Associate Director of Brand & Marketing Communications

Overview

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Associate Director of Brand & Marketing Communications provides operational leadership and strategic oversight for the School of Nursing's marketing communications function during a critical growth period. This role manages daily communications operations, ensures editorial excellence across all platforms, and coordinates marketing initiatives that enhance the School's competitive positioning and recruitment success.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Marketing & Program Growth, this position provides direct supervision to the Brand Manager while coordinating with the Project Manager and Communications Support role. The Associate Director serves as the quality assurance leader for all external communications and the primary liaison for implementing strategic marketing initiatives developed by the Director.

This role requires immediate operational leadership during organizational transition, managing both permanent team members and temporary project support. Success depends on establishing quality control processes, building team cohesion, and ensuring consistent brand execution while the team stabilizes and grows. The position demands flexibility to adapt to evolving priorities while maintaining high standards for all external communications.

Team Leadership & Editorial Oversight (40%)

Direct Team Management

• Provide direct supervision and professional development for the Brand Manager, including performance management, goal setting, and skill development
• Coordinate with the Project Manager and Communications Support on integrated communications initiatives and project timelines
• Establish clear role boundaries and workflow processes between team members to optimize efficiency and reduce overlap
• Foster a collaborative team environment while maintaining accountability for deliverables and quality standards

Editorial Excellence & Quality Control

• Review and approve all external communications, marketing materials, and digital content before publication to ensure university and school standards
• Establish and enforce editorial standards, brand consistency guidelines, and approval workflows across all communications channels
• Provide content strategy guidance to ensure messaging aligns with institutional strategic priorities and competitive positioning goals
• Serve as a final quality assurance checkpoint for recruitment materials, program promotion, and external brand representation

Strategic Communications Implementation (35%)

Marketing Campaign Execution

• Implement strategic marketing initiatives and campaigns developed by the Director, ensuring tactical execution meets strategic objectives
• Coordinate integrated marketing campaigns across digital platforms, print materials, events, and external communications
• Manage campaign timelines, resource allocation, and cross-functional coordination to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery
• Monitor campaign performance and provide regular reporting on effectiveness, engagement metrics, and ROI to inform future planning

External Communications & Brand Management

• Oversee external brand consistency and reputation management across all school communications and marketing materials
• Coordinate with University Marketing & Communications (UMAC) to ensure alignment with institutional brand standards and messaging
• Manage crisis communications and sensitive messaging coordination with appropriate university stakeholders
• Ensure all communications reflect the School's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while supporting competitive positioning

Process Development & Systems Management (25%)

Workflow Optimization & Process Improvement

• Develop and document standardized processes for content creation, approval, and publication across all communications channels
• Establish project management systems and tracking mechanisms to ensure accountability and timely delivery of all communications initiatives
• Create scalable workflows that accommodate both permanent team members and temporary project support during the transition period
• Implement feedback loops and continuous improvement processes to optimize team efficiency and output quality

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as primary communications liaison with academic programs, admissions, advancement, and external stakeholders
• Coordinate communications support for Dean's office initiatives, special events, and strategic institutional priorities
• Manage vendor relationships and external partnerships for photography, videography, and…