Associate Director of Communications and Marketing

Candidates must reside in California.

Special requirements - For full consideration, applicants are required to provide 3-5 writing samples and a diversity statement on what is your experience working to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

NOTIFICATIONS

The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California's COVID-19 vaccine program.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, applicants should attach their resume and cover letter when applying for a job opening. For guidance related to the application process or if you are experiencing difficulties when applying, please review the Applicant Resources on our Talent Acquisition website. 

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz staff jobs are posted until filled. Application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring unit for consideration. Materials submitted after the IRD will ONLY be forwarded at the request of the hiring unit. To ensure your application is routed for consideration, submit your materials before 11:59 p.m. on the IRD.  Talent Acquisition cannot accept application materials outside of the jobs portal, and is unable to update submitted applications on an applicant's behalf, or forward communications to the hiring units. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link . 

The IRD for this job is: 08-03-2023

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

University Relations supports the teaching, research, and public service of UC Santa Cruz by making and keeping deep, heartfelt connections. Building enduring relationships among students, alumni, faculty, donors, and others is the lifeblood of our work and helps to make UC Santa Cruz a thriving community of knowledge, inquiry, public service, and social mobility.

We are a welcoming group of ambitious and creative professionals pursuing our mission in support of the university's overarching purpose. We take our work seriously because we care - but we don't take ourselves too seriously! The University Relations culture is lively and dynamic; we value collaboration; and our staff is resourceful, enthusiastic, and hard-working.

The division is a fun, friendly, and open place, and our colleagues are supportive of and positive about each other's goals and aspirations. We often jump in to help where needed, rolling up our sleeves to get the job done. We dare to approach challenges as opportunities. We seek creative ways to overcome obstacles, at times with limited resources, while keeping our eye on the objective: helping students achieve their goals, providing crucial public service, and advancing life-changing research and discovery.

We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. We are looking for candidates who do great work, and we hope they come from a number of different backgrounds and experiences. We aspire to build an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every qualification for the position but possess transferable skills and experience.

JOB SUMMARY

The Associate Director of Communications and Marketing for the Physical and Biological Sciences Division plans and directs divisional marketing and communication activities for an assigned academic division in alignment with and in support of UC Santa Cruz's mission, vision, values and goals in an effort to advance the academic reputation and overall brand of the university.

Reporting to and in consultation with the Director of Strategic Communications and Media Relations, the Associate Director will be responsible for managing all of the division's public relations and communication functions. The Associate Director leads all communication strategies for external constituencies and internal communication strategies that support a cohesive and well-informed university community.

Divisional marketing and communication efforts under the direction of the Associate Director include brand awareness and ad campaigns, media relations, interactive and digital marketing, social media, collateral and implementation of market research and market segmentation strategies.

The Associate Director works closely with academic divisional leadership, including the Dean, Associate Deans, Assistant Dean, Department Chairs and staff leaders, and meets regularly with the UC Santa Cruz Director of Marketing, as well as campus content creators from across campus to ensure that campus priorities such as student success and research excellence are communicated effectively.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $82,300- $95,000/year.  Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment 

Job End Date: None

Work Location: Remote

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 007477 (COMM SPEC 3)

Travel:  Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

70% - Communications and Marketing:

Oversees and ensures effective efforts in communications, marketing, media relations, storytelling, outreach, and other communication initiatives for their assigned division. Coordinates internally and externally to ensure communications align with divisional and campus mission, values and priorities.
Leads the creation, management and implementation of complex comprehensive communications and marketing programs and projects, including written, visual, digital, and electronic communications, for a large, highly visible academic division. Sets goals and develops strategies to achieve those goals. Participates in campuswide media and communications initiatives.
Ensures effective marketing materials, including overseeing writing, editing, and production. As necessary, writes speeches, messages, and talking points for the Dean and others in the division.
Oversees the communication of complex research or creative scholarship to a wide audience (i.e., media, corporations, foundations, alumni, and friends), including both general and specialized audiences.
Ensures communication efforts are aligned with the vision, goals, fundraising priorities, and strategic planning of the division's leadership, and clearly reflected in internal and external communications.
Drives the look and feel of the divisional and departmental web presence, focusing on outwardly facing content that is both relevant and current. With partners in Information Technology and Communications and Marketing, oversees the marketing and communications aspects of all division web projects, including content strategy.
News and media relations
Oversees the creation and distribution of press releases, newsletters, web and social media content highlighting the division, academic programs, and research centers.
Oversees media relations for the division, including ensuring effective strategies for external dissemination of story leads, including but not limited to the following: press releases, editor's advisories, public service announcements, faculty expert pitches, press conferences, short items for periodic "tip sheets," radio interviews, photography, video and other visuals, social media, and external distribution vehicles. Ensures media inquiries on topics in the division are handled in a timely and effective manner.

20% - Program Management and Leadership:

Supervises one staff, to include hiring, training, mentoring, ongoing coaching, counseling and performance management.
Guides professional staff responsible for producing a variety of communication pieces across venues and mediums including written, visual, and electronic communications.
Provides guidance and direction to staff on university procedures, university and divisional priorities and messaging, and day-to-day guidance as needed on communications projects spanning social media, print, web, video, and news media.
Effectively coordinates efforts among communications staff, ensuring that content is optimized and leveraged across a variety of disciplines.
Works with staff to ensure production of high quality products that effectively deliver the desired message within budget and time constraints.
Develops and monitors the divisional budget for marketing and communications and other related activities. Monitors expenditures and ensures budgets are adhered to.

10% - Communication Strategy:

Advises and consults with divisional senior administration (Dean, Associate Deans, Assistant Dean, Department Chairs), senior peer group, division communicators, and campus marketing communications regarding all aspects of communications including developing strong communications strategies and
long- and short-term communications plans and/or projects that effectively deliver the desired message and build the school's brand.
Ensures communication efforts are aligned with the vision, goals, fundraising priorities, and strategic planning of the division's leadership, and clearly reflected in internal and external communications.
Advises campus communications senior staff and leadership on topics related to divisional priorities and high-profile topics.
Maintains relationships with key constituents on and off-campus, including university marketing communications, local media outlets, and partner campuses in the University of California system.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience in developing and managing all aspects of effective marketing, and public relations, and media relations plans, preferably for science-focused educational programs.
• The ability to work and interact effectively with people who have different skills, backgrounds and experiences.
• Strong written communications skills. Demonstrated ability to compose and edit copy for the web, social media, publications, and other marketing and communications materials.
• Ability to critique work accurately and professionally and to accept edits and changes from multiple parties.
• Working knowledge of fundraising, donor relations, and volunteer relations practices.
• Experience in developing effective promotional materials for target audiences.
• Experience in working with graphic designers and other outside contractors to develop marketing pieces from concept to implementation.
• Experience with Adobe Creative suite, Wordpress, and/or Drupal, and social media apps.
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships both within the university and with external constituencies.
• Good technical understanding of analytics and search engine optimization.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Understanding the research, teaching and public service conducted at a major research university.
• Working understanding of communications and marketing programs at a major university.
• Working knowledge of Macintosh computers.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• Must be able to work remotely from a home office and be able to fulfill requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs, and be able to fulfill requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as directed.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here .

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.