Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications, the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications serves as a communications leader responsible for advancing the university's reputation through integrated strategic communications, storytelling, web content project coordination and enterprise social media strategy.

The Assistant Director develops and implements communication strategies that support institutional priorities while providing day-to-day leadership for the university's strategic communications, content strategy and social media efforts. Working collaboratively across the university, the incumbent advises campus leaders, manages complex communications projects, develops compelling content, oversees content planning, and collaborates on social media strategy while remaining actively involved in content creation, writing, editing, photography, video production, and community engagement.

This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, serving as both a communications strategist and content creator who ensures the university's messaging is timely, compelling, accessible, and aligned with institutional goals.

• Develop and implement integrated strategic communications plans supporting university priorities, presidential initiatives, enrollment, advancement, and institutional reputation.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction to the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager, establishing priorities, aligning work with institutional goals, and supporting professional development and performance.
• Guide the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager in the development and execution of integrated content, social media, and communications strategies that strengthen the university’s reputation and audience engagement.
• Serve as a communications advisor to university leadership on messaging, storytelling, and audience engagement.
• Lead strategic content planning across print, digital, web, social media, and multimedia channels.
• Write, edit, and oversee high-profile communications including leadership messaging, feature stories, newsletters, websites, institutional publications, and major digital campaigns.
• Coordinate cross-functional communications projects with colleges and administrative divisions, including projects led or supported by the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager.
• Support media relations efforts by developing messaging, background materials, strategic communications plans, and integrated digital content.
• Serve as a member of the university's emergency and crisis communications team, developing messaging, coordinating digital communications, and providing direction for social media response during critical incidents.
• Establish workflows, priorities, content calendars, and quality standards for strategic communications and social media efforts, ensuring effective coordination between institutional storytelling and digital engagement.
• Review and provide strategic guidance on major social media campaigns, sensitive or high-profile content and reputation-focused initiatives.
• Lead development and implementation of the university's enterprise social media strategy.
• Create and publish engaging social media content, including writing copy, photography, short-form video, live streams, graphics, and multimedia storytelling.
• Analyze performance using social media analytics and Google Analytics, translating insights into recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Identify emerging digital trends and recommend new approaches that enhance audience engagement.
• Provide training, coaching, and best practices for campus communicators and social media…