Head of Public Relations and Communications

Communications Manager

Working Title: UK Innovate Marketing & Communications Manager

Department Name: 3R100:PR and Strategic Communications

Position Time Status: Full-Time

Required Education: BA

Shift: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm

Communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, English or related field

Help Tell the Story of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Impact at UK. The University of Kentucky is seeking a Communications Manager to lead marketing, communications, and brand engagement efforts for UK Innovate and its affiliated programs.

This role serves as the primary communications professional for UK Innovate, helping showcase the university’s innovation ecosystem through strategic storytelling, digital communications, branding, social media, and marketing initiatives. In this role, you'll help elevate the visibility of groundbreaking work taking place across the university while building awareness of programs that support innovation from idea to market. Your work will help connect researchers, entrepreneurs, industry partners, and communities to the resources and opportunities that drive discovery and growth.

Develop and execute marketing and communications strategies that support UK Innovate programs and priorities

Create content for websites, newsletters, annual reports, presentations, marketing materials, email campaigns, and digital communications

Manage UK Innovate websites and support ongoing content development and maintenance

Develop and maintain social media content, campaigns, and audience engagement strategies

Design marketing collateral, graphics, presentations, and visual assets that support program promotion and brand consistency

Coordinate communications projects across multiple initiatives, programs, and stakeholders

Track website and social media analytics to improve engagement and communications effectiveness

Support events, workshops, training programs, and stakeholder outreach activities through targeted communications and promotional efforts

Strong experience in marketing, communications, public relations, or digital media

Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling abilities

Experience managing websites, social media platforms, and digital marketing campaigns

Strong graphic design and visual communication skills

Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

Strong organizational, relationship-building, and project management skills

Experience working with content management systems, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, or similar tools

Bachelor's degree

Help promote innovation, entrepreneurship, research commercialization, and economic development initiatives across Kentucky

Creative variety: Work across content creation, branding, digital media, web management, and strategic communications

Expand your expertise in innovation communications, marketing strategy, and stakeholder engagement

Opportunity for hybrid work arrangements with approval

Partner with innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and university leaders

UK Innovate continues to expand its role in supporting innovation, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, research partnerships, and economic growth. As these initiatives grow, effective communication is essential to connecting stakeholders with opportunities, highlighting success stories, and demonstrating impact across the Commonwealth.

Microsoft Suite products

Canva or Adobe Illustrator

Adobe products

CRM platforms

Our University Community

In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources.