ComArtSci Senior Director of Marketing and Communications / Sr. Communications & Marketing Officer/S

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences seeks an experienced higher education marketing and communications leader to develop and execute integrated strategies supporting enrollment growth, alumni and donor engagement, research impact, and the college’s reputation. Reporting to the chief of staff, the senior director works closely with the dean and partners with college leadership, academic departments, faculty, and university partners to turn college priorities into actionable marketing and communications plans. The role has regular access to the dean as a strategic thought partner and a dotted-line relationship to University Communications and Marketing to support collaboration and alignment. The senior director leads college-wide marketing and communications strategy, enrollment campaigns, storytelling, executive communications, digital marketing, and team operations. The role includes developing communications with the advancement team, coordinating crisis and issues communications, and managing budgets, staffing, vendors, workflows, and project delivery. The position is remote-friendly, with an expectation of working in the office at least three days per week and potentially more during the first 6–12 months. Flexibility to work nights and/or weekends as needs arise is required.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to a four-year degree in marketing, advertising, public relations, journalism, communication, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Five to eight years of progressively responsible marketing and communications experience, including strategy development and hands-on execution.
Professional experience in higher education marketing and communications, with understanding of academic environments and enrollment priorities.
Demonstrated success developing and executing marketing strategies that advance student recruitment and alumni and donor engagement.
Experience advising a dean, senior academic leader, or comparable executive and translating institutional priorities into actionable strategies.
Strong writing, editing, storytelling, and editorial judgment.
Three or more years of experience leading teams, managing projects, and balancing competing priorities.
Flexibility to work nights and/or weekends as needs arise.
Anticipate working in the office at least three days per week, and potentially more during the first 6–12 months.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing marketing strategies for undergraduate and graduate recruitment, including prospect nurturing and conversion.
Experience partnering with advancement teams on alumni engagement, donor communications, and philanthropic storytelling.
Experience translating faculty research and scholarship into compelling impact-focused stories for diverse audiences.
Experience using analytics and market research to measure performance and improve marketing effectiveness.
Experience managing budgets, vendors, creative production, and cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

Translate the dean’s priorities into integrated marketing and communications plans with defined audiences, objectives, and measurable outcomes.
Advise the dean on marketing strategy, enrollment opportunities, audience engagement, and reputation.
Use market research, audience insights, and performance data to guide strategy, prioritize resources, and improve results.
Develop and execute marketing plans supporting undergraduate recruitment and graduate enrollment growth.
Lead end-to-end marketing strategies for master’s programs, guiding prospective students from awareness and inquiry through application and enrollment.
Develop targeted campaigns communicating program value, career relevance, and student outcomes across digital, email, advertising, and other channels.
Partner with academic departments, associate deans for undergraduate education and graduate studies, and central admissions to complement recruitment efforts and strengthen prospective student engagement.
Monitor campaign performance and enrollment outcomes and adjust strategies to improve lead generation and conversion.
Develop marketing and storytelling strategies that strengthen student belonging and the college’s reputation and communicate the impact of teaching, research, and creative work.
Partner with advancement to create alumni and donor communications that deepen relationships, demonstrate philanthropic impact, and encourage engagement and generosity.
Develop executive communications with the dean and chief of staff, including speeches, presentations, community messages, and leadership correspondence.
Ensure messaging and creative content are compelling, consistent, and aligned with college priorities and university brand standards.
Coordinate crisis and issues communications with the chief of staff, college leadership, and University Communications and Marketing.
Lead digital marketing across the college website, social media, email, and other relevant channels, using analytics to improve engagement and conversion.
Provide creative and editorial direction for written, visual, and multimedia content.
Lead and develop the marketing and communications team, setting priorities, expectations, and accountability while participating in strategy and execution.
Manage unit operations, including budgets, staffing, vendor relationships, workflows, and project delivery.
Collaborate with academic unit leadership, faculty, advancement, central admissions, and university partners to deliver coordinated marketing and communications.