Associate Director, Communications

Associate Director, CommunicationsReporting to the Director of Strategic Communications, the Associate Director, Communications advances the College's strategic priorities of academic excellence, culture, community and well-being for Columbia College students, staff and broader community.The Associate Director, Communications (AD) serves as the principal deputy to the Director of Strategic Communications. The AD will be a lead partner with several offices across Columbia College developing communication plans to bring the College's stories to life and increase awareness of programs, services and events.Campus Partner Communications StrategyMaintain regular and proactive contact with a portfolio of campus partners (e.g., Undergraduate Student Life, Center for Student Advising and Housing/Dining) to develop communication plans that elevate their work within Columbia College and outside the College to the wider University community.Serve as a communications resource and adviser to partner offices across the College.In partnership with the editorial, comms and events teams and campus partners, lead the development and execution of major student and family-facing communications campaigns, including Countdown to Class Day and Countdown to Columbia, among others.Write articles on Columbia College news, such as announcements for students who receive top awards, including Rhodes Scholars, Marshall Scholars and Gates Scholars, among others.Email and Social Media CommunicationsDevelop and help implement the communications strategy for all Columbia College newsletters.Oversee the execution of email campaigns and message through Salesforce CRM & Marketing Cloud platforms and develop effective messages, CTAs, and copy for email for optimal performance.Monitor the effectiveness of student and family-facing email campaigns and provide recommendations for improvement.In partnership with the Director of Editorial Strategy and Content, develop, launch and manage a new monthly editorial newsletter.Review and edit weekly student and family-facing newsletters to ensure that the content is appropriate and accurate for the audience.In partnership with the Director of Strategic Communications, manage the Columbia College social media calendar, ensuring 4-6 diverse and optimized posts are published each week across platforms.Monitor social media performance and adjust strategy accordingly.Crisis Communications SupportProvide occasional operational support to the Director of Strategic Communications for urgent or after-hours communications to the Columbia College community, including evenings and weekends as needed.Other duties as assignedMinimum QualificationsBachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience3-5 years of experience managing and executing communications and marketing campaigns, preferably in higher education or complex organizationsDemonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneouslyExceptional written and oral communication skills with strong attention to detailProficiency in copy editing in AP, Chicago and other stylesExperience developing communications strategies and coordinating with diverse stakeholdersStrong understanding of email campaign platforms and tools and proven track record for optimizing email campaignsProficiency with social media platforms and best practicesAbility to work independently, take initiative and problem-solve effectivelyStrong relationship-building skills with internal and external partnersComfortable learning new technologies and seeking resources to achieve resultsPreferred QualificationsProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite and SproutBachelor's Degree in writing, journalism or other humanities-based fieldExperience with Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud, or similar systemExperience with website content management systemsFamiliarity with higher education communications and constituenciesEqual Opportunity Employer / Disability / VeteranColumbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.