Director of Communications and Marketing - VCU School of the Arts

About the position

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) seeks a Director of Communications and Marketing to lead and implement comprehensive communications, marketing, and public relations activities that promote the school to both external and internal audiences, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and the general public. The Director manages the strategies, personnel, budget, projects, deliverables, and day-to-day operations of a robust unit within the School of the Arts, including oversight of the Office of Communications of the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU. This role involves designing and directing media campaigns, representing VCUarts at media events, and coordinating with various teams within the school and the broader university. The successful candidate will bring experience and energy to lead and inspire an integrated communications team around a shared vision for the school's long-term success.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the school's dynamic communications office, empowering and coaching its team to achieve objectives.
• Provide executive-level development, delivery, and maintenance of print and digital communications, photography, social media, videography, and other internal and external communication resources.
• Lead communication projects by defining and documenting project goals and timelines; tracking and confirming project milestones; and coordinating project resources.
• Create and oversee communication that reflects the Dean's vision and design aesthetic, including writing and editing 'talking points', speeches, visual presentations, social media, and video scripts.
• Develop and manage yearly budgets for the Office of Communications.
• Analyze, improve, and streamline communications and marketing procedures, processes, and technologies to expand outreach.
• Engage in analytics of communications and develop recommendations to increase effectiveness and impact.
• Monitor major issues that impact the school and its community and create crisis-response content in collaboration with the Dean and VCU's Enterprise Marketing and Communications team.
• Develop a cohesive, senior-level communications and outreach strategy including building and managing a comprehensive forward-looking plan that supports/promotes the school's faculty, students, staff, and programming.
• Collaborate with the school's development team to create events and generate promotional material for related academic affairs, alumni, donors, and other VCUarts supporters.
• Ensure compliance with University policies and School of the Arts procedures, serving as the official communications liaison between the school and other communication units on campus.
• Identify, establish, and manage meaningful engagement opportunities to promote VCUarts at a national and international level.
• Serve as the key spokesperson and media contact for VCUarts, when necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education, professional training, and relevant experience.
• A minimum of five years experience in a complex organization engaged in marketing, communications, advertising, and/or public relations, preferably in a higher education or cultural organization.
• Experience writing, designing, and implementing annual communications plans with clear goals that align with school and institution priorities.
• Ability to develop compelling, creative, and effective messages and statements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Project management skills with the ability to lead substantial marketing and communication projects in a variety of media to completion.
• Excellent supervisory and managerial experience in leading, developing, and motivating high-performing teams.
• A significant understanding of issues, controversies, and trends affecting higher education.
• Broad and in-depth knowledge of publishing methods and writing and editing techniques.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a diverse population.
• Experience building effective partnerships at the senior level of an organization and collaborating with executives in a dynamic environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate complex environments with a wide range of constituents.
• Proficiency with content management and social media tools.
• Ability to implement high-level marketing and communications projects.
• Strong understanding of effective graphic design and branding principles.

Nice-to-haves

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with a major art school, university recruitment, and/or an arts organization or creative industry.
• Successful history of pitching stories to the national media.
• Proficiency with WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Slack, project management systems, and digital asset management systems.
• A passion for the arts and a keen understanding of audiences specific to the arts.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits
• Paid annual and holiday leave granted up front
• Generous tuition benefit
• Retirement planning and savings options
• Tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs
• Employee discounts
• Well-being resources
• Abundant opportunities for career development and advancement