Director of Communications & Chief Strategist - College of Social Work

Regular, Full-time, Market Range 11

The University of Tennessee College of Social Work (CSW) invites applications and nominations for the position of Director of Communications & Chief Strategist. Reporting to the Dean, the director is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and management for communications and marketing team within the CSW.

This position provides strategic expertise and guidance on communications and marketing functions, insuring that materials developed for the College support the College's goals, reflect the highest quality, and meet expectations for return on investment. As Chief Strategist, the position coordinates the projects outlined in the College's strategic plan, working closely with administrators, faculty, and staff to facilitate, coordinate, and monitor progress on these objectives

The Position

The Director of Communications & Chief Strategist should be a thoughtful, team-based, skilled leader with experience leading and managing organizational strategy. Accountable for bringing the CSW's vision and mission to the forefront, the director will be a problem-solver who leads with humility and sensitivity to the diverse constituencies, creating and maintaining a culture of inclusion and support that allow all staff to thrive.

The Director will plan, coordinate, and execute integrated marketing and communication plans and strategies for the CSW while ensuring compliance with University marketing and branding/logo guidelines to support integrated marketing and communications. This position is responsible for organizing, managing, prioritizing, and coordinating workflow from creative development through delivery of materials. The Director will support staff in creating high quality materials (e.g., newsletters, social media, website, emails, and news releases) that portray the College in the best light.

The Director is responsible for overseeing internal-facing College projects related to the strategic plan on behalf of the Dean's office. This person in this position should be able to communicate effectively with all college and university constituencies, anticipate and mitigate risks, evaluate requested changes to plans, and ensure assessments are completed and outcomes are achieved on schedule.

The University, College, and the Region

UTK is the state's flagship, land-grant university, ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the best places to work in the country. We are a Research 1 university, housing 11 colleges and 900+ programs of study. The College of Social Work, one of the top 30 social work programs among all public universities in the country, prepares more students to be social workers than any other program in the state. It is nationally recognized for its strong online education programs and vibrant campuses in Knoxville and Nashville.

The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a statistical area population of over 850,000 people. The Knoxville region houses many leading corporations, including Bush Brothers & Company, Discovery Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Knoxville is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains; and a day's drive to Memphis, Chicago and Washington D.C.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker who thrives in a collaborative, creative environment. Required knowledge, skills, and experiences include:

• Advanced knowledge of principles of marketing and advertising
• Strategic planning and project management skills
• Demonstrated ability to create and execute detailed marketing plans and measure their success
• Advanced knowledge of digital and traditional marketing tactics
• Demonstrated success in managing complex marketing and advertising campaigns
• Great problem-solving skills and ability to think analytically
• Willingness to understand the needs and perceptions of our audiences and find solutions for meeting their needs and influencing their perceptions
• Ability to provide high quality supervision and direction
• Advanced skills in building and facilitating diverse teams
• Ability to communicate with culturally diverse communities

In addition to the required education, experience and knowledge, skills & abilities listed above, our preferences are:

• Experience working in higher education communications and marketing function.
• Experience in MS office, Qualtrics, Power BI, tableau or similar Data Visualization tool.