Manager, Creative and Digital Communications

JOB This position supports the mission and vision of Yavapai College by leading the strategy, development, and execution of creative and digital communications initiatives. This includes oversight of all social media platforms, emerging digital channels, and the College’s digital signage network (external displays and internal campus screens). The Manager provides vision and direction for digital storytelling, brand voice, and audience engagement while supervising a team of student employees and a part-time content creator.

The role is responsible for shaping compelling, multi-channel content strategies that advance enrollment, retention, institutional initiatives, and community engagement. This position plays a key leadership role in elevating the College’s digital presence through innovative storytelling, photography, video production, and integrated marketing efforts. As the lead visual storyteller, the Director captures and produces high-quality creative assets that support institutional priorities and strengthen the College’s brand.

The work of this position directly contributes to achieving the College’s goals related to enrollment growth, student success, community connection, business development, and workforce advancement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight of all official college social media channels; establishes institutional standards, training, and best practices.
• Develops and executes a comprehensive, data-informed digital communications and social media strategy across all platforms.
• Serves as the lead photographer and videographer for college events and key initiatives, ensuring high-quality visual documentation and storytelling.
• Directs and produces video projects that support marketing, recruitment, and storytelling objectives.
• Partners with all Marketing and Communications Department Directors to plan, implement, and evaluate integrated marketing and communications campaigns that leverage digital channels.
• Leads the creation and curation of engaging, high-quality content across platforms, including social media, photography, video, and digital signage.
• Monitors digital channels to ensure brand alignment, positive engagement, and timely response to inquiries; escalates and reports inappropriate or harmful content as needed.
• Oversees the strategy, development, placement, and performance analysis of paid digital and social media advertising campaigns at both institutional and program levels.
• Collaborates with Marketing leadership and creative team members to execute local, regional, and national digital outreach and publicity efforts.
• Maintains a visible presence across campuses and centers to capture authentic, engaging content that reflects the student experience.
• Manages relationships with advertising agencies, freelance photographers, videographers, and other creative vendors.
• Collaborates with academic and administrative departments to identify and promote stories that support recruitment, enrollment, retention, and institutional priorities.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES Education:

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, journalism, communication, marketing, film and media arts, graphic design, business, or a closely related field.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to work independently to create internal and external communication through appropriate resources.
• Ability to work with other team members across multiple departments.
• Has an in-depth understanding of social media platforms, their functionality, and which platforms work best for specific projects.
• Knowledge of marketing research to place advertising with appropriate social media channels.
• Skills that support the creation of social media, graphic design, and video content.
• Shows an understanding of current trends in communication and best practices within the industry.
• Strong interpersonal and oral/written communication skills. The ability to write for different audiences, such as the media, internal employees, externally to students, etc. is crucial.
• Plan, organize, and multitask in a deadline-intensive environment.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must work in person regularly to collaborate and execute plan.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee must frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. In addition, the employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.