Grow Your Marketing & Communications Skills
Student Affairs Marketing (SAM) tells the story of the Division of Student Affairs and its multiple departments to the Northwestern community through the creation, implementation, and assessment of effective integrated marketing communications.
In addition to our full-time staff, SAM works with a large team of students to complete projects for the departments across Student Affairs. The SAM student team is made up of the following areas: Graphic Design, Communications, and Visual Communications (Photography, Video).
By joining our student team, you will:
- Learn real-world marketing and strategy skills.
- Expand and enhance your illustration, design, photography, or video skills.
- Be an active team member on a creative, energetic, problem-solving team.
Fall 2024 Positions Available
SAM is currently looking for talented students for:
- Graphic Designer
- Photographer/Videographer
*Students must be available September 2024 through May 2025
Student Job Descriptions
Graphic Design Team
Graphic Designer
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Student graphic designers report to SAM's full-time graphic designer, and work closely with various members of the SAM team and professional staff/clients from around the Division of Student Affairs. Student graphic designers participate in various meetings, workshops, critiques, and brainstorming sessions as necessary.
Each student graphic designer is expected to determine creative and effective marketing solutions by thinking big, taking risks, and collaborating to develop strategies that build awareness, engagement, and action from target audiences.
Work-study is required.
Graphic designers create effective campaigns by way of print and digital designs using various Adobe graphic design programs.
HUMAN RESOURCES DETAILS
Shifts
6-8 hours/week • Weekday mornings and afternoons available
Starting Wage
$14.05/hour
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Works closely with copywriters to collaborate on creative solutions to build effective campaigns.
- Uses creativity and design principles to clearly communicate purpose of the marketing piece.
- Follows the project management process steps to accomplish work.
- Communicates internally regarding critiques and production updates.
- Communicates with clients in a timely and professional manner. Assures completion of project, provides digital files to client for production.
MINIMUM SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Northwestern University undergraduate student
- Fine attention to detail
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional decision making skills and autonomy
- Exceptional written and communication skills
- Strong sense of curiosity and creativity
- Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud (CC), Illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop
- Understanding of typography and design principles
PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge of additional Adobe CC programs is a plus
- Photography skills are a plus
Note: Students interested in our graphic designer position must have a portfolio available to review for an interview.
Communications Team
Student Feature Writer
The Student Feature Writer reports to the Communications Specialist to help tell the story of Student Affairs at Northwestern. Our writers will work closely with various members of the Student Affairs Marketing team and clients from around the Division of Student Affairs.
Each writer will have the chance to cover student life at Northwestern and determine creative and effective ways to tell these stories. Members of SAM participate in meetings, workshops, critiques, and brainstorming sessions, as necessary. Writers will be asked to think big, take risks, and collaborate with a team of students to create stories that build awareness, engagement, and action from target audiences.
Work-study is required.
HUMAN RESOURCES DETAILSShifts
6-8 hours/week • Weekday mornings and afternoons available
Starting Wage
$14.05/hour
MINIMUM SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Northwestern University Undergraduate student
- Exceptional written, editing, and communication skills
- Fine attention to detail
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional decision making skills
- Strong sense of curiosity and creativity
Visual Communications Team
Photographer/Videographer
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Photographer/Videographer reports to the Associate Director and works closely with various members of the SAM team and professional staff/clients from around the Division of Student Affairs. Members of SAM participate in various meetings, workshops, critiques, and brainstorming sessions as necessary. Candidate maybe any combination of these positions. Apply for what you feel you are strongest in.
Each member of SAM is expected to determine creative and effective marketing solutions by thinking big, taking risks, and collaborating to develop strategies that build awareness, engagement, and action from target audiences.
Work-study is required.
The SAM Photographer/Videographer is someone with a creative eye and a flexible schedule who is willing to work some evenings and weekends. They will cover everything from major University events, department functions, marketing campaigns, as well as portraits of staff and students.
HUMAN RESOURCES DETAILS
Shifts
8-10 hours/week • Weekday mornings and afternoons available (Shifts may vary based on projects) Evenings and Weekends must be available throughout the year.
Starting Wage
$14.05/hour
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Photo/Video of coverage events and programs for documentation purposes.
- Photo/Video of people, places, and scenes for advertising campaigns.
