Executive Director for Marketing & Strategic Communications (Dedman School of Law)

Southern Methodist University • Dallas, TX

41d • Onsite

About The Position

This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Executive Director for Marketing and Strategic Communications will lead the Dedman Law Marketing and Communications team in developing and implementing a cutting-edge marketing and communications strategy campaign to highlight the strengths of Dedman Law. This position will manage and enhance the school's brand image and messaging across various channels, including the law school's website, email communications, and social media for faculty, staff, centers, clinics, etc. The executive director will work with the Dean and other staff to craft a communications plan for key external audiences and collaborate with media outlets and stakeholders to enhance the law school's visibility. The goal of this position is to communicate information about and enhance the reputation of Dedman Law internally and externally-regionally, nationally, and globally.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree is required, preferably degree in marketing and communication.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience is required, preferably in the areas of marketing and communication.
• Experience with CRM systems and data management is required, Blackbaud or Salesforce CRM is highly preferred. Salesforce Marketing Cloud, desired.
• Must have strong executive management skills to manage the Marketing and Strategic Communications Office at Dedman Law.
• Candidate must have at least seven (7) years of experience in communications and/or marketing at a university, law firm, professional school, nonprofit, public or private organization is preferred. The ideal candidate must have a high degree of autonomy, must exercise independent and good judgment, and be able to manage a team. The candidate must have the ability to prioritize and manage projects to meet deadlines and delegate as appropriate to team members. The candidate must possess creative thinking skills and be a strategic thinker.
• Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University, foster productive internal and external relationships, and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies.
• Candidate must demonstrate strong written and communication and editing skills, and have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. Must have a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Strong project management skills are essential.
• Candidate must have the ability to attend/participate in some evening or weekend events as needed.
• Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with annual giving fundraising preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop communications strategy and implement marketing campaign to highlight the strengths of Dedman School of Law. Work with the Dean and other law staff in the administration to craft a communications plan for key external audiences.
• Overall management of the school's brand image and messaging across various channels, including the law school website and social media for faculty, staff, centers, clinics, etc. Manage a team responsible for the web, email communications, and social media presence of Dedman Law, as well as oversee the creation of printed materials for both internal and external use. This involves planning, writing, honing messaging, and overseeing communication tools such as the law school's monthly newsletter, email communications, the annual magazine, media pitches, annual giving fundraising letters and emails, videos, presentations, speeches, and more.
• Establish and maintain relationships with media contacts and maintain an awareness of media coverage of Dedman Law. Oversee public relations efforts on behalf of Dedman Law to promote and enhance the reputation of the school. Connect with SMU central marketing and communication to ensure university brand guidelines are upheld and Dedman Law is accurately represented and promoted in multiple channels of print and digital outlets.
• Responsible for creating some content for the website, press releases, alumni magazine, social media, and alumni and stakeholder correspondence. Also responsible for the development of some content related to videography, including scripts and storyboards.
• Liaise with law faculty and staff to accurately represent and promote Dedman Law to audiences. Maintain awareness of faculty scholarship, events, programs, faculty, staff, and clinic accomplishments that should be publicized.
• Assist the Dean, the law school administration, alumni relations, and development with various law school board meetings, events, lectures, and programs.
• Track deadlines, oversee data gathering and alumni/peer school/employer outreach efforts for law school rankings. Report out rankings results to key law school administration. Maintain awareness of new rankings and determine which ones are relevant for Dedman Law participation.
• Coordinate and communicate directly with key Dedman Law alumni and stakeholders for events and Distinguished Alumni Awards.
• Oversee and track marketing and external relations budget.

Benefits

• SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits.
• In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
• SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
• Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees