Director of Marketing and Communications - OEC

Penn State University • University Park, IL

25d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (OEC) at Penn State is seeking a highly qualified and innovative Director of Marketing and Communications for Invent Penn State, a university-wide initiative focused on advancing economic development, job creation, and student career success. Reporting to the Director of Administration for the Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (OEC), this role provides comprehensive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for all marketing and communications efforts supporting the Invent Penn State initiative.

The Director of Marketing and Communications plays a critical role in the success of Invent Penn State by developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies that strengthen the initiative’s brand and visibility. This position partners closely with university leadership and internal stakeholders to advance Penn State’s vision for entrepreneurship and innovation by positioning the University as a national hub for innovation and startups, increasing visibility of Penn State’s intellectual property, expanding the University’s capacity to launch and scale successful startups, and fostering a strong culture of entrepreneurship across the institution.

Requirements

• Demonstrated advanced expertise in brand strategy, vendor sourcing and management, project management, strategic planning, and budget management.
• Proven leadership experience assembling, managing, and motivating distributed or cross-functional teams to successfully deliver large-scale projects and events beyond normal scope of responsibility.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated experience in financial and budget oversight.
• Bachelor's Degree
• 8+ years of relevant experience, includes 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the statewide network of 22 Invent Penn State Innovation Hubs by establishing and enforcing brand standards, trademarks, and visual identity guidelines, and by developing marketing and communications toolkits to support the Innovation Hub Seed Grant Program.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications strategies for Invent Penn State, including branding, messaging, websites, publications, social media, direct marketing, media relations, and publicity, to position Penn State as a national leader in innovation among peer research universities.
• Conceptualize, develop, and implement innovative, scalable marketing approaches that support economic development across the Commonwealth, while assisting campuses and Innovation Hubs with regionally tailored messaging aligned with the Invent Penn State brand.
• Envision, develop, and oversee high-impact marketing strategies, initiatives, and special projects that advance the mission and long-term goals of Invent Penn State.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the University-wide network of Invent Penn State Innovation Hubs on marketing best practices, policies, and communications strategy.
• Collaborate with senior administrative leadership across Penn State, industry partners, and Commonwealth stakeholders to advance Invent Penn State initiatives spanning academic colleges, campuses, and regions.
• Monitor and assess peer and industry best practices, identify resource gaps and institutional needs, and develop innovative marketing solutions that strengthen Penn State’s leadership position in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Address complex and unprecedented communications challenges related to technology transfer, commercialization, and startup development by designing and implementing processes and programs that improve operational efficiency and institutional effectiveness.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, and lead a growing team of marketing and communications professionals and event planner(s).
• Develop and maintain comprehensive marketing strategies for signature programs, including but not limited to: Happy Valley LaunchBox, the Summer Founders Program, Small Business Development Center, Brand Academy, Veteran’s Business Outreach Center (VBOC), the Makerspace, OriginLabs, NSF I-Corps, and the Invent Penn State Venture & IP Conference.
• Oversee the implementation and ongoing use of Adobe Workfront project management tool in collaboration with internal and external partners to ensure effective planning, execution, and accountability across marketing initiatives and OEC events.
• Collaborate closely with the Salesforce Administrator to support the implementation and ongoing optimization of Salesforce Marketing Cloud across the Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (OEC) Salesforce organizations and platforms, ensuring alignment with marketing strategy, data integrity, user adoption, and integrated communications workflows.
• Partner with Associate Vice Presidents for Research and offices within the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research to provide strategic marketing and communications support for key initiatives, including branding, media relations, publicity, website development, and digital tools.
• Lead the development and management of proprietary online platforms and digital tools that increase visibility and accessibility of Penn State’s research capabilities, intellectual property, and startup ecosystem.
• Provide direct communications support to the Senior Vice President for Research, including the preparation of remarks, presentations, quotes, stories, and op-eds related to economic development, Invent Penn State, and the Innovation Hubs.
• Oversee and manage the Invent Penn State marketing and communications budget, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources, strategic allocation of funds, and alignment with institutional priorities, goals, and measurable outcomes.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director