- Photographs headshots, campus, and other scenes as necessary.
- Creates smaller videos for social media and other digital outlets.
- Edits and shares photo collections & video projects with clients, team members, and the public in a timely manner.
- Maintains structure of Photo/Video Libraries to optimize search capabilities.
- Collaborates with designers and other staff for brainstorms if needed.
- Films events and programs for documentation purposes.
- Plans, films, and edits videos to advertise various promotions and initiatives. Works with clients to storyboard ideas, sets up shoots, films scenes, edits, and communicates with the client and your team throughout the process to ensure goals are met with the video project.
MINIMUM SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Northwestern University Undergraduate student
- Basic understanding of DSLR cameras, audio and lighting equipment
- Experience editing photos with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional decision making skills
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Experience in video editing
- STRONG RESPONSIBILITY SKILLS
PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Fine attention to detail
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional time management and decision making skills
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Strong sense of curiosity and creativity
- Desire to improve constantly and learn more about photography/videography
- Comfortable directing others, including full time staff and management.
Note: Students interested in our Photographer/Videographer & Video Editor position must have a portfolio available to review for an interview.
Photo/Video Editor
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Photo/Video Editor reports to the Associate Director and works closely with various members of the SAM team and professional staff/clients from around the Division of Student Affairs. Members of SAM participate in various meetings, workshops, critiques, and brainstorming sessions as necessary.
Each member of SAM is expected to determine creative and effective marketing solutions by thinking big, taking risks, and collaborating to develop strategies that build awareness, engagement, and action from target audiences.
Work-study is required.
The SAM Photo/Video Editor is someone with a strong talent in editing, working with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop and Bridge as well as Premiere or a comparable editing software. They will assist the photographers and videographers with the editing of projects, including everything from major University events, department functions, marketing campaigns, as well as portraits of staff and students.
HUMAN RESOURCES DETAILS
Shifts
6-8 hours/week • Weekday mornings and afternoons available (Shifts may vary based on projects)
Starting Wage
$14.05/hour
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Editing of Photo/Video of coverage events and programs for documentation purposes.
- Editing of Photo/Video of people, places, and scenes for advertising campaigns.
- Photographs headshots, campus, and other scenes as necessary.
- Creates smaller videos for social media and other digital outlets.
- Assisting in maintaining Division Staff on Department sites (new photos added/terminated staff removed)
- Edits and shares photo collections & video projects with clients, team members, and the public in a timely manner.
- Maintains structure of Photo/Video Libraries to optimize search capabilities.
- Collaborates with designers and other staff for brainstorms if needed.
- Possibly films events and programs for documentation purposes.
- Edits videos to advertise various promotions and initiatives. Works with clients to storyboard ideas, sets up shoots, films scenes, edits, and communicates with the client and your team throughout the process to ensure goals are met with the video project.
- If available can also be an acting photographer or videographer as needed.
- Graphic Animation would be a part of this position, will teach if not familiar with it.
MINIMUM SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Northwestern University Undergraduate student
- Experience editing photos with Adobe Photoshop, Bridge and Lightroom
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional decision making skills
- Experience in video editing in Premiere
PREFERRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Fine attention to detail
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional time management and decision making skills
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Strong sense of curiosity and creativity
- Desire to improve constantly and learn more about photography/videography
- Comfortable directing others, including full time staff and management.
Note: Students interested in our Photo/Video position must have a portfolio available to review for an interview.
Newsletter Editor
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Student Newsletter Editor reports to the Associate Director and is responsible for overseeing and curating the content of the weekly email newsletter distributed to all students at Northwestern University. This role involves maintaining and updating the newsletter template, managing website components linked to the newsletter, and maintaining an events calendar that contributes to the newsletter's webpage. Additionally, the Student Newsletter Editor will be responsible for managing and coordinating newsletter submissions received from various departments within the University.
Each member of SAM is expected to determine creative and effective marketing solutions by thinking big, taking risks, and collaborating to develop strategies that build awareness, engagement, and action from target audiences.
*Students must be available September 2024 through May 2025.
Starting Wage
$14.05/hour
Essential Functions
- Work directly with the Associate Director of SAM
- Update and maintain the weekly email newsletter template to ensure timely and accurate delivery to the student body.
