Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships

Job Responsibilities

Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships

Department: EM New Student Orientation

Advertised Salary Range:

Part/Full Time:
Full Time

From the Upstate to the Low country, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning.

All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

The Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships reports to the Director of New Student Orientation and is responsible for planning, coordinating and overseeing all communications, publications, websites, and social media that support New Student Orientation. This role leads the office's partnership program, including the cultivation, management and retention of external funding and in-kind support.

• Knowledge of planning and implementing orientation programs for new students and families/supporters.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and skill in working with diverse groups of people.
• Must be able to work independently, while also knowing when to seek guidance.
• Must be a self-starter and adaptive.
• Must demonstrate superior attention to detail.
• Must be able to think strategically and gauge effects of actions/initiatives before implementation.
• Must be able to handle confidential or sensitive situations with poise and professionalism.
• Must relate well to people, have an engaging personality, and be able to speak with confidence before groups.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must represent the University effectively.
• Must be able to interact with new students, and families with empathy, tact, and discretion.
• Must possess excellent organizational skills and be able to handle and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must be able to effectively present to groups of varying sizes, provide guidance, support and positive customer service to others and maintain confidentiality of student credentials.
• Must understand budgetary impact of design decisions and provide appropriate guidance during project production to maximize quality output solutions that are also cost effective.
• Must possess keen knowledge of mass communication and graphic design principles, printing industry terminology, and copy editing style.
• Graphic design skills are critical in this role.
• Must handle multiple unrelated tasks simultaneously and prioritize projects in a fast paced environment where both quality and delivery timing directly impact the success of the office's events.
• Requires proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.; and Adobe Creative Suite;
  InDesign, Photoshop;
  Illustrator, etc.
• Must be able to cultivate and manage key relationships with internal and external constituents and develop marketing projects collaboratively with key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of marketing strategies and tactics and familiarity with digital tactics such as key word placement, SEO, email marketing and web analytics.
• Ability to consistently meet tight deadlines.
• Understanding of print and graphic design terminology as well as photojournalism.

• Direct university orientation experience.
• Master's degree
• Previou…