Director of Marketing and Strategic Communica

Wesleyan College•Macon, GA

23d

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications, the Director of Marketing & Strategic Communications leads the development of Wesleyan’s annual integrated marketing and communications plan and directs initiatives that advance, enhance, and protect the College’s brand reputation. This leader translates institutional priorities into compelling, high-performing campaigns; brings strong project management to complex, cross-functional work; and ensures Wesleyan’s communications are consistent, inspiring, and measurable across channels - amplifying the voices, outcomes, and stories that define Wesleyan’s next era. Role At a Glance: Lead an integrated, annual marketing and communications strategy and calendar that advances Wesleyan’s institutional priorities. Own high-performing campaign strategy across key audiences, with clear goals, target segments, channel plans, and success metrics. Provide strong project management and cross-campus coordination to deliver complex work on time and on brand. Strengthen Wesleyan’s brand, visibility, and reputation through content, web, social, and proactive earned media. Build an internal communications rhythm that improves alignment and execution across campus. Establish KPIs, dashboards and performance reporting to continuously improve outcomes and ROI.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic marketing and communications.
Demonstrated writing and editing skills and a track record of maintaining high editorial standards across channels.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in highly collaborative environments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience in higher education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.
Demonstrated budget management and vendor oversight
Experience with digital analytics and performance reporting; familiarity with CRM-driven communications and segmentation.
PR/media relations and issues/crisis communications experience.

Responsibilities

Campaign strategy and integrated planning Lead development of a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned to institutional priorities, with clear campaign goals, target audiences, channel plans, timelines, and KPIs. Build and maintain an annual campaign calendar that aligns key institutional moments across enrollment, advancement, alumnae engagement, academic programs, athletics, and campus life. Ensure campaign strategy is translated into executable project plans with defined scopes, owners, dependencies, and deadlines.
Project management and cross-campus delivery Serve as the institution’s marketing/communications project management leader—driving workflow clarity, approval pathways, and on-time delivery across multiple stakeholders. Lead campaign kickoffs, creative briefs, and production timelines; manage internal teams and vendors to execute work at a high standard. Establish repeatable systems for prioritization, request intake, and progress reporting so that work is delivered efficiently and predictably.
Enrollment marketing (in partnership with Admissions/Enrollment) Partner with Enrollment to design and optimize integrated campaigns that increase inquiry, application, deposit, and enrollment performance. Support segmented communications from inquiry through enrolled within the CRM and related digital acquisition efforts (email, web journeys, paid social/search, SMS where appropriate). Plan and conduct market research to improve targeting, message-market fit, and campaign performance.
Alumnae engagement and fundraising campaign marketing (in partnership with Advancement) Partner with Advancement/Alumnae Relations to support annual giving, giving days, donor stewardship/impact storytelling, and alumnae engagement initiatives through integrated campaigns and content. Develop campaign themes, messaging frameworks, and content pipelines that strengthen affinity and philanthropic outcomes. Support advancement communications vehicles (e.g., newsletters, impact updates, campaign landing pages) with strong editorial standards and measurable objectives.
Content, editorial, and digital presence Lead development of high-impact content across web, social media, print, and multimedia platforms that reflect Wesleyan’s mission and brand identity. Oversee the College website as a primary source of information for key audiences; ensure content is current, accessible, and well organized. Oversee social media strategy and execution; use analytics to strengthen engagement, reach, and campaign performance. Provide editorial direction and supervise the design, production, and distribution of institutional publications and printed materials; ensure professionalism, accuracy, and brand voice consistency.
Public relations, earned media, and thought leadership Develop and execute a proactive PR and media relations strategy that advances Wesleyan’s strategic priorities through positive news and feature coverage. Oversee earned media outreach (story pitching, media lists, relationship-building, and timely response to inquiries). Position Wesleyan as a thought leader by elevating faculty scholarship, student achievements, alumnae success, and community initiatives.
Internal communications and campus alignment Develop an internal communications strategy (updates, newsletters, key messages, and routine rhythms) that strengthens transparency, engagement, and alignment across faculty, staff, and students.
Measurement, reporting, and continuous improvement Establish KPIs and analytics tools to monitor impact and effectiveness; adjust strategy and resource allocation based on results. Produce monthly/quarterly performance reports for senior leadership with insights and recommendations. Stay current on higher-ed marketing/communications trends and translate best practices into practical improvements for Wesleyan.
Leadership, supervision, budget, and vendor management Direct the daily activities of the Marketing and Communications Department; set priorities, coach staff, and ensure high-quality outputs. Manage budgets, vendors, and external partners; ensure responsible stewardship and clear ROI. Supervise and mentor staff and, as appropriate, student workers/interns/contractors to extend capacity and develop talent.
Issues management and crisis communications Advise campus leadership on internal/external communications matters, including issues management and crisis communications planning and coordination.