Job no: 515484
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Dean - Humanities & Fine Arts
Union: PSU
Categories: Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, College of Humanities & Fine Arts

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Director of Marketing and Communications (DMC) is responsible for the strategic oversight and implementation of the College's marketing and communication efforts to assure that a consistent image of excellence is portrayed in all materials and for developing strategies, policies, and procedures for enhancing and focusing that image.

The DMC is central to developing and implementing branding and communications and marketing strategies, for ensuring the quality and scope of multi-media output and coverage, and for measuring its effectiveness in achieving marketing goals. The DMC promotes the College's brand through traditional and non-traditional public relations, promotional events/vehicles, and advertising in support of all activities, including but not limited to, development and alumni relations, arts events, advising and career services, and faculty accomplishments. The DMC exercises direct supervisory and hiring responsibility over web development/administrative, communications, and editorial staff (both full-time and student employees), and oversees other staff engaged in marketing efforts within their individual units, departments, programs, centers, and service areas to assure integration related to all marketing and communication efforts. The DMC also serves as a liaison with upper-level administration in the offices of University Relations, Admissions, and Information Technology, among others.

Reporting to the Dean, the DMC is responsible for overseeing all web and desktop publications generated on behalf of the College for public distribution. The DMC also works in close collaboration with the Director of Development to promote and build financial support for the College. The DMC interacts with media outlets on and off campus, using judgment and discretion in order to best represent the College.

Essential Functions

• Marketing and Communications:
  • Develop and produce digital and printed marketing and communications collateral for distribution to on- and off-campus audiences. Work with Dean’s Office staff, department chairs, faculty members, students, and others to develop projects and ideas and prepare content.
  • Oversee branding standards on behalf of the College and its departments and programs. Implement brand standards across the College in order to promote a consistent image of excellence.
  • Oversee or design and generate content for the production of posters, pamphlets, special publications, web pages, reports and all other digital and desktop publications.
• Social Media and Online Communications:
  • Oversee the development and design of the College’s website and department website network. Uphold web design and content standards. Oversee and provide website support for the College’s academic departments.
  • Oversee and manage the content and layout of the College’s website. Direct ongoing development of the College’s website and maintain it with fresh and timely content.
  • Provide technical advice to the College’s academic departments and programs in the creation of new websites.
  • Develop, implement, and utilize new resources to promote the College and its activities. Stay abreast of new technologies and industry best practices as they emerge and evolve.
  • Direct the design and preparation of print and digital communications for the College's 14 academic departments. Review departmental publications to ensure the College's development and alumni relations objectives are met. Ensure compliance with College and University branding standards.
• Public relations and Alumni Relations:
  • Create and prepare materials supporting development and alumni relations efforts in conjunction with the Director of Development. Provide expertise in other activities, initiatives, and projects undertaken by Dean’s Office staff.
  • Draft speeches, public statements, and letters for the Dean.
  • Act as Executive Editor for the College. Develop content strategy. Research and identify story concepts. Oversee story production. Arrange and conduct interviews with story subjects such as alumni, faculty, staff and students. Write feature stories, articles, news items, captions, etc.
  • Manage Public Relations for the College. Prepare press releases and stories for their use and provide expertise on media related inquiries about the college.
  • Serve as a liaison to the University News and Media Relations Office, University Relations, Admissions, Information Technology and off-campus media outlets.
  • Plan, write, edit, and produce a regular alumni electronic newsletter. Work with the Alumni Association on its distribution.
  • Plan, write, edit, and produce a weekly student electronic newsletter. Manage and maintain the newsletter mailing list.
  • Review departmental newsletters and their alumni communications.
• Administration:
  • Identify, evaluate, contract, and direct on- and off-campus graphic designers, photographers, videographers, and other service. Prepare specifications, propose budgets, and track bidding for such goods and services in accordance with established regulations. Supervise production and distribution of materials. Oversee and follow up on payment to vendors.
  • Develop an annual budget recommendation to meet communications, events, and publication needs and participate in budget planning and determination.

Other Functions

• Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree and more than three (3) years of experience producing creative outputs.
• Knowledge and experience in marketing, public relations and communications principles and standards.
• Advanced knowledge of social media usage to affect organizational communications goals.
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly, concisely, and compellingly.
• Knowledge and experience with publication design, advertising, and marketing principles. Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Knowledge and experience with HTML, CSS, and other common web languages.
• Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities, handle multiple projects, and exercise good judgment in a fast-paced, dynamic, deadline-driven environment in an organized and professional manner.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively.
• Ability to travel independently and availability to work some evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master’s degree in Humanities, Fine Arts, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business or related field.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• 37.5 hours per week.
• Required to work some nights and weekends.

Salary Information

Level 28

PSU Salary Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Aug 17 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: