Director of Strategic Communications

The MU College of Engineering seeks an experienced marketing and communications professional to direct the development, implementation, and measurement of an integrated communication strategy to achieve college priorities. Focus areas include brand strategy and reputation management; student recruitment; academic departments; executive communications; faculty, alumni, and donor engagement; and engagement with the key external audiences. These goals are met in a highly collaborative work environment together with the college’s leaders and lead external communicators. 

The director reports to the dean of the College of Engineering and serves as a key advisor on the dean’s leadership team. 

Responsibilities include:
Strategic marketing and communications: Plans, develops, and distributes content that supports the college's strategic plan and key messaging, focusing on research impact, faculty, and student success. Integrates strategic communications through all levels of the college including department-level communications, advising, recruiting, inclusion and diversity, advancement, alumni relations, and other key areas of focus while working with campus to maximize reach and address internal and external stakeholders appropriately. Develops analytics data, implements decisions based on that data and regularly presents findings to college leadership. 

Communications leader: Shapes executive communications by serving as communications subject matter expert and advisor for the dean, associate deans, chairs, and directors. Directs the team’s development of key messaging, talking points, speeches, scripts, presentations, news articles, digital communications, social media, website content strategy, and digital media. Serves as a strategic partner, representing Engineering communications on university committees, groups and initiatives as needed. 

Public relations: Seeks strategic opportunities to elevate the College of Engineering’s research and accomplishments. Creates and maintains relationships with MU News and Information and Mizzou Social Media to maximize coverage of the college on a local, state and national stage. 

Supervision and mentorship: Supervises staff and student employees through goal-setting, evaluating priorities, managing deadlines, coaching, editing, and evaluating. Manages barriers, schedules, and priorities, as well as college assets. Guides projects for the team from start to finish using project management tools. Stays informed of best practices in strategic communications and marketing and shares information with team members. 

Branding: Serves as the director of branding for the college.  Maintains continuity in visuals, presentations and printed collateral, photography, and videography for the college. This responsibility encompasses everything from printed recruiting materials to environmental branding, as well as video production, digital production, newsletters, and websites. Aligns college branding with university’s overall branding guidelines. 

Resourcing: Strategically manages resources such as team talent, university services and budget to meet the college’s goals while monitoring new investment opportunities