and communicate clearly regarding deadlines, competing priorities, and required inputs
• Be responsive to feedback. The individual should incorporate edits efficiently and work through revisions until materials are approved
• Maintain brand consistency. All materials should appropriately follow university, program, sponsor, and other applicable branding requirements
• Use AI and emerging design tools appropriately. AI-assisted tools may be used to improve productivity and creative development when appropriate, while maintaining accuracy, originality, confidentiality, and compliance with university requirements
• Maintain organized digital assets. Working files, final products, templates, photographs, graphics, and other assets should be maintained in an organized and reusable manner
• Protect sensitive information. Research, proposal, institutional, and other nonpublic information must be handled appropriately

NOTE: This position is grant funded and contingent on continued grant funding.

• A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

STRONGLY PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Digital Media, Web Design, Communications, Marketing, or a related field
• Demonstrated professional experience in graphic design and digital content production
• Strong portfolio demonstrating presentation design, graphic design, and digital communications capabilities
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint
• Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience creating graphics, diagrams, infographics, and other visual communications
• Experience developing or maintaining websites using a content management system
• Mastery of WordPress to support website development and troubleshooting
• Experience developing content for social media and digital communications
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and file management
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing executive, technical, research, or proposal presentations
• Experience creating visual communications for scientific, engineering, financial and business, research, or technology-focused audiences
• Advanced PowerPoint design and data visualization skills
• Experience with website content management systems and front-end web design
• Experience managing organizational social media accounts and content calendars
• Experience with social media scheduling and analytics tools
• Experience with photography, video editing, animation, or motion graphics
• Familiarity with AI-assisted design and content-development tools
• Understanding of ADA, Section 508, and WCAG accessibility requirements
• Experience developing reusable templates, brand systems, and asset management systems
• Experience working in a university, research, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex organization

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $53,973 - $69,576 annually.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: GGS 9E
University Title: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Job posting will remain open until filled.

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.