Assistant Director, Marketing Communications

Assistant Director, Marketing Communications

Posting Number
req25088


Department
RII Research Communications


Department Website Link




Location
Tucson Campus


Address
Tucson, AZ USA


Position Highlights


The Marketing and Communications team of the Office of Research and Partnerships (ORP) at the University of Arizona is seeking a highly skilled Marketing Manager II. This role is dedicated to elevating the university's profile in key strategic research focus areas. The successful candidate will lead a professional team to define, direct and produce compelling, audience-focused content that communicates the urgency and significance of U of A research, facilities and faculty excellence. Reporting to the Sr. Director, Marketing Communications, ORP, this position ensures that all research-focused marketing and branding efforts are clear, high-impact and strictly aligned with the university's mission and goals and with ORP priorities.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here .

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute holistic, integrated marketing and communications plans for specific strategic research focus areas.
• Manage day-to-day editing, writing and marketing to highlight U of A research achievements for internal and external audiences.
• Assign, write and edit high-quality content marketing pieces, including web news stories and digital narratives that translate complex scientific discovery into clear, persuasive narratives for both broad and focused audiences.
• Regularly review processes and procedures to refine and streamline team workflow, ensuring rigorous quality control and operational efficiency.
• Ensure all ORP communications efforts are strictly on-brand and aligned with the larger University of Arizona brand and goals and ORP priorities.
• Lead marketing research and campaigns promoting faculty, research breakthroughs and world-class facilities. This includes directing the creation of high-level presentations and printed marketing materials and coordinating with the creative team.
• Propose and develop creative marketing concepts and strategies for national-level events and high-profile research showcases.
• Serve as the primary liaison with central University Marketing and Communications to ensure cross-campus synergy.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Comms Sr. Director, Social Media Manager, Creative Manager and Events team to ensure strategic narratives are visually and digitally optimized across all platforms.
• Successfully manage multiple competing priorities, managing the workflow for various research focus areas simultaneously to meet tight deadlines.
• Supervise and evaluate a professional multi-disciplinary team, providing direction, setting performance standards and conducting performance evaluations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to define the "story" that will best resonate with a specific target audience.
• Mastery of writing and editing with a focus on clarity, compelling hooks and technical accuracy.
• Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale projects and pivot between different research focus areas while managing competing deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to improve workflows and maintain high standards of quality control in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to supervise staff and influence stakeholders.
• Detail oriented

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of related work experience, including 2 years of managerial experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in content marketing.
• Experience in high-level communications and content marketing within a research-intensive or higher education environment.
• Experience coordinating, organizing and producing executive-level deliverables, including magazines, reports and booklets, and identifying and coordinating advertising/paid media opportunities.
• Experience translating scientific or technical information for a general audience.
• Experience in managing professional creative or communications staff.
• Evidence of using project management tools to streamline team workflows.

FLSA
Exempt


Full Time/Part Time
Full Time


Number of Hours Worked per Week
40


Job FTE
1.0


Work Calendar
Fiscal


Job Category
Communication and Marketing


Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits


Rate of Pay
$75,540 - $98,201


Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)


Grade
10


Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.


The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.


Career Stream and Level
M2


Job Family
Marketing


Job Function
Communications & Marketing


Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)


Number of Vacancies
1


Target Hire Date

Expected End Date

Contact Information for Candidates
Stephanie Doster | View email address on click.appcast.io


Open Date
2/5/2026


Open Until Filled
Yes


Documents Needed to Apply
Resume, Cover Letter, and One Additional Document


Special Instructions to Applicant
Please provide three (3) examples of marketing collateral that you produced.


Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at View email address on click.appcast.io.