Director of Marketing and Communications, College of Education

Penn State University • University Park, IL

1d • $91,488 - $137,280 • Hybrid

About The Position

Penn State’s College of Education seeks an accomplished, innovative, and collaborative leader to provide strategic direction and operational leadership for the College’s marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, and brand management. Reporting to the Dean, the Director will advise the Dean and senior leadership, strengthen the College’s reputation and visibility, and communicate the impact of its teaching, research, innovation, and service missions. The role builds relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community partners and helps position the College as a national leader in education and public service while advancing enrollment, fundraising, engagement, and institutional impact.

The Director leads integrated marketing and communications strategy, brand and reputation management, public relations, digital strategy, analytics, events, team development, budgets, and operations. The position oversees communications across channels and supports signature programs, strategic initiatives, and high-visibility activities. It also ensures work aligns with University policies, brand standards, accessibility requirements, ethical principles, and applicable laws and regulations.

This position is based at Penn State’s University Park campus with a hybrid arrangement involving on-site and remote work each week, subject to operational needs, College guidelines, and University policy. Regular on-campus engagement is required, as is occasional evening, weekend, and overnight travel for events, stakeholder meetings, conferences, and other College activities. The role requires a bachelor’s degree and at least eight years of relevant experience, including at least three years of supervisory experience, or an accepted equivalent combination of education and experience. A degree in a related field is preferred; an advanced degree is a plus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 or more years of relevant experience, including 3 or more years of supervisory experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience is accepted.
• The required relevant experience must be progressively responsible experience in marketing, communication, media relations, external relations, or a related field.
• Supervisory experience must include supervising or managing professional staff; experience in a complex, distributed, or matrixed organization is preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated marketing and communication strategies.
• Advanced knowledge of brand strategy, public relations, media relations, digital marketing, content development, social media, web strategy, analytics, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience advising senior leaders and communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, agencies, consultants, and large-scale events.
• Effective written, verbal, presentation, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an inclusive, respectful approach when working with and supporting others.
• Commitment to ethical leadership and accessibility.
• Applicants must submit a current resume and a cover letter describing their qualifications, leadership experience, and interest in advancing the College of Education’s mission through integrated marketing, communications, and external relations.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of staff employment visas.
• Successful completion of required background checks in accordance with University policies.

Nice To Haves

• Degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Advanced degree.
• Experience in higher education, research, or a comparable complex public institution.
• Experience supporting enrollment marketing, advancement, alumni relations, donor engagement, research communication, or legislative advocacy.
• Experience with CRM systems and marketing automation, project management, content management, digital analytics, and related platforms.
• Professional certifications in digital marketing, performance marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field.
• Experience leading communications during a crisis or other high-consequence issues.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated marketing, communications, and public relations strategies aligned with the College’s mission, priorities, and strategic plan.
• Advise the Dean and College leadership on communications, reputation, stakeholder engagement, and crisis response in coordination with University Strategic Communications.
• Lead public relations, thought leadership, strategic storytelling, and visibility initiatives; identify emerging issues and reputational risks and coordinate timely responses.
• Lead marketing initiatives across branding, enrollment, advertising, publications, websites, social media, email, video, podcasts, events, and sponsored or owned content.
• Develop data-informed campaigns to increase awareness, enrollment, participation, donor support, and stakeholder participation.
• Oversee the College’s digital presence, including content governance, accessibility, search engine optimization, user experience, social media, and performance improvement.
• Use audience insights, analytics, customer relationship management systems, marketing automation, and reporting tools to measure results and guide decisions.
• Develop toolkits, templates, campaign resources, and tailored messaging that support the College while maintaining brand consistency.
• Establish project management and workflow systems to improve accountability, efficiency, and collaboration.
• Oversee marketing and communications for conferences, symposia, public programs, stakeholder events, and other high-visibility activities.
• Develop plans for signature programs, strategic initiatives, launches, and College events, and ensure effective event branding, communications, audience engagement, logistics, and post-event evaluation.
• Recruit, supervise, mentor, coach, and develop a high-performing team of marketing, communications, public relations, digital, creative, and event professionals.
• Set team priorities, performance expectations, timelines, service standards, and professional development opportunities, and foster an inclusive, collaborative, transparent, innovative, and service-oriented culture.
• Develop and manage budgets, allocate resources, monitor expenditures, and evaluate return on investment.
• Oversee agencies, vendors, consultants, designers, production partners, and other service providers.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, brand standards, accessibility requirements, ethical principles, and applicable laws and regulations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Retirement plans.
• Paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• A 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.
• Flexible work arrangements when aligned with unit needs and the essential duties of the position.

What This Job Offers

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