The Director of Communications and Marketing for the Pamplin College of Business leads the development, planning, execution, and evaluation of a comprehensive, strategic communications and marketing program for the college, and will align those activities with university-wide communications, marketing, and branding initiatives. The director must have a commitment to the college’s disciplines; to diversity, equity, and inclusion in marketing and communications materials; and advocate for the college, its missions, and programs.
To fulfill university and college priorities, the director collaborates with the college’s leadership team, including the dean; the college’s advancement team (including communications, alumni engagement, and development staff); college and university faculty, staff, and students; communications and marketing and the Advancement Division; university communications colleagues, and help staff a volunteer communications committee for the dean’s advisory board. The director must develop and implement a comprehensive, strategic marketing and communications plan that is consistent with the college’s unique needs, brand marketing, and messaging, as well as the dean’s communications needs, while also working within the university’s larger marketing and communications framework. The director reports to the senior director of communications of college in the Division of Advancement; and the Pamplin dean or assistant dean of Advancement.
The director will directly supervise the college’s communications team of five, including an assistant director, photographer/videographer, digital content producer, a web specialist, and a writer. Additionally, the director will work in close collaboration and alignment with a director of marketing for the Pamplin graduate programs based in Northern VA; DEIB department communicator; Blackwood Department of Real Estate communicator; Center for Business Analytics communicator; Apex Center for Entrepreneurs communicator, and potentially others as departments and programs continue to scale communications.
The director will lead the communications team to increase the visibility of the college in a variety of ways, including message alignment, written and visual content creation for university and college digital and print platforms, marketing, external media relations, elevating the dean’s reputation, and more. The director will have a strong record of progressive experience in today’s communications fields, including the development and implementation of a strategic, comprehensive communications and marketing program; evidence of strong communications, interpersonal, presentation, and marketing skills; and proficiency in using word processing, image processing, content management system, and social media tools. The ideal candidate will also have experience leading a team of professional communicators; a strong understanding of effective graphic design and branding principles and the use of the Internet as a medium of communication; and the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
This individual oversees the communication strategy and implementation for the academic, research and advancement enterprises of the college, along with creating, executing, and evaluating a wide variety of communications projects–including communications plans, news and feature stories, speeches, media pitches, publications, and similar items–for the college and the dean.
Areas of responsibility include: all College of Business-based communication activities, including the content and messaging of college web sites and social media channels; strong collaboration with the university’s communications and marketing team to leverage university platforms including, VTx news website, Virginia Tech Magazine, media relations, photography and videography resources, and social media channels; and ensure the consistent implementation of university identity standards and accessibility standards in college communications.
This position is designated emergency personnel and based at the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Required Qualifications
– Master’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field OR Bachelor’s degree with extensive experience.
– Demonstrated experience supervising communications professionals.
– Demonstrated familiarity with a range of communications principles including coaching leaders, messaging, writing, editing, visual communications, branding, marketing, advertising, electronic communications, media relations and social media.
– Demonstrated professional experience working in a complex matrix management environment.
– Demonstrated professional experience representing and incorporating diverse constituencies and perspectives in communications.
– Demonstrated leadership experience in communications, marketing, or related field.
– Demonstrated ability to define goals and objectives, identify target audiences, and measure progress toward communications and marketing goals.
– Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive communications and marketing program for a complex organization.
Preferred Qualifications
– Experience communicating technical content to a general audience.
– Experience in communications and marketing for a research-based organization.
– Experience in executing marketing initiatives and the analysis and application of market research.
– Experience working with business/industry, alumni engagement, or development initiatives.
– Demonstrated budgetary supervision experience.
– Experience in a higher education, scientific organization, or nonprofit environment.
– Familiarity with content management systems and email platforms; social media competencies.
– Significant experience writing and producing publications and developing and placing stories with external media.
– Experience working in higher education, especially business education is desirable.
– Familiarity or experience managing volunteers and/or advisory boards.
Pay Band
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Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
Salary range $85,000-$90,000
Review Date
7/7/23
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Advancement HR at advhr@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Advertised: June 9, 2023
Applications close:
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