Director of Comm and Marketing, COE

Job Description

The Director of Communications and Marketing for the College of Engineering leads the development, planning, execution, and evaluation of a comprehensive, strategic communications and marketing program for the college, and aligns 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; and university communications colleagues. 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 is a member of the college’s advancement team, supervises an assistant director of communications (who manages a staff of three) and an advancement communications manager. The director also has a dual reporting responsibility (shared with the department head) of 10 departmental communications or external relations manager.

The director oversees the search and selection process of all college-based and departmental based communications officers, and working with the department head, shares the responsibility of developing annual work performance plans and the subsequent work performance review. Achieving consistency, message alignment, and cohesive marketing will require the director to build strong partnerships with department heads and other college leaders to ensure departmental communications needs are fulfilled, align with college and university goals, and support advancement communications needs.

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. This position supports the university’s commitment to growth in Blacksburg and the greater Washington, D.C., metro area.

Areas of responsibility include: all College of Engineering-based communication activities, including the content and messaging of college web sites and social media channels; strong collaboration with Communications and Marketing to leverage university platforms including, the news and information 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. Flex/hybrid work options will be available, but the position does require a regular on-campus presence.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field OR Bachelor's with extensive experience
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate a communications and marketing program for a complex organization.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience for a complex, professional organization.
• Demonstrated experience with a range of communications principles including coaching leaders, messaging, writing, editing, visual communications, branding, marketing, media relations and social media.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.
• Experience in a higher education.

Pay Band

N/A

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

3/23/23

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: February 28, 2023
Applications close: