Director of Marketing and Content Strategy

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Create and oversee a holistic marketing strategy aligned with the college's goals, including target audience segmentation, messaging development, and channel allocation.
• Lead the creation of engaging and informative content across multiple platforms like websites, social media, publications, and email marketing, ensuring consistency with brand voice.
• Plan and schedule content releases across various channels to maintain a steady flow of relevant information.
• Utilize digital marketing tools such as search engine optimization, pay per click, social media analytics, and content management systems to optimize online visibility and engagement.
• Develop and execute targeted marketing campaigns for student recruitment, alumni engagement, fundraising, and other institutional priorities.
• Track key performance indicators to measure marketing effectiveness and make data-driven decisions to optimize campaigns.
• Respond to media inquiries, monitor media coverage, and produce analysis reports on pitches, story placements, and media campaigns.
• Develop a crisis communications protocol and respond to campus emergencies and crises.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with media, representing the college to the media and public on various issues.
• Advise college leadership on media responses and prepare them for media engagement.
• Serve as the main custodian of the college's social media platforms and emergency communication tools.
• Coordinate with leadership and safety teams to prepare and maintain crisis communications plans.
• Supervise staff, including training, performance evaluations, work assignments, and disciplinary actions.
• Represent the Marketing and Communications team on cross-campus committees, including emergency preparedness teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, marketing, and/or community outreach/media relations.
• Experience in a public affairs/public relations or news-gathering setting, serving as an outreach coordinator or primary media contact.
• Demonstrated success earning media coverage at local, regional, and/or national levels.
• Experience initiating, maintaining, and using social media with advanced knowledge of platforms, metrics, and content strategy.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and digital marketing tools such as search engine optimization, pay per click, social media analytics, and content management systems.
• Strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Excellent supervisory, leadership, and team-building abilities.
• Ability to interact with diverse constituencies and foster understanding.
• Confident presentation and public speaking skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain crisis communications plans and serve as primary communicator during emergencies.

Nice to Have

• Experience as a media spokesperson or emergency communicator.
• Established media contacts, especially in the Pacific Northwest or higher education media.
• Community relations, public affairs, or public relations agency experience in higher education.
• Supervisory experience with creative services teams and content producers.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• At least five years of professional experience in related fields.

Benefits & Perks

• Full state benefits package including paid sick and vacation leave.
• Paid campus holidays.
• Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance for employees and dependents.
• Retirement plans.
• Optional deferred compensation and supplemental retirement accounts.