Director of Marketing and Communications

Philander Smith University seeks a strategic, creative, and collaborative Director of Marketing and Communications to lead institutional marketing, communications, brand management, media relations, digital storytelling, and reputation-building. Reporting to the Office of the President, the Director serves as the University's lead communications professional and works across the institution to ensure messaging is timely, accurate, consistent, and aligned with University priorities.

The Director develops and executes integrated communications strategies that strengthen the University's visibility and reputation, support enrollment and advancement priorities, and tell the Philander Smith University story to internal and external audiences.

• Develop and implement a University-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with the mission and priorities established by the President.
• Advise the President and senior leadership on communications strategy, institutional messaging, reputation management, and emerging issues.
• Serve as steward of the Philander Smith University brand and maintain standards for institutional messaging, visual identity, voice, and presentation.
• Coordinate major institutional announcements, campaigns, and public-facing communications across University divisions.

• Support the Office of the President with presidential messages, institutional announcements, talking points, statements, speeches, presentations, and other executive communications.
• Serve as a primary University contact for media inquiries as designated by the Office of the President and cultivate productive media relationships.
• Draft press releases, media advisories, statements, briefing materials, and crisis communications resources.
• Coordinate communications involving emergencies, sensitive matters, and emerging institutional issues with discretion, accuracy, and sound judgment.

• Lead development of compelling content highlighting students, faculty, staff, alumni, programs, partnerships, accomplishments, and community impact.
• Provide strategic leadership for the University website, institutional social media, newsletters, publications, advertising, video, and other digital communications.
• Plan and execute integrated marketing campaigns supporting enrollment, advancement, academic programs, major events, and institutional reputation.
• Use analytics and audience insights to evaluate communications performance and improve strategy.

• Coordinate internal communications and work across divisions to improve clarity, consistency, timeliness, and institutional alignment.
• Supervise and develop marketing and communications staff, graduate assistants, student workers, interns, contractors, and vendors as assigned.
• Manage communications projects, timelines, workflows, photography, videography, graphic design, printing, and related services.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing integrated communications strategies and managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Exceptional writing, editing, verbal communication, project management, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong knowledge of branding, digital communications, social media, media relations, website content management, and communications analytics.
• High levels of integrity, diplomacy, discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

• Higher education, HBCU, or mission-driven organization experience.
• Experience supporting executive or presidential communications, crisis communications, and institutional campaigns.
• Experience with enrollment, fundraising, or reputation-building communications.

The Director of Marketing and Communications reports to the Chief of Staff and serves as the University's central coordinator for institutional marketing and communications. The Director collaborates closely with senior leadership and University divisions to ensure communications representing Philander Smith University are consistent, accurate, professional, and aligned with institutional priorities.

The Director is expected to demonstrate professionalism, integrity, collegiality, accountability, creativity, responsiveness, and a strong commitment to Philander Smith University’s mission, students, and institutional reputation.

This position description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Philander Smith University reserves the right to modify responsibilities as institutional needs evolve.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Aaccounts and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan
• Life Insurance 
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Philander Smith University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or medical history, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.