Assistant Dean & Chief of Communications and Marketing Officer; CCMO

Title: Assistant Dean & Chief of Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO)

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Dean - Natural Sciences

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

The Assistant Dean and Chief of Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO) serves as the strategic leader for all communications and marketing initiatives within the College of Natural Sciences (CNS). Reporting directly to the Dean, this role is responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive communications strategy that elevates the college’s reputation, strengthens its brand, and engages diverse audiences including students, faculty, alumni, and external stakeholders.

As a key member of the senior leadership team, the CCMO provides counsel on strategic messaging, oversees media relations and marketing, and ensures alignment of all marketing and communications efforts with the college’s mission and goals. The position manages a budget and leads a team dedicated to delivering high‑impact, innovative campaigns across digital, print, and experiential platforms.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy that supports CNS’s academic and research priorities.
• Serve as the primary advisor to the Dean and senior leadership on all matters related to branding, messaging, public relations, and conflict management.
• Lead the creation of annual marketing plans and oversee budget allocation to maximize impact and Return On Investment (ROI).
• Prepare talking points, speeches, and presentations for the Dean.
• Partner with HR to develop an employment engagement strategy.

• Build strong relationships with media, community partners, and university communications teams to amplify CNS’s visibility across departments and other colleges.
• Promote open communication, encourage creative problem‑solving, and maintain brand consistency while embracing innovative approaches and addressing differences.
• Collaborate with University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation to design targeted campaigns for alumni and donor engagement.

• Ensure high‑quality, consistent presentation of the CNS brand to key constituents and external audiences, including but not limited to prospective students, alumni, and peer institutions for rankings such as U.S. News & World Report.
• Position CNS as a thought leader in science education and research through strategic storytelling and media outreach.
• Ensure adherence to university brand standards while advancing the unique identity of CNS.

• Direct all internal and external communications, including newsletters, press releases, social media, and web content.
• Oversee advertising campaigns, promotional materials, and collateral to ensure consistency and quality.
• Oversee media relations and act as the primary spokesperson when appropriate.

• Drive growth and engagement across CNS’s digital platforms, including website, social media, and email marketing.
• Utilize Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and analytics tools to optimize campaigns and measure performance, including but not limited to data management, segmentation, automation, analytics, and integration of websites, social media, and other systems for a unified view.
• Initiate and manage market research to inform positioning and increase awareness.
• Drive digital engagement through web, social media, and email marketing, leveraging analytics for optimization.

• Administer a communications and marketing budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and ROI on campaigns.
• Supervise and mentor a team of marketing and communications professionals, providing guidance and professional development opportunities.

• Serve as the primary contact for campus‑wide communications strategies.
• Collaborate with faculty and administrators in a fast‑paced, time‑sensitive environment to deliver impactful communications that advance the college’s reputation and goals.