Director of Marketing and Communications

Director Of Marketing And Communications

The Director of Marketing and Communications is a strategic and hands-on "working director" responsible for leading and executing the college's integrated marketing, communications, branding, digital presence, and public relations efforts. Reporting to the Dean of Enrollment Management, the Director provides institutional leadership while actively managing day-to-day marketing operations, creative production, content development, web oversight, and campaign execution.

Serving as the steward of the Mitchell College brand, the Director ensures consistent, mission-aligned messaging and visual identity across all platforms and audiences. The role collaborates extensively with Academic Affairs, Admissions, Advancement, Athletics, Alumni Relations, Enrollment Service, Human Resources, Student Affairs, Thames at Mitchell College, and other campus departments to support institutional priorities, enrollment goals, community engagement, and strategic initiatives.

The Director supervises the Communications Specialist, manages external vendors and agency partners, oversees the marketing budget, and serves as the primary point of contact for institutional marketing, communications, social media, advertising, web, photography, and creative requests. This position combines strategic leadership with direct execution in areas including graphic design, storytelling, digital communications, advertising campaigns, website management, photography/video direction, and executive communications support.

In partnership with the Office of the President, the Director supports institutional reputation management, media relations, crisis communications, and strategic messaging. The President maintains final oversight authority for institutional communications involving reputational, legal, financial, accreditation, governance, or strategic significance.

Essential Responsibilities

Strategic Marketing & Institutional Communications

• Develop and execute integrated marketing and communications strategies that strengthen Mitchell College's visibility, reputation, advancement and enrollment efforts, and community engagement across local, regional, and national markets.
• Create annual marketing plans aligned with institutional priorities and strategic objectives; monitor performance metrics and provide regular reporting and recommendations.
• Serve as the institution's lead brand strategist and storyteller, ensuring cohesive messaging and visual identity across all channels and constituencies.
• Collaborate with campus leaders to provide strategic marketing counsel, guide communications planning, and ensure alignment with institutional brand standards and best practices.
• Support the development and promotion of new academic and institutional initiatives through market-informed strategy and messaging.
• Work closely with Advancement, Alumni Relations, and the President's Office to strengthen alumni affinity, donor engagement, and community partnerships.
• Serve as a communications advisor to senior leadership on institutional reputation, media strategy, and crisis response.

Brand Management & Creative Direction

• Maintain and enforce institutional brand standards, style guides, templates, and visual assets across all print and digital platforms.
• Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on appropriate brand application and communications practices.
• Personally design and produce a wide range of creative materials, including advertising, publications, event collateral, signage, social media graphics, presentations, digital campaigns, and institutional communications.
• Determine when external creative support is needed and manage freelance designers, agencies, photographers, videographers, printers, and other vendors.

Communications, Media Relations & Executive Support

• Supervise the Communications Specialist in the development of internal and external communications, including press releases, newsletters, media outreach, web stories, email communications, and social media content.
• Oversee institutional public relations efforts and coordinate media responses in collaboration with the Office of the President.
• Support executive communications and presidential messaging, including speeches, letters, presentations, newsletters, and strategic communications initiatives.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and mission-aligned communications to students, employees, alumni, donors, community partners, and external audiences.

Website & Digital Presence

• Oversee the strategy, content, design, and user experience of the college website and related digital platforms.
• Manage incoming web requests and personally execute or coordinate substantive website updates, content changes, and design improvements.
• Partner with OIT staff responsible for technical website maintenance, hosting, integrations, and accessibility compliance.
• Conduct ongoing website audits and guide improvements related to accessibility, SEO, UX, and higher education web best practices.
• Manage Mitchell College's presence on external digital platforms and directories.

Social Media, Advertising & Content Production

• Lead institutional social media strategy and governance, including oversight of official college accounts, user permissions, and brand alignment across departments.
• Develop and execute advertising campaigns across print, digital, video, audio, and social platforms, including media planning and vendor negotiations.
• Direct and support photography and video production, including planning shoots, developing scripts/storyboards, and managing freelancers and student contributors.
• Provide creative leadership for institutional storytelling initiatives that elevate the student experience and college mission.

Leadership, Operations & Governance

• Manage the Marketing and Communications budget, departmental priorities, project workflow, and vendor relationships.
• Serve as the central point of contact for institutional marketing and communications requests and provide responsive client service across campus.
• Support cross-functional collaboration and contribute organizational thought leadership related to branding, communications strategy, and market positioning.
• Ensure institutional communications comply with established approval processes, brand governance standards, and presidential oversight guidelines.
• Conduct annual assessments of brand consistency, website effectiveness, media coverage, and competitive positioning, presenting recommendations to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in marketing, communications, branding, or creative services, preferably within higher education, nonprofit, agency, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic marketing and communications initiatives while also performing hands-on creative and operational work.
• Strong experience in graphic design and content production using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) for print and digital applications.
• Experience managing websites and CMS platforms, including WordPress, Modern Campus, and higher education web best practices.
• Excellent writing, editing, storytelling, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, projects, and competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Knowledge of social media strategy, digital advertising, branding, photography, and video production workflows.
• Collaborative leadership style with strong customer service orientation and ability to work effectively across departments and organizational levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and enterprise collaboration tools including Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education marketing and communications.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and fostering inclusive, collaborative work environments.
• Familiarity with Canva and digital asset management systems.
• Experience overseeing photography and video production projects.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of institutional events and priorities.
• Willingness to travel in support of the President's Office.

Physical Demands

This position requires prolonged periods of sitting and occasional movement throughout campus and to off-site locations. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Mitchell College is an Affirmative Action-Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization or other non-merit factors.