- Manage and update the content of the website component associated with the newsletter, including news articles, announcements, and featured stories.
- Maintain an events calendar that populates the newsletter's webpage with up-to-date information on campus events, activities, and deadlines.
- Collaborate with divisional partners to gather and review newsletter submissions, ensuring content aligns with university guidelines and standards.
- Assist with basic HTML coding for newsletter layout and design.
- Coordinate with the newsletter team to optimize content for engagement and readability.
- Stay informed about best practices in email newsletter management and web content development.
- Provide support for copywriting and editing tasks as needed.
Minimum Skills and Qualifications
- Current Northwestern University student
- Basic understanding of HTML code.
- Familiarity with web content management systems and newsletter tools like Mailchimp (preferred, but not required).
- Experience in copywriting and editing is preferred.
- Exceptional attention to detail.
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others.
- Strong decision-making skills and the ability to work autonomously.
- Excellent time management skills.
Web Coordinator
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Website Coordinator reports to the Associate Director, ensuring the content migration and maintenance of the current and impending redesigned Student Affairs websites. This position also works with various members of the Student Affairs Marketing (SAM) team, such as photographers, graphic designers, and copywriters as well as professional staff/clients from around the Division of Student Affairs. Members of SAM participate in various meetings, workshops, critiques, and brainstorming sessions as necessary. This position is also involved in marketing on the websites for the division.
Each member of SAM is expected to determine creative and effective marketing solutions by thinking big, taking risks, and collaborating to develop strategies that build awareness, engagement, and action from target audiences.
*Students must be available Fall 2024.
Starting Wage
$14.05/hour
Essential Functions
- Work directly with the Associate Director of SAM
- Intake/follow through of website requests from division
- Utilize the website resource Siteimprove to find and correct broken links and misspellings, as well as checking on accessibility standards.
- Work with SAM colleagues to implement campaigns on the appropriate websites.
- Assist training division marketing partners on Cascade content management system.
- Assisting Associate Director in compiling and analyzing stats in social media platforms.
- Implementation of Web Audit for Departmental websites.
Minimum Skills and Qualifications
- Current Northwestern University student
- Basic understanding of Content Management Systems and HTML code
- Background in Cascade is ideal but not necessary
- Fine attention to detail
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional decision making skills and autonomy
- Strong time management skills
Graduate Assistant
Graduate Assistant
The SAM Graduate Assistant reports to the Director of Student Affairs Marketing and works closely with various members of the SAM team, student staff, professional staff, and clients from around the Division of Student Affairs. Will participate in various meetings, workshops, critiques, and brainstorming sessions, as necessary.
*Ideal candidates will be available from Fall through Spring
HUMAN RESOURCES DETAILS
Shifts- 15-20 hours/week • Weekday mornings and afternoons available
Starting Wage
$20.00/hour
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Oversees the day-to-day projects of all three areas of SAM (Graphic Design, Communications, Photo/Video) Project management, scheduling timelines with clients. Contributes additional strategies, ideas, and mediums to each project, as necessary.
- Maintains content calendar, must be able to meet deadlines and help partners meet deadlines.
- Must be an independent, self-starter with exceptional communication skills.
- Leads and actively participates in a collaborative atmosphere; offering encouragement and constructive criticism to colleagues.
- Leads all client kick off, client presentation, and client closing meetings
- Holds weekly one-on-ones with students
- Documents takeaways from all client meetings and posts them in Asana
- Is expected to know where all design projects stand at all times
- Manages and organizes SAM email
- Manages incoming TV Ad requests
- Coordinates with vendors to place design print orders
- Distributes posters, postcards, and marketing materials etc. through campus mail
- Organizes and optimizes the team's workflow, including managing the calendar, creating folders, keeping track of status updates, setting up auto-emails and workflow automations within the team's project management system
- Serves as a point of contact for teams when multiple units are assigned to the same project to ensure team actions are working collaboratively
- Develops and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan
- Measures project performance to identify areas for improvement
MINIMUM SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Northwestern University Graduate student
- Strong Leadership Skills
- Close attention to detail
- Professionalism, dependability, and respect for others
- Exceptional decision-making skills and autonomy
- Exceptional written and communication skills
- Keen sense of curiosity and creativity
- Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, and timeline
- Experience in graphic design, photo/video, marketing or communications preferred, but not required.