Marketing & Public Relations Specialist - Kimbrell Campus

Gaston College•Belmont, NC

22h

About The Position

The Marketing & Public Relations Specialist leads strategic marketing, branding, communications, public relations, and stakeholder engagement efforts that support the visibility, reputation, enrollment, partnerships, and growth of Gaston College’s Kimbrell Campus. The role promotes the campus’s academic, workforce development, industry training, testing, and innovation initiatives and positions it as a leader in textile innovation, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, applied research, and industry engagement. Kimbrell Campus includes the Textile Technology Center, Fiber Innovation Center, and emerging FutureTex initiatives. The specialist promotes the campus’s services, educational programs, partnerships, research and innovation initiatives, industry impact, and economic development contributions while strengthening relationships across the textile, fiber, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Vice President - Kimbrell Campus, the specialist develops and carries out marketing and communications strategies, coordinates media relations, creates digital and print content, supports events and outreach, and monitors marketing performance. The position works with campus leaders and college partners to support enrollment, program participation, industry partnerships, fundraising, business development, and stakeholder engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business, or a related field.
Three years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations, business development, or a related field.
Demonstrated success developing and executing marketing and communications initiatives.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling content, communicate technical information to diverse audiences, and build relationships with industry, educational, governmental, and media partners.
Experience managing digital marketing strategies, including websites, social media, email marketing, SEO, digital advertising, marketing analytics, and brand management.
Ability to oversee multiple projects and deadlines.
Strong organizational, project management, and customer service skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, workforce development, manufacturing, textiles, or related industries.
Proficiency with CRM and marketing analytics platforms.
Experience supporting industry partnerships, grants, foundations, or economic development initiatives.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and continuously improve comprehensive marketing, communications, branding, and public relations strategies for Kimbrell Campus programs, services, facilities, and partnerships.
Strengthen and promote the Kimbrell Campus brand in alignment with Gaston College standards, ensuring consistent visual identity, voice, messaging, and editorial standards across communications.
Collaborate with admissions, workforce development, and other partners on targeted marketing, recruitment, and outreach campaigns for prospective students, industry partners, employers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders.
Serve as the primary communications coordinator and manage media relations for Kimbrell Campus, including developing and distributing press releases, newsletters, feature stories, annual reports, media advisories, executive communications, and promotional materials.
Support public relations, crisis communications, and reputation management efforts.
Coordinate marketing, communications, promotional activities, and event logistics with Textile Technology Center leadership and staff for training programs, certifications, conferences, workshops, trade shows, facility tours, open houses, and other initiatives.
Manage trade show booth reservations, setup planning and design, and promotional materials.
Develop storytelling and content highlighting student success, workforce development, product innovation, economic growth, community engagement, and industry advancement.
Create, manage, and maintain website content, social media, email communications, digital publications, presentations, photography, video, and other marketing materials.
Develop marketing, educational, recruitment, and technical communications that explain campus programs, services, technologies, facilities, resources, and career opportunities to industry, educational, and public audiences.
Promote academic, apprenticeship, workforce development, continuing education, and industry training programs, including the Associate in Applied Science in Textile Technology, Career and College Promise pathways, and Textile Academy offerings.
Support outreach, engagement, partnership, sponsorship, fundraising, business development, and collaborative initiatives by developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships.
Collaborate with the Foundation and development team on promotional efforts for grants, partnerships, donations, equipment acquisitions, major announcements, and recognition programs.
Monitor, analyze, and report on marketing performance, audience engagement, enrollment trends, campaign effectiveness, and other key metrics; conduct market research; maintain stakeholder databases; and provide data-driven recommendations.
Provide marketing, communications, public relations, and stakeholder engagement support for initiatives, programs, partnerships, and special projects aligned with Gaston College and Kimbrell Campus priorities.
Represent the College professionally, maintain confidentiality, follow college policies and procedures, collaborate effectively, and provide exceptional customer service and stakeholder engagement.
Perform other duties as assigned.