Director of Communications and Marketing

Position Summary

The Director of Communications and Marketing serves as Harris-Stowe State University's chief communications and marketing officer, providing leadership for the institution's integrated communications, marketing, brand strategy, media relations, digital engagement, and creative services functions. The Director designs and executes a comprehensive, data-informed communications strategy that strengthens the University's reputation and market position, advances institutional priorities, supports enrollment and advancement goals, amplifies student success, and deepens engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Reporting to the Vice President & Chief of Staff, the Director serves as a trusted communications counselor to the President and Executive Cabinet and leads institutional messaging across all platforms. The position provides direct oversight of the Communications & Marketing department and works closely and collaboratively with the Media Services team to ensure a unified, consistent brand across every academic and administrative unit. As the University's lead media and reputation strategist, the Director also serves as a principal architect and responder within the institution's crisis communications framework.

The Director collaborates extensively with executive leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, elected officials, community partners, and media organizations to advance the University's strategic plan and mission as a historically Black institution committed to access, excellence, and student achievement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, university-wide communications and marketing strategy aligned with institutional priorities and the strategic plan.
• Serve as the University's chief communications strategist and senior advisor to the President, Vice President & Chief of Staff, and Executive Cabinet.
• Lead institutional branding and positioning initiatives that strengthen visibility, reputation, and competitive standing in a crowded higher-education market.
• Establish annual communications goals, measurable outcomes, and key performance indicators; report results to executive leadership.
• Provide communications counsel during executive and Cabinet-level decision-making.

Communications & Marketing Oversight

Provide executive oversight of the University's integrated communications and marketing portfolio, including:

• Public relations, media relations, and executive communications
• Digital communications, social media, and website content strategy
• Graphic design, photography, videography, and publications
• Brand management, advertising, and institutional advancement support

Media & Public Relations

• Serve as the University's primary media relations executive and an authorized institutional spokesperson.
• Develop proactive media strategies that increase positive regional and national exposure and earned media.
• Cultivate relationships with local, state, and national media outlets and key reporters.
• Prepare and stage executive leadership for media interviews, press conferences, and public appearances.
• Manage institutional messaging during sensitive, high-profile, or reputationally significant issues.

Crisis Communications

• Lead development, maintenance, and implementation of the University's Crisis Communications Plan.
• Serve as communications lead during emergencies and critical incidents, ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated messaging.
• Coordinate response messaging with Public Safety, Human Resources, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and Executive Leadership.

Executive Communications

• Provide high-level communications support for the President and Executive Cabinet.
• Oversee presidential speeches, talking points, op-eds, presentations, correspondence, and institutional announcements.
• Ensure executive messaging consistently reflects institutional priorities, voice, and strategic goals.

Media Services Collaboration

Work closely and collaboratively with the Media Services team on photography, videography, live streaming, event production, multimedia storytelling, and digital asset management, ensuring alignment with overall communications and brand strategy.

Brand Management

• Protect and strengthen the University's visual identity and institutional voice.
• Establish, publish, and enforce institutional brand standards across all units.
• Review major marketing and communications materials for quality, consistency, and accuracy.
• Oversee licensing and appropriate use of University logos, marks, and trademarks.

Digital Strategy

• Lead institutional digital communications strategy and university website governance.
• Guide social media strategy across all divisions and channels.
• Leverage analytics to improve engagement, conversion, and communications effectiveness.

Enrollment & Advancement Support

Partner with Enrollment Management, Institutional Advancement, Alumni Relations, Athletics, and Academic Affairs to develop communications strategies that support student recruitment and retention, fundraising, alumni engagement, and community partnerships.

Leadership & Administration

• Recruit, supervise, develop, and evaluate professional communications and marketing staff and student employees.
• Develop and administer departmental budgets and manage vendor and agency contracts.
• Assess departmental effectiveness and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Serve on executive committees and institutional leadership teams; participate in strategic planning.
• Represent the University before community organizations, governmental agencies, media, and professional associations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Required

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Strategic Communications, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or strategic communications.
• Supervisory: Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory and management experience.
• Scope: Demonstrated success leading integrated communications strategies within higher education, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Communications, Public Administration, Higher Education, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience within higher education, preferably at an HBCU or public institution.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive or presidential leadership.
• Proven experience leading crisis communications in a public-facing environment.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

• Executive leadership
• Budget administration
• Strategic communications planning
• Personnel management
• Institutional branding & positioning
• Project & change management
• Crisis communications
• Political & organizational acumen
• Reputation management
• Data-informed decision making
• Executive & presidential communications
• Exceptional written & verbal communication
• Media relations
• Relationship building
• Digital marketing & analytics
• Collaboration across complex organizations

Working Conditions & Institutional Expectations

This is a full-time, exempt, in-person position. The Director must be available to respond to media and crisis situations outside of standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, and to attend University events, ceremonies, and external engagements as required. Work is performed primarily in an office and campus event setting.

Harris-Stowe State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

This position description is intended to convey the general scope and level of responsibility of the role. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications and may be modified at the discretion of the University.