Strategic Communications, Marketing, and External Relations Director
- 📅
- 5 days ago Post Date
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- 25002710 Requisition #
The College of Nursing at The University of Iowa (UI) seeks a Strategic Communications, Marketing, and External Relations Director to lead the development, promotion, and execution of strategies and programs that enhance the college's reputation, strengthen constituent relationships, and support advancement efforts on the university campus, statewide, and nationally. This role involves cultivating and managing partnerships with various stakeholders, including university colleagues, alumni, employers, donors, corporate partners, legislators, and other nursing constituents. The director will achieve these objectives through effective communication, innovative marketing initiatives, events, and collaborative teamwork, ensuring alignment with the University of Iowa and Office of Strategic Communications’ policies and procedures. Additional responsibilities include:
About the College of Nursing:
As a leader in nursing education, research, and practice innovations, the College of Nursing has received national recognition by U.S. News & World Report ranking the BSN program as #4 in the nation and five of its graduate programs in the top 10 in the nation. To learn more about the College of Nursing please visit our website at https://nursing.uiowa.edu/
About the University and Surrounding Community:
The University of Iowa (UI) is a world-renowned institution located in Iowa City, an UNESCO City of Literature that is recognized as one of the country’s most livable communities. With more than 70,000 residents, Iowa City is an attractive haven for scholars, scientists, artists, writers, and professionals of all kinds. Highlights of living in Iowa City include outstanding schools and libraries, a lively downtown offering an array of events focused on arts, learning, and cultural development, and the unique charm of a vibrant college town connected by easy travel to larger cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Iowa City and UI are intertwined for the benefit of the university and the surrounding communities.
The University offers several benefits to support faculty in achieving a healthy work/life balance including domestic partner benefits, family caregiving leave, and flexible spending accounts for dependent care and health care. For more information about local work/life resources, including dual-career support, please see: worklife.uiowa.edu.
Strategic Planning:
- Create and execute strategic communication and external relations vision and policies.
- Evaluate and report on progress towards external relations and marketing goals.
- Align communication and external relations with collegiate strategic planning and goals.
- Oversee distribution of donor scholarship funds, scholarship committee, and award process.
Message Development and Implementation:
- Determine and develop college brand identity and message that reflects and represents the missions of the College of Nursing.
- Oversee brand integration throughout communication tools and materials. Manage all communication materials through all media platforms.
- Provide collegiate-specific information for fundraising communication and marketing materials.
- Implement strategies for assessing messaging effectiveness including cost/benefit analyses.
- Develop and implement targeted messages to specific audiences, working collaboratively with teams and individuals in the college to effectively promote programs, events, recruiting, etc.
- Design and execute a plan to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments and activities of faculty, staff, students, and alumni within the college.
Public Relations:
Promoting Visibility for the College at the University of Iowa:
- Cultivate and manage relationships with key constituency groups e.g. college centers and programs, university colleagues, alumni, employers, donors, corporate partners, and legislators.
- Represent the college on various internal and/or external committees, agencies, and associations.
- Serve as college liaison to the UI Center for Advancement.
- Oversee the creation of nomination materials for the alumni award program of the college and of the UI Center for Advancement.
- Prepare reports as required for the UI Center for Advancement alumni leadership council.
External Public Relations:
- Create communications as requested by UI Office of Governmental Relations for state and federal levels.
- Oversee the implementation of campus or external relations activities related to governmental relations as they arise.
- Plan and oversee engagement activities and events, on and off campus, related to constituency groups (e.g., Campaign Advisory Board, Hawkeye Caucus Day, Community College Articulation Agreements).
- Prepare and submit requested reports to the UI Center for Advancement related to donor stewardship.
- Coordinate, in collaboration with the dean, stewardship activities (e.g. communications, meetings, acknowledgments).
Information Management:
- Develop and execute a comprehensive plan to address inquires and requests in relation to College of Nursing information and expertise.
- Collaborate with college and university leadership, to make strategic decisions regarding information management.
- Conduct timely, audience-specific informational sessions on media coverage, ensuring relevance and clarity. Lead the development, design and the production of the annual college alumni magazine, alumni newsletters, and other requested publication materials.
- Oversee web page design and development as well as information on social media platforms.
Financial Responsibility:
- Oversee strategic marketing, events, and annual magazine budgets including working with appropriate vendors.
- Approve financial transactions and purchasing at final stage
- Establish a system to efficiently monitor inventory and manage budgeting processes.
- Manage and oversee the distribution of college scholarships, ensuring accurate financial records are maintained in collaboration with the College of Nursing budget officer and the university financial aid office.
Leadership/Supervision:
- Supervise marketing and communication staff, and student employees ensuring efficient team management.
- Collaborate with teams and individuals in the College of Nursing to successfully and effectively promote programs, events, messaging, and student recruitment.
- Assess effectiveness and manage operational improvement plans.
- Assess the need for out-sourcing projects and/or targeted job elements as appropriate based on skills needed or other circumstances.
Required Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in a relevant field, i.e., communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Typically, five or more years of experience in the design and execution of marketing, communications, and/or public relations strategy and or activities.
- Exceptional written and oral communications skills.
- Proven ability to effectively communicate timely updates on current events and provide outstanding customer service
- Demonstrated success in writing press releases, managing social media, creating advanced presentations, and overseeing media campaigns, including electronic and print media.
- Proficiency in computer software applications.
- A strong commitment to working with college leadership and in a cross-functional team.
- Demonstrated success in managing people and teams effectively.
- Experience in design and coordination of production of strategic communications via a variety of mediums, including social media, print, and websites.
- Valid US Driver’s License and the ability to meet and maintain UI Fleet Safety Standards.
- Commitment to promoting a welcoming and respectful workplace environment.
Desired Qualifications:
- Knowledge of alumni relations, government relations, and/or corporate relations strategies and best practices.
- Experience in budget development, oversight, and management.
- Knowledge of strategic communications and marketing in a higher education institution.
Application Details:
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. For questions, contact Josh Gulick at joshua-gulick@uiowa.edu.
Benefits Highlights:
Regular salaried position. Pay Level 7A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.
For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.
Equal opportunity/affirmative action employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
