Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, George Mason University Costello College of Business, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications helps to oversee the management of marketing and communications strategies aligned with the Costello and George Mason University brands to help promote awareness of the college and its unique value proposition while driving increased levels of engagement among targeted audiences. The Assistant Director also directly supervises several members of the Marketing and Communications team. The Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications works collaboratively with senior leaders from Costello, including the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, and the university to develop and execute the marketing and communications strategy for the academic unit. The Assistant Director is also responsible for managing the college's budget and procurement process. This is a hybrid role, where frequent in-person attendance is essential to understanding, collaborating with, and serving a diverse group of stakeholders that includes prospective students and their parents, current students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, sponsors, corporate and community partners, the business community, members of the media, earned and paid media agency personnel, and representatives from other academic and administrative units across George Mason University.

Responsibilities:

• Supervision and development of up to three full-time hybrid marketing and communication team members which includes selection, hiring, motivation, and evaluation to assist in their professional development and effectiveness;
• Proactively providing opportunities for them to develop and showcase their abilities and accomplishments. Includes the delegation and execution of work assignments to team members, regular and periodic face-to-face check-ins, mid-year and annual performance evaluations, and other coaching and development as needed;
• Create compelling and engaging content that raises the profile of the business college and supports enrollment and fundraising objectives, including: stories, articles, newsletter columns, social media content and engagement, email, and other pieces related to students, faculty, alumni, corporate and community partners, sponsors, and other relevant stakeholders. Includes the concepting, development, and preparation of written correspondence and slide presentations for the dean and his core team;
• Manage the production lifecycle for large projects (e.g., Impact magazine), including: the concepting and development of issue themes, story budgets, production and publication schedules, and vendor-provided printing, production, and mailing activities while coordinating with content developers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic designers, and other relevant stakeholders;
• On a periodic and regular basis, track, analyze data and content, and report on key metrics to evaluate and report on the effectiveness of campaigns, measure ROI, and make data-driven adjustments for optimizing performance;
• Participate in the development and execution of the marketing and communications strategy to help promote awareness of the college and its unique value proposition while driving increased levels of engagement among targeted audiences. This includes local, regional, national, and global strategies and tactics;
• Assist in the development and management of the Marketing and Communications operating budget;
• Monitor and report on budget status for multimedia content creation and production, including creative development and printing, and ensuring financial reconciliation between expenses incurred and annual budget amounts; and
• Provide photography support on an as-needed basis (e.g., imagery to support specific narratives related to Costello branding, student experience, career-readiness, research, faculty profiles, centers, naming gift announcements, and promotional efforts).

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Intermediate marketing skills and experience;
• Participation in strategic communications campaigns and measuring the results of such campaigns;
• Expertise with regional and national media outlets; including writing news stories and issuing press releases through an earned media agency or online distribution network;
• Strong knowledge of marketing and branding best practices, including marketing communications, marketing research, digital marketing, social media marketing, and business storytelling;
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills;
• Advanced writing and editing skills, attention to detail and editorial style;
• Possesses strong conceptual skills, a broad thinker who is able to offer a vision for moving forward;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.);
• Ability to create and present robust, strategic, and intentional marketing and communications strategies and tactics based on organizational goals and branding guidelines;
• Ability to work and make decisions in a leadership capacity, independently and as part of a team, to provide developmental guidance that ensures alignment with organizational goals and brand guidelines, among a diverse group of stakeholders that includes prospective students and their parents, current students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, sponsors, corporate and community partners, the business community, members of the media, earned and paid media agency personnel, and representatives from other academic and administrative units across George Mason University;
• Ability to independently set and manage project objectives and timelines to ensure completion through contacts with faculty, staff, copy writers, editors, vendors, agency resources, contractors, student workers, volunteers, designers, architects, and exhibit fabricators;
• Strong ability to analyze data and content, interpret results and provide relevant insights, develop actionable recommendations for optimizing for engagement and ROI, and to summarize in an executive-level reporting format;
• Creativity, organization, deadline-driven enthusiasm, and an ability to articulate the vision, mission, and values of the Costello College of Business through content created for various digital and traditional platforms; and
• Ability to work virtually (2 days) and on-site (3 days), and other days as the needs of the business college require.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field;
• Marketing, advertising experience;
• Professional work experience in higher education strongly preferred;
• Proficiency in multimedia editing software (e.g., Canva and Adobe Creative Suite software including InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere), photography, and videography; and
• Fine art, drawing, or other specialized skills.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume. Also include the following for review:

• Marketing Strategies (i.e., one or more plans created by the applicant that grew an audience or drove an increase in sales or student enrollments);
• Writing Samples (e.g., news story, email, ad copy, etc. written by the applicant);
• Campaign Results (i.e., data showing success in achieving desired outcomes, including metrics and goals met); and
• Design or Creative Direction (e.g., social media posts, flyers, or videos overseen or made by the applicant).

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer