Communications Manager

Special Information

• This position is open to current regular, benefit-eligible NAU employees and Partner Assistance Program Partners ONLY. (Graduate Students, Graduate Assistants, Temporary employees, student employees, and other non-regular employees are not eligible to apply.)
• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• NAU is currently engaged in transitioning to a new employment category called University Staff, which aligns the current Classified Staff, Service Professional, and Administrator classifications into a single, unified employment group. As a result, while this position is currently classified as Service Professional, effective July 1, 2026, this position will be automatically transitioned to the University Staff category.

About the Department/College

At Sanghi College of Engineering (SCE), engineering is hands-on from the start. Our students learn by building, testing, and improving projects, competing on student teams, and tackling real-world challenges in capstone design courses. Students gain the skills and experience to help build what's next. With class sizes that average 25 to 30 students, students work closely with peers and professors, gaining insight, feedback, and mentorship in real time. SCE students don't just study concepts; they apply them. Our expert faculty are as passionate about cutting-edge research as they are about teaching it. Whether in the lab or collaborating with industry professionals, our professors are here to guide their students with real-world experience and one-on-one support.

About the Position

The Steve Sanghi College of Engineering at Northern Arizona University is seeking a strategic communications professional to serve as the Communications Manager for the college.

In consultation with University Marketing, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Advancement, and the Office of Communication and Media Relations, the Communications Manager will be responsible for planning and executing internal and external marketing and communications strategies to help the College advance its vision and strategic goals. As the manager of communications for the College, this position works with College leadership on communication efforts in a highly interactive and collaborative team environment.

Responsibilities Include

30% - Outreach and Brand Management

• In consultation with University Marketing, leverages the College’s official sub-brand identity to infuse the voice and visual expression of the College into communication message strategy and materials.
• Collaborates with department heads and program leaders in close coordination with NAU Enrollment Management to build and sustain student enrollment.
• Develops communications strategies and ensures stakeholders and constituents have access to accurate information.
• Upholds the brand and expands its reach to drive engagement with current and prospective students, donors, researchers, corporate partners, and others in collaboration with relevant NAU stakeholders.
• In coordination with NAU Communication and Media Relations, builds and maintains relationships with local media, university and community leaders and other key internal stakeholders (NAU Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs).
• Provides event support by promoting, attending and reporting on events put on by the College.
• Evaluates reach and communication effectiveness and makes adjustments to communication strategy.
• Supports University brand development by serving as a College liaison to University Marketing for all brand development needs that intersect with the college (photo/video, student/alumni testimonials, faculty features, etc.).
• Support the College’s development outreach in cooperation with the Alumni Engagement and Advancement Offices.
• Supports and promotes College-driven events and conferences, as well as manages communication and marketing support for College staff/faculty attending external events and conferences.

30% - Content Editor and Creator

• Creates articles, announcements, newsletters, talking points and scripts, white papers, presentations and reports, flyers, invitations, and other marcomm materials for the College and its programs while following NAU and College brand guidelines and utilizing evidence-based research to guide creative execution.
• Applies subject matter expertise within the communications team, as to audience and segments thereof, processes, technologies, automations, and communication performance analytics.
• Maintains and regularly updates the College's website and social media accounts in adherence to University web protocols, policy, accessibility compliance, and best practices as determined by University Marketing’s web team.
• In collaboration with Enrollment Management and University marketing, develops and implements campaigns as needed by the College and its degree program areas to prominently position the College and achieve its goals.
• Leverages and upholds NAU branding and/or College sub-branding standards that create consistency and differentiation across all communication platforms.
• Coordinates department outreach efforts to increase awareness and visibility of the college.
• Produces and maintains an active plan and timeline for all projects and campaigns to include evaluation and assessment of project/campaign effectiveness.
• Produces and presents reports based on interactive metrics and communicates to College stakeholders with recommendations for changes or adjustments.

30% - Administration

• Manages scheduling and resource tracking for assigned project(s).
• In consultation with University Marketing, prior to contracting with a given outside vendor, manages third party vendors, freelancers, student interns and consultants as needed.
• Supports, supervises and evaluates any student staff and coordinates communications strategies with the student team to maximize student engagement if/as applicable.
• Monitors and adapts to shifting institutional communications policies and makes sure information reaches all relevant stakeholders.
• Understands and applies knowledge of appropriate handling of communications information.
• Complies with all institutional marketing, communications, brand, web, and accessibility guidelines and policies.
• Serves as the College’s primary contact person for media outreach.
• Serves as the College’s primary marcomm liaison with University Marketing and Communication and Media Relations teams.

10% - Other

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Marketing or related field or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.
• 1 years of project management experience.
• 2 years of relevant experience.

• A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Google Analytics, Drupal, and Social Media. Event planning experience.
• Experience upholding brand management guidelines, particularly in the field of public higher education.
• Experience effectively implementing initiatives through a variety of outreach channels, including content marketing, social media marketing, word of mouth, events, and earned media.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge

• Demonstrated willingness to learn and adopt new tools and technologies to enhance marketing and communications effectiveness and impact.
• Expert knowledge of communications tools, technologies, data segments, processes, and policies.
• Knowledge of best practices for communications and marketing in higher education, including email creative, segmentation, dynamic content, testing methodologies, deliverability, and adherence to applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Strong understanding of the university’s data structure.

Skills

• Strong writing and media relations skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficiency in customer relationship management systems is preferred.
• Planning, organizing, coordinating, and facilitating skills.
• Project management skills.
• Experience in developing content and designing materials for marketing and communication outreach and campaigns.

Abilities

• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues.
• Works with data from multiple sources and in various formats.
• Demonstrates strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.
• Manages and maintains relationships.
• Balances competing priorities.

Compensation

Salary range is $68,000 to $85,000. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

Pre-Employment Check

Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.

Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report

Each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Immigration Support/Sponsorship

Northern Arizona University will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Submit your Application

You must submit your application by midnight of the application deadline.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process, please contact the Disability Resources Office at 928-523-8773, DR@nau.edu, or PO Box 5633, Flagstaff AZ 86011.