AVP, Communications and Marketing

About the position

South Carolina State University (SCSU) is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Communications and Marketing. This senior-level position will provide strategic oversight of the university's branding, communications, marketing, and public relations efforts. The AVP will work collaboratively with university leadership to elevate the institution's profile, enhance stakeholder engagement, and align communication strategies with the university's mission and strategic goals. Additionally, the AVP will manage the Office of Public Relations, the WSSB Radio Station, and their associated functions to ensure alignment with institutional priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy to enhance the university's visibility and reputation regionally, nationally, and globally.
• Oversee the university's branding efforts to ensure consistency across all platforms and initiatives.
• Manage the Office of Public Relations, ensuring effective communication and media relations strategies.
• Provide leadership for the WSSB Radio Station and its associated functions, ensuring alignment with university goals and regulatory compliance.
• Lead and manage the Office of Communications and Marketing, including supervising staff, setting performance goals, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of high-quality, consistent messaging across print, digital, and social media channels.
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans and serve as the university's spokesperson as needed.
• Collaborate with university leadership, academic units, and administrative departments to promote the university's achievements, initiatives, and events.
• Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, community partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Utilize analytics and research to measure the effectiveness of communication strategies and make data-informed adjustments.
• Oversee the development of press releases, marketing campaigns, promotional materials, and other content to align with institutional priorities.
• Ensure alignment of all communication materials with the university's mission, values, and branding guidelines.
• Manage and respond to public relations issues, ensuring timely and effective communication to protect and enhance the university's reputation.
• Provide oversight for the operations, programming, and compliance of WSSB Radio Station.
• Collaborate with station leadership to develop engaging programming that supports the university's mission and strengthens community ties.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field is required.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in communications, marketing, or public relations, preferably in higher education or a nonprofit organization.