Assistant Director of Communications

Job Description

The College of Engineering seeks a creative and accomplished communications professional to join our team as an Assistant Director of Communications. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing and serving as a key member of the Advancement team, the Assistant Director plays a critical role in overseeing the college’s editorial content and processes; promoting broad reputational awareness of the college as well as its departments, programs, research, and faculty experts; and executing strategic communications plans in support of Advancement and student recruitment initiatives.

The Assistant Director supervises and/or directs the college’s Digital Communications Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, and Videographer, as well as freelance writers and content producers. This individual will also fill in for the Director as needed and must be comfortable interacting with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, effectively building relationships on behalf of the college that advance priorities, support increased collaboration, and lift the Virginia Tech Engineering brand.

In partnership with the Director, the Assistant Director leads and evaluates the college’s overall content strategy and workflow, ensuring alignment and coordination between written/visual storytelling and websites, social media, and other digital platforms and campaigns. This individual will serve as the primary editor of all college stories, associate editor of the college’s digital magazine, and point of contact for editorial calls and campaigns across the college and university. The Assistant Director will regularly write stories and related content for the university’s news platform, VTx, as well as college websites, and will track/report stories’ reach and effectiveness.

The Assistant Director will serve as liaison to the Media Relations team in University Relations, collaborating frequently with this group and department communicators to position/pitch college stories, research, and faculty experts for media distribution. This position will prepare and coordinate tip sheets, media advisories, and responses to media inquiries, serving as the college’s point of contact for external media outlets.

The Assistant Director will also write and coordinate content that contributes to Advancement priorities and campaigns, such as alumni and stewardship stories that align with college and university priorities, as well as student-focused pieces that aid in the college’s broad recruitment and enrollment management tactics.

Required Qualifications

● Master’s degree in English, communications, public relations, journalism, or related field or equivalent training and/or work experience
● Professional experience as a writer, editor, and/or communicator, with a strong portfolio of work to demonstrate these skills
● Demonstrated experience working with a variety of digital communications platforms, such as website content management systems, printed/digital magazines, and/or professional social media accounts, and a strong understanding of effective digital content strategy
● Demonstrated experience working with others to develop videos, photos, and other visual/graphic assets as part of an effective digital content strategy
● Demonstrated experience in leading others, either as a supervisor or member of a collaborative team
● Demonstrated experience preparing and executing strategic communications plans and evaluating/reporting on their effectiveness

Preferred Qualifications

Professional communications experience in higher education, independent education, or the nonprofit sector

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

05/20/2022

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 Lee Bishop at dabisho1@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: April 22, 2022
Applications close: