Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing: College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing reports directly to the Dean of the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) and serves as a member of the Dean's Cabinet Leadership Team. This executive leadership position provides strategic direction for all marketing, communications, branding, media relations, public affairs, and visibility initiatives that advance the College's mission, enrollment growth, partnerships, reputation, and institutional impact. As a senior leader within a rapidly growing and innovative college, the Senior Director is responsible for growing the existing team while leading and continuously evolving a high-performing communications and marketing team, including organizational structure, talent development, strategic planning, operational effectiveness, and performance accountability. The position serves as the Dean's chief communications and marketing strategist, leading integrated initiatives that elevate CECS's visibility, strengthen its market position, and establish the College as a national leader in interdisciplinary, workforce-focused, and future-oriented education. The Senior Director collaborates extensively with university leadership, academic and administrative units, industry and community partners, media organizations, and external stakeholders to advance institutional priorities, expand strategic partnerships, and ensure consistent, high-impact messaging. Through visionary leadership, organizational development, and strategic execution, the position drives the College's long-term growth, influence, and success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in political science, public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, management, or related field
5–7 years of professional experience in public affairs, communications, media relations, or similar high-profile roles
Demonstrated success in managing executive-level communications and media strategies
Demonstrated success in leading and developing an existing team
Experience in executive decision-making
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences
High attention to detail, excellent organization and time management skills
Proven ability to lead and develop a team
Proven ability to prepare leadership for national media interviews, including message development
Strong strategic planning and project management with the ability to meet tight deadlines
Proficiency in digital media platforms, analytics tools, and media monitoring systems
Demonstrated proficiency in delivering consistent, high-impact internal and external communications that ensure accuracy, coherence, and alignment with institutional brand standards
High level of discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information
Ability to work independently and collaboratively while managing multiple projects
Excellent interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with leadership, media, and stakeholders
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in political science, public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, management, or related field
7-10 years of professional experience in higher education in public affairs, communications, media relations, or similar high-profile roles
Track record of national-level media engagement and communication leadership
Previous support of a president, provost, dean, or C-suite executive
Knowledge of trends in public affairs, higher education, and technology sectors
Expertise in speech writing, presentation design, and multimedia storytelling
Data-driven strategy expertise, using analytics to optimize visibility campaigns
Political savvy and ability to navigate complex organizational and external dynamics
Experience managing communications under pressure with rapid turnaround
Advanced relationship-building with journalists, thought leaders, and high-profile stakeholders

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Dean's Cabinet Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership that advances the College's mission, growth, visibility, and institutional impact.
Design and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy that advances CECS's strategic priorities and long-term growth objectives.
Anticipate emerging opportunities and challenges, align initiatives with available resources, and establish clear priorities, timelines, and measurable outcomes that maximize institutional impact.
Grow the existing team by leading and continuously evolving a high-performing communications and marketing team, including organizational structure, workforce planning, operational frameworks, strategic priorities, and performance accountability.
Define long-term communications and marketing objectives, success metrics, and implementation strategies that elevate CECS's reputation, enrollment growth, partnerships, and influence.
Champion innovation and organizational transformation through strategic communications, marketing, branding, and visibility initiatives that strengthen the College's market position, reputation, and external influence.
Anticipate emerging trends and opportunities in higher education, workforce development, and industry engagement, and drive innovative strategies that accelerate growth, expand stakeholder engagement, and position CECS as a national leader in interdisciplinary, workforce-focused, and future-oriented education.
Grow, lead, and inspire a high-performing communications and marketing team capable of supporting the College's rapid growth and evolving strategic priorities.
Design workforce strategies, organizational structures, and staffing models that position the college for long-term success.
Develop communications and marketing professionals while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and excellence.
Establish performance expectations, measurable outcomes, and accountability standards that drive results and continuous improvement.
Build, implement, and continuously enhance the operational infrastructure of the CECS communications and marketing team, including governance, policies, workflows, communication standards, performance measures, and resource allocation strategies.
Drive operational excellence by optimizing processes, leveraging resources effectively, and creating scalable systems.
Direct all marketing, communications, branding, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, and visibility initiatives for the College.
Shape, strengthen, and advance the CECS brand by ensuring proactive, consistent messaging, positioning, visual identity, and stakeholder engagement across all communications channels.
Establish and govern the College's messaging strategy and communications standards, ensuring all communications consistently reflect CECS's mission, vision, values, brand, and strategic priorities while being tailored to appropriate internal, university-wide, regional, statewide, national, and external audiences.
Establish and leverage a robust, data-driven understanding of CECS's target audiences, stakeholders, and influencers to guide strategic communications, marketing, enrollment, workforce development, and partnership initiatives.
Utilize audience insights, market intelligence, and engagement analytics to identify opportunities, shape strategy, strengthen brand positioning, and drive measurable institutional growth and impact.
Serve as the chief communications and marketing strategist to the Dean, leading executive communications, thought leadership initiatives, public relations, and media engagement.
Spearhead the market positioning, branding, and strategic communications of current and new and emerging CECS degree programs, certificates, and strategic initiatives, including the CECS Online Academy and other workforce-focused programs, driving awareness, enrollment growth, recruitment, industry engagement, and long-term sustainability while establishing a strong foundation for institutional success and impact.
Partner with CECS leadership, academic and administrative units, and external stakeholders to develop and execute strategic communications and marketing initiatives that advance college priorities.
Establish goals, implementation strategies, timelines, and success metrics while leading cross-functional collaboration to ensure effective execution and measurable outcomes.
Exercise final approval authority over all communications, marketing materials, branding initiatives, and public-facing content.
Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with university leadership, academic units, industry partners, government agencies, media organizations, community stakeholders, and external partners.
Serve as the primary communications liaison between CECS and internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and execution of strategic priorities.
Lead communications and visibility strategies supporting institutional initiatives, industry partnerships, workforce development efforts, donor engagement, and community collaborations.
Position CECS and its leadership as recognized thought leaders through strategic media engagement, executive visibility, publications, speaking opportunities, and high-profile partnerships.
Foster cross-functional collaboration that advances institutional goals and strengthens organizational effectiveness.