Director of Marketing and Communications

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of progressive, professional experience in strategic marketing and communications, including significant experience leading a marketing or communications function. Experience managing a staff and managing a budget.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated marketing and communications strategies and managing branding within a complex organizational environment.
• Proven experience in executive communications, media relations, and crisis/issues management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to assimilate complex information (especially scientific and technical concepts) and translate it into clear, compelling public narratives.
• Demonstrated political acumen, creativity, flexibility, and strong team orientation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
• Previous communications leadership experience within a major research university, higher education, or large non-profit/government agency, especially one focused on STEM fields.
• Experience leading digital marketing strategies, including analytics, website governance, and social media platform management.
• Strong understanding of how communications and marketing integrate with fundraising and legislative affairs.

Position Summary:

The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Marketing and Communications to lead efforts in advancing our mission. This is a critical leadership role for a creative and strategic professional who will develop and execute a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications strategy. This role is crucial for advancing CSE's visibility, reputation, and impact as a premier college of research, innovation, and education in the global STEM landscape.

The Director is the senior leader responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications strategy for CSE. S/he serves as a key strategic advisor to the Dean and collegiate leadership, ensuring all internal and external communications align with the College's strategic plan and University brand standards. The successful candidate will lead a team of marketing and communications professionals to tell the compelling story of CSE’s faculty, students, and research, driving engagement with key audiences including prospective students, alumni, donors, industry partners, and the public.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership, Planning, and Executive Communications (Approx. 30%)

• Strategic Planning: Lead the design and implementation of an objectives-driven and performance metrics-driven marketing and communications plan that directly supports collegiate goals for enrollment, research funding, philanthropic support, and reputation growth.
• Executive Counsel: Serve as the primary marketing and communications advisor to the Dean and executive team, providing counsel on key initiatives, institutional priorities, and public positioning.
• Key Messaging & Narrative: Develop clear, compelling key messaging narratives to articulate the College's mission, vision, and the impact of its science and engineering research, ensuring consistency across all platforms.
• Budget & Resource Management: Develop and manage the College’s marketing and communications budget, resource allocation, and vendor relationships.

Integrated Marketing and Content Strategy (Approx. 25%)

• Marketing Campaign: Plan and implement campaigns that drive student recruitment, industry partnerships and alumni engagement consistent with collegiate goals. Leverage data-driven insights to optimize reach, conversion and demonstrate return on investment.
• Audience Research Analysis: Oversee market research to identify emerging trends, competitive positioning, and growth opportunities. Ensure marketing strategies effectively promote the college’s distinct value proposition in engineering education and research.
• Digital Strategy: Direct the strategic integration of all digital communications, including website content, SEO, email marketing campaigns, and social media strategy, ensuring maximum reach and effectiveness across target audiences.
• Content Production: Oversee the development and production of all College publications, advertising, promotional materials, presentations, and speeches, ensuring the highest standards of quality and brand compliance.
• Alumni & Development Support: Advise and collaborate closely with the Collegiate Development, Alumni Relations, and Student Services units to create targeted communications that support donor stewardship, alumni engagement, and prospective student recruitment (both undergraduate and graduate).
• Branding: Oversee effective representation of the College identity, ensuring consistent application of University and collegiate brand standards and elevating brand preference for CSE.

Brand and Reputation Management, Media Relations, and Issues Management (Approx. 25%)

• Media Relations: Lead the proactive cultivation of strong working relationships with regional, national, and specialty media (e.g., science and technology outlets) to secure broad and positive coverage of CSE research and achievements. Serve as the primary media contact and official spokesperson for the College, or prepare senior leaders for media engagement.
• Issues & Crisis Communications: Develop and lead the execution of a robust issues and crisis communications plan to effectively manage real-time events and protect the College’s reputation in a fast-paced environment.
• Storytelling: Lead the effort to identify, package, and pitch compelling, mission-driven stories that promote CSE’s education, teaching, research, and outreach to internal and external audiences.

Team Leadership and University Collaboration (Approx. 20%)

• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and manage the collegiate marketing and communications team (including staff and student employees), fostering a collaborative culture of high performance, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
• Internal Communications: Oversee the strategy and cadence of internal communications to faculty, staff, and students with the goal of advancing organizational cohesion, fostering engagement, and ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
• Internal Collaboration: Lead in the integration of marketing and communication efforts across all 12 CSE departments, as well as affiliated centers. Coordinate personnel as well as strategic efforts through a strong and transparent culture of collaboration.
• External Collaboration: Engage and collaborate with key University partners, including University Relations, Government Relations, and the Foundation, ensuring College efforts are aligned with and amplify broader University initiatives.

H-1B sponsorship may be provided to those who currently hold a valid visa and are present in the United States.

The College of Science and Engineering (CSE) is ranked among the top engineering and science academic programs in the country. The college includes 12 academic departments offering a wide range of degree programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

For more information about the College of Science and Engineering Office of the Dean, visit https://cse.umn.edu/.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

A complete application includes the following documents:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter
• Examples of marketing or communication campaigns you have led. And/or documentation of previous strategic planning around marketing and communications.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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