Director of Communications and Marketing, College of Natural Resources and Environment

Job Description

The Director of Communications and Marketing for the College of Natural Resources and Environment is responsible for developing, planning, executing, and measuring a comprehensive, strategic communications and marketing program for the college and aligning those activities with university-level communications, marketing, branding priorities, and initiatives.

The communications and marketing program led by the Director will embody and reflect the college core values and principles;

the mission of teaching, research and engagement, and Virginia Cooperative Extension; and the college unique attributes and offerings that contribute to the broader understanding of Virginia Tech.

• In support of a successful communications and marketing program for the college and the university, the Director will collaborate with and be a part of several teams, including the college’s Dean and senior leadership group;
• the college’s advancement team (including communications and marketing, alumni engagement, and development); communications and marketing directors in other colleges and units across the university;

and colleagues in the Advancement and Communications and Marketing divisions, among others. The Director collaborates with university leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external partners to support communications and marketing initiatives.

Currently, the Director directly leads and supervises a team of three communications and marketing professionals, providing performance planning and evaluation, direction, support, and professional development opportunities.

Team members include a writer, web manager, and departmental communicator. In addition, the Director works with college department heads to align communications and marketing work to both college and university priorities.

Elements of a comprehensive and strategic communications and marketing program for the college will include a wide range of tactics and strategies, including communications plans, news and feature stories, speeches for college leadership, message alignment, marketing campaigns, media relations and pitches, publications, photography and videography, social media, advertising, and similar items.

Specific platforms include websites, news and information websites, an email newsletter, and social media channels that support the college.

The Director will have a strong record of progressive experience in today's communications and marketing fields, including the development and implementation of a strategic, comprehensive communications and marketing program;

evidence of strong communications, interpersonal, presentation, and marketing skills; and proficiency in using word processing, image processing, content management system, and social media tools.

The ideal candidate will also have experience leading a team of communications and marketing professionals; a strong understanding of effective graphic design and branding principles and the use of the Internet as a medium of communication;

and the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

This position supports college university initiatives in Blacksburg, Roanoke, and the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, and Virginia Cooperative Extension.

It is based at the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia and reports to both the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for Colleges and the Chief Advancement Officer of the college.

The director is designated as emergency personnel.

Key Responsibilities :

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, strategic communications and marketing plan that supports the college and university’s mission and integrates university and college priorities.
• Oversee and manage the creation of high-quality, engaging content, and create such content, for college and university digital and print platforms that effectively communicates the college and the university’s vision, mission, and achievements to key audiences.
• Ensure that college content is consistent with the university brand and standards such as editorial, messaging, and graphic design guidelines.
• Exercise oversight of all communications and marketing activities throughout the college.
• Leverage metrics to gauge the effectiveness of communication and marketing strategies and make data-informed decisions to improve communication and marketing efforts.
• Collaborate with various teams, including the college advancement team, the college leadership team, the Council of the senior-most communications and marketing professionals from colleges and units across campus, university communicators, Communications and Marketing, and others.
• Oversee the quality of college content as an editor for content across various platforms, including websites, social media, newsletters, reports, promotional materials, and more.
• In collaboration with the university’s media relations team, develop and manage a comprehensive media relations program targeting strategic regional, trade, and national media outlets.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field OR Bachelor's with extensive experience.

Demonstrated professional experience in communications, marketing, or related field.

Demonstrated familiarity with a range of communications principles including messaging, writing, editing, graphic design, visual communications, branding, marketing, advertising, electronic communications, and social media.

Demonstrated strong communications, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Self-motivated and capable of working in a complex matrix management environment.

Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive, strategic communications and marketing program.

Experience defining goals and objectives, identifying target audiences, and measuring progress toward communications and marketing goals.

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree in communications, journalism, or related field.

Demonstrated experience supervising communications professionals.

Familiarity with environmental and natural resource issues and research, and the ability to communicate technical content to a general audience.

Experience in executing marketing initiatives and the analysis and application of market research.

Experience working with business / industry, alumni engagement, or development initiatives.

Demonstrated budgetary supervision experience.

Experience in a higher education, independent school, scientific organization, or nonprofit environment.

Strong skills using technology in the workplace, familiarity with content management systems and email platforms; social media competencies.

Significant prior communications experience writing and producing publications and developing and placing stories with external media.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Salary range of $80,000 - $85,000

Review Date

6 / 24 / 24

Additional Information

Salary range of $80,000-$85,000, commensurate with experience

Emergency Personnel

Unable to Sponsor Work Visas

Ability to work nights and weekends, and participation in college and university programs when possible.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers.

A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity.

The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and .

The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke;

sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

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