Director of Communications - College of Arts & SciencesInsideHigherEd • Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

Director of Communications - College of Arts & Sciences

InsideHigherEd • Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

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Requisition Number : S3036

Position Number : 998552

Position Classification Title :

Public Communications Specialist

Functional Title :

Director of Communications - College of Arts & Sciences

Position Type : Staff

University Information :

Located in North Carolina’s third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal — helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University’s 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit :

University Communications elevates UNCG’s reputation, advances institutional strategy, and fosters community pride through integrated communications aligned with its public mission as a student-centered research university. The department develops and executes strategic communications and marketing initiatives that enhance visibility, engage key audiences, and convey the University’s distinctive value. Working across schools, colleges, and administrative units, University Communications manages media relations, marketing campaigns, content strategy, branding, digital engagement, sponsorships, and crisis communications.

Position Summary :

The director of communications is responsible for strategic messaging, marketing, and public visibility of the College of Arts & Sciences’ teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, and innovation. This position reports to the Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications. and collaborates closely with the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) to ensure that CAS-related communications and initiatives are effectively executed. The director develops, implements, and assesses an integrated communications and marketing plan to promote CAS. The director produces high-quality content and publications for multiple platforms, manages the division’s digital presence, and ensures coordinated institutional messaging.

This position’s primary responsibility is to elevate awareness of the work of CAS by communicating impactful stories to diverse audiences including faculty, current and prospective students, alumni, funding agencies, policymakers, and the community. The director collaborates with the director of media relations in University Communications to ensure a steady stream of national, regional, and local coverage of research stories and outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications :

BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN A DISCIPLINE RELATED TO THE AREA OF ASSIGNMENT; OR EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE. ALL DEGREES MUST BE RECEIVED FROM APPROPRIATELY ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS.

Preferred Qualifications :

Five years of professional experience in communications, preferably in higher education, research, or a related field.
Experience in communicating research impact across disciplines, including social and physical science, health, education, and the humanities.
Outstanding writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
Experience with media relations, digital platforms, and content strategy.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively across units.
Experience working with graphic designers and the design process.
Master’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or public affairs.
Proficiency with content management systems and social media platforms.
Experience producing multimedia content.

Alternate Option :

If no applicants apply who meet the required competency level and training & experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants. Salary would be determined based on competencies, equity, budget, and market considerations.

Special Instructions to Applicants :

Applicants are required to upload a list of at least three (3) professional references that includes :

Name,

Company Name,

Type of reference (Professional, Supervisor, Colleague, Academic, or Personal). One (1) of those references will need to be a current or previous supervisor.

Email Address

Contact Phone Number

Recruitment Range : $74,186 - $78,700

Org #-Department :

Dean's Office - AS - 12201

Work Hours of Position :

8 : 00 AM – 5 : 00 PM, M–F, with some evenings / weekends for events or deadlines.

Number of Months per Year :

Job Family :

Information & Education

Career Banded Title :

Public Communications Specialist

Open Date : 10 / 24 / 2025

Close Date : 11 / 16 / 2025

FTE : 1.000

FLSA : Non-Exempt

Key Responsibility :

Establish and Implement Communications and Marketing Plan

Essential Tasks :

Develop, implement, and assess a comprehensive communications plan to raise visibility of the College of Arts & Sciences.

Align messaging with the CAS’s priorities and UNCG’s strategic communications plan.

Identify key audiences and tailor communications strategies accordingly.

Key Responsibility :

Promotion and Storytelling

Essential Tasks :

Identify and develop compelling narratives that showcase CAS’s research and teaching excellence and societal impact.

Work with development staff to develop messaging pertaining to donor cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

Create news releases, feature articles, university social media posts, and reports highlighting teaching, research and scholarship, creative activity, and innovation achievements.

Key Responsibility :

Digital and Print Content Development

Essential Tasks :

Oversee the creation of newsletters, brochures, reports, videos, and other promotional materials required by CAS.

Ensure brand consistency and high-quality design across all materials.

Coordinate with vendors and contractors when needed.

Key Responsibility :

Social Media Management

Essential Tasks :

Develop and maintain an active social media presence to increase engagement and reach.

Use analytics to inform and refine strategies.

Key Responsibility :

Event Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

Essential Tasks :

Promote CAS-related events, lectures, and conferences.

Coordinate with CAS to ensure communications support before, during, and after events.

Build relationships with faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders to strengthen awareness of CAS and UNCG’s research enterprise.

Work collaboratively with CAS Department Heads, Program Directors, faculty and staff members to gather relevant content for marketing materials.

Competency : Knowledge-Technical

Competency Description :

Ability to serve as a key resource to others on a wide variety of communication, design and visual art elements.

Ability to establish standards for communication and develops / determines non-routine techniques / methods to accomplish objectives.

Ability to apply thorough knowledge of standardized and non-standardized methods and concepts for design and delivery of product.

Ability to employ creative and innovative use of equipment, techniques, and communication methods.

Apply in-depth knowledge and applicability of technology / software or directs others in the selection and application of a variety of features in software programs.

Ability to develop short-and long-range design strategies intended to reach a wide audience.

Ability to apply highly skilled and considerable technical knowledge of overall design concepts.

Ability to research and integrate new systems, equipment, and / or software to improve development and delivery of information.

Ability to evaluate, implement, and apply new technology and assesses its effectiveness in meeting the organization’s overall communication goals.

Competency Level : Advanced

Competency : Knowledge-Technical

Competency Description :

Extensive knowledge of the methods and techniques of planning, writing and editing and producing content.

Ability to train and mentor others in the techniques for preparing and disseminating information ability to instruct others in the techniques for disseminating information to the public and target groups.

Competency Level : Advanced

Competency : Knowledge-Technical

Competency Description :

Ability to communicate complex program information with substantial impact to targeted audiences; ability to plan and convey messages that enhance and promote the mission and objectives of the organization.

May require ability to serve as the official spokesperson and / or work with spokesperson to develop and deliver content.

Ability to train and mentor others on the proper techniques for disseminating information.

Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with internal and external clients; ability to provide complex and strategic information and advice to clients; ability to interact with key people at all levels of the organization.

Ability to develop and implement communication strategies.

Ability to set communications standards and protocols.

Ability to serve as the internal media relations expert and sounding board for the department or organization.

Ability to direct the development of content as part of the overall communication strategy;ability to teach others how to edit and analyze material.

Ability to set and enforce communications standards and protocols.

Competency Level : Advanced

Competency : Knowledge-Technical

Competency Description :

Ability to craft effective communications; ability to convey desired communication with sensitivity and urgency; ability to coach senior administrators or leaders in key departments in techniques to effectively deliver messages.

Ability to match goals with broader organizational objectives and budgetary resources; develop budget requests for communication program; may require ability to approve budget expenditures for communications.

Competency Level : Advanced

Competency : Knowledge-Technical

Competency Description :

Ability to review and edit the mission, objectives and goals for communication within an organization with multiple service delivery functions.

Ability to understand internal workings of the organization in relation to the external global expectations of policy makers and the legislature.

Ability to direct, develop and implement communications strategies to obtain desired objectives; ability to intervene and re-direct communication efforts that are ineffective.

Competency Level : Advanced

Competency : Knowledge-Technical

Competency Description :

Ability to independently manage project timelines, resources, staff and leads implementation efforts in all communications areas.

Ability to use a strategic approach to manage complex projects.

Ability to apply a thorough knowledge of a wide variety of complex and non-standard processes and design techniques.

Competency Level : Advanced

Physical Effort :

Hand Movement-Repetitive Motions - F, Reading - F, Writing - F, Hearing - F, Talking - F, Standing - o, Sitting - o, Walking - o, Climbing-Stairs - o, Vision-Color Distinction - F

Work Environment :

Inside - C, Outside - O

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Of College Of • Greensboro, North Carolina, United States