Director of Communications and Marketing

Director of Communications and Marketing

Iowa PBS is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network. Approximately 100 full and part-time employees work at Iowa PBS serving our audiences with local programs, broadcast services, and education and outreach initiatives that contribute to our mission. Our organization is made strong by highly-qualified, diverse and talented staff members who are vital to Iowa PBS's future. Working at Iowa PBS will provide you the opportunity for robust career development. We consider the employees at Iowa PBS to be our most valuable resource.

Iowa PBS is seeking a visionary and accomplished Director of Communications and Marketing to lead the network's Communications Division. This position provides strategic leadership for statewide communications, marketing, public relations, audience engagement, community outreach, and brand management initiatives that advance Iowa PBS's mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans.

The Director of Communications and Marketing oversees communications, marketing, audience engagement, and brand strategy across broadcast, digital, streaming, social media, and emerging platforms. Working collaboratively with all divisions, the Director of Communications and Marketing develops and executes integrated communications and marketing initiatives that elevate local programming, expand audiences, strengthen community partnerships, and increase engagement with Iowa PBS.

The Director of Communications and Marketing plays a key role in expanding awareness, audience engagement, and public impact for Iowa PBS while strengthening the organization's position as Iowa's trusted statewide public television service.

Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the leadership team, the Director of Communications and Marketing leads a high-performing team of communications professionals, contributes to organizational strategic planning, and ensures Iowa PBS maintains a strong, trusted, and visible presence in communities throughout Iowa.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the development and execution of Iowa PBS's statewide marketing, communications, audience development, and brand strategies across broadcast, digital, streaming, social media, and emerging platforms.
• Lead audience development and marketing initiatives that increase awareness, viewership, streaming usage, event participation, and engagement while elevating the visibility and impact of Iowa PBS local programming, educational resources, public affairs content, cultural initiatives, and community storytelling.
• Oversee Iowa PBS's brand identity, messaging, marketing campaigns, promotional initiatives, and audience communications to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with internal divisions to develop coordinated communications and marketing strategies that support programming, education, development, outreach, and organizational initiatives.
• Utilize audience research, market insights, and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making.

Community Engagement and Public Events

• Provide strategic leadership for Iowa PBS community engagement initiatives, ensuring meaningful connections with audiences, educators, families, community organizations, and stakeholders across Iowa.
• Lead strategic partnerships and community engagement initiatives through public events, educational programs, and collaborations with schools, libraries, museums, cultural organizations, and community groups to expand Iowa PBS's statewide impact, visibility, and audience engagement.
• Partner with the Friends of Iowa PBS Foundation to align brand strategy, external communications, promotions, marketing, public events, membership messaging, and audience engagement efforts in support of shared organizational goals.
• Collaborate with programming, education, development, and production teams to identify opportunities for community engagement that support local content, educational initiatives, and public service goals.
• Serve as a visible ambassador and spokesperson for Iowa PBS by cultivating relationships and representing the organization at community, industry, educational, and public events throughout the state.

Communications and Marketing Leadership

• Provide leadership and supervision for Iowa PBS's Communications Division, including communications, marketing, audience engagement, graphic design, publications, media relations, viewer services, and digital communications functions.
• Build and lead a high-performing communications and marketing team through coaching, professional development, performance management, and strategic alignment of team goals and organizational priorities.
• Establish division priorities, workflows, and performance expectations to ensure effective execution of communications, marketing, and engagement initiatives.

Budget and Operational Management

• Assist in the development and management of communications, marketing, outreach, and public event budgets.
• Oversee paid media strategies, advertising investments, and promotional partnerships to support organizational goals, audience growth, and member engagement.
• Evaluate communications and marketing initiatives to ensure effective use of resources and achievement of organizational objectives.

Editorial Standards and Content Oversight

• Ensure editorial integrity across Iowa PBS communications and promotional content in accordance with network standards, FCC requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Oversee content planning, review, and approval processes for promotional, marketing, public relations, and audience-facing communications.
• Maintain content calendars and coordinate communications activities across broadcast, digital, social, and emerging media platforms.
• Review and approve communications materials to ensure accuracy, quality, consistency, and adherence to Iowa PBS brand standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong commitment to journalistic standards, editorial integrity, and public service communications.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing communications, marketing, public relations, audience engagement, or community outreach functions.
• Experience developing and implementing integrated communications, marketing, audience development, and engagement strategies across multiple platforms.
• Proven ability to supervise creative and communications professionals and manage budgets, projects, and organizational priorities.
• Experience building partnerships and collaborative relationships with educational, cultural, civic, community, media, or nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated success planning, promoting, or overseeing public events, community outreach initiatives, audience engagement programs, or membership marketing activities.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and data-informed decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of public media, broadcasting, digital communications, audience development, community engagement, or membership marketing practices is beneficial.

Benefits

As a full-time employee, you'll receive a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) participation
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC)
• Health, Dental, Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Vacation, Sick Leave & 9 Paid Holidays
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunities for professional and career development

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage.