Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
- Job Category: Sales/Marketing
- Education: N/A
- FT/PT: Full-Time
- Company: Kansas Wesleyan University
Job Description:
Job/Position Description
Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
APPLICATION PROCESS AND HIRING TIMELINE INFORMATION
To apply for this position, you should submit an application at kwu.edu/jobs, cover letter, resume/curriculum vitae, two writing samples and your salary requirements via email to paula.hermann@kwu.edu (preferred method) or mail the same to The Office of Human Resources, Campus Box 33, Kansas Wesleyan University, 100 E. Claflin, Salina, KS 67401-6196.
In your cover letter please pay special attention to matching your actual qualifications to the required qualifications listed in this Job Description. If emailing, make sure you reference the position title on the subject line of your email.
The timeline for filling this job is:
• Applications will be taken until the job is filled.
• Interviews will begin as soon as qualified applicants are identified (approximately June 25, 2019 or sooner), and will continue until a hiring decision is made.
• Position is to be filled as soon as possible.
• Ideal start date: July 22, 2019
We will NOT check personal references or present and past employers without first notifying you of our intent to do so. KWU is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we will acknowledge receipt of your application as soon as we receive it.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
JOB TITLE: Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
JOB’S OPERATING GROUP : MARCOM
OPERATING GROUP’S PURPOSE AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: The Marketing Communications Office is responsible for managing the overall brand/voice and strategic communications of the university through marketing, advertising, public relations, internal and external communications, media relations, brand management and licensing. The office manages signature events, crisis communication, executive communication, Advancement communication and the university website (www.kwu.edu). The office’s main focus is on general university and event promotion (Enrollment Management coordinates all recruitment marketing).
JOB’S DEPARTMENT: Marketing and Communication (MARCOM)
DEPARTMENT’S PURPOSE AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: The Marketing and Communications Office is responsible for integrated marketing and communications that result in increased engagement of alumni, donors, and other community members as well as enhanced brand awareness.
JOB’S DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Paula Hermann, Senior Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement
DATE JOB LAST REVIEWED OR ANALYZED: June 2019; Paula Hermann
JOB’S EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Staff, Full-Time, Exempt, At-Will
JOB’S SALARY OR SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS: Salary to be determined at hiring based on the applicant’s qualifications and experience. Please submit your desired salary with your application and supporting documents. Benefits are dependent on the job’s employment class and employment status.
JOB INFORMATION
JOB SUMMARY: MARCOM is a group of creative thinkers and leaders who care deeply about providing quality materials, integrated communication strategies and outstanding experiences for community members and guests who visit Kansas Wesleyan University. Our office culture is fast-paced, collaborative, respectful and professional, with some humor and a lot of creative brainstorming intertwined. We take great pride in the tremendous responsibility of managing the university brand, and we bring our best every day to ensure that we are creating exceptional work for the university.
We’re seeking a leader to join our team as the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications. The ideal candidate will provide recommendations, innovation and direction in creating and executing effective communication and media strategies to generate awareness, build relationships and shape behaviors among members of Kansas Wesleyan University's external and internal audiences, including current students, faculty, staff, alumni, current and prospective donors ,and the general public. The assistant director will write brand-based content that will inspire, influence and increase community (internal and external) understanding of university programs, services and achievements across multiple platforms. The Assistant Director will manage the university website, media relations and the employee newsletter and provide event planning assistance. This position will assume leadership for the department in the absence of the senior director.
JOB WORKS WITH: A creative team of 3-5 in the Marketing and Communications Office and cross functionally with all departments on campus
JOB’S STAFF AUTHORITY: None
JOB’S BUDGET AUTHORITY: None
JOB’S PHYSCIAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Approximately 90% of the time in a temperature-controlled office; 10% at events or in meetings.
JOB’S UNUSUAL HAZARDS OR WORKING CONDITIONS: None
POSITION’S EQUIPMENT: University’s phone system, personal cell phone, computer, university alumni data base system.
POSITION’S WORK SCHEDULE: A flexible work schedule of approximately 40-45 hours per week, as well as working some nights and weekends at university events. Note: Summer hours June-July are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a half-hour lunch, Monday through Thursday. The university is closed on Fridays for those eight weeks.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Limited travel, mostly associated with professional development workshops.
JOB RESULTS, BEHAVIORS, AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES
JOB’S ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
WEBSITE AND ELECTRONIC CONTENT MANAGEMENT (45%) Serves as university web master, responsible for creating and maintaining the university’s website resulting in a positive and effective user experience, and writing brand-based content across multiple platforms that results in promoting the university's teaching, spiritual development and service missions.
• Oversees the KWU.edu (http://www.kwu.edu) site experience, developing insight-driven strategies from opportunity identification through analysis and execution with a goal of creating a positive and smooth first impression or ‘front door’ to KWU
• Provides daily web management, keeping content fresh and engaging, writing and placing new and relevant stories, photos and videos
• Updates and creates an engagement plan for the kwu.edu/news page; promotes this page to internal and external audiences
• Provides Computer Management System (CMS) training and support to departmental web masters
• Seeks out new opportunities for listing KWU on relevant websites and lists; updates listings annually
• Manages relationships with website vendors
• Writes content for and executes e-newsletter for employees and assists with alumni communications
• Develops feature stories on students, faculty and programs, as well as engaging content for a variety of uses (e.g. website, employee newsletter, social media, media pitches, advancement communications)
MEDIA RELATIONS (35%) Responsible for writing newsworthy stories, managing relationships with media outlets that earn media coverage and developing media initiatives that integrate into the overall university strategic communication plan.
• Serves as primary media liaison overseeing the development, implementation and maintenance of media strategies, processes, policies and procedures
• Conducts regular proactive outreach (via online and traditional platforms) with a wide range of local, regional and national media outlets by generating news releases, pitching stories, managing press conferences, and responding to inquiries
• Fosters relationships with media representatives in key market areas and works closely with university faculty and students to generate leads on compelling stories
Social Media Assistance (10%) Responsible for creating social media marketing initiatives in order to increase attendance at signature events.
• Works with the Enrollment Marketing Specialist to ensure all social media posts are on university brand.
• Develops and implements strategies to promote signature events, selecting platforms based on target audiences
JOB’S OTHER DUTIES (10%)
TICKETING SOFTWARE
• Manages VBO Ticketing software, ensuring all events that require tickets are setup on the site; work with internal university clients to share information related to their event registrations.
MARKETING
• Assists senior director with the implementation of the university-wide, integrated marketing and communications plan
• Monitors best practices and new trends in higher-ed marketing
EVENT MANAGEMENT
• Assists with community and campus event planning, promotion and setup, and attends most university-hosted major events to handle social media and to host media representatives and provide general event support
PERFORMS OTHER APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLY REQUIRED DUTIES AS ASSIGNED BY THE JOB’S SUPERVISOR.
JOB’S PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND STANDARDS: Actual performance standards for each measure will be set at least annually after consultation between the job holder and their direct supervisor based on the job holder’s existing qualifications and experience.
1. Increased annual attendance at university events
2. Increased engagement on university social media posts related to events (e.g. number of page likes, shared tweets and photos, views)
3. Successful implementation of changes to the website based on analytics and best practices (e.g. moving links or changing menus and content in response to user experience data)
4. Strong content that adheres to AP style with limited style and grammatical errors
5. Successful placement of stories in local, regional and national publications, websites, etc.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION:
• MINIMUM REQUIRED: Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing or a related field
• PREFERRED: None
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:
• MINIMUM REQUIRED: None
• PREFERRED: None
WORK EXPERIENCE:
• MINIMUM REQUIRED: Five years of professional experience in a marketing position that includes trajectory of increased leadership responsibilities, significant writing responsibilities and management of website content/design and social media.
• PREFERRED: One year of experience in higher education
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, and ATTITUDES – KSAA’s:
• MINIMUM REQUIRED
• Commitment to the philosophy of private higher education and the mission of the university
• Strong, informative and persuasive writing skills and experience developing communications intended for audiences to take action
• Experience effectively creating content for and managing websites, emerging media and multiple social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
• Superior news judgment, sharp editing and proofreading skills, accurate reporting, clear and stylish writing, and proficiency in AP Style
• Experience in media relations work
• Outstanding written and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and manage multiple projects
• Ability to organize, lead, establish and manage a timeline to meet deadlines
• Strong work ethic, energetic personality and willingness to go the extra mile
• Philosophical understanding of private, church-affiliated higher education
• Ability to produce high-quality work while managing projects independently
• Demonstrate high-level effectiveness in using Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.
• Ability to work with Apple computer and software
• Have a valid driver’s license.
• Have or be able to obtain a cell phone.
• PREFERRED
• Competency in Adobe Creative Suite
NOTICE OF SPECIAL JOB OR EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
1. THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT DESIGNED TO COVER OR CONTAIN A COMPREHESIVE LIST OF ALL DUTIES AND RESULTS TO BE PERFORMED IN THIS JOB. DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS MAY BE ADDED, SUBTRACTED, AND/OR CHANGED BY YOUR SUPERVISOR AT ANY TIME DUE TO CHANGES IN DEPARTMENT OR UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS.
2. Unless exempt due to an employment contract signed by the President of the University, all employees of Kansas Wesleyan are considered as an “at-will” employee.
3. All employees of Kansas Wesleyan University are considered to be “responsible employees” pertaining to Title IX regulations concerning both the prevention and reporting of sexual assault or harassment situations. As such, all employees must communicate with the Title IX Coordinator if they witness or hear about a sexual assault or harassment situation.
4. Kansas Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity employer and complies with EEOC and ADA employment requirements. It is and has been the policy of Kansas Wesleyan University to grant equal opportunity to all qualified persons without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or veteran status. In order to fulfill its mission as a Christian institution, preference in hiring shall be given to persons who can affirm the Institution’s mission.
5. All “offers of employment” are subject to a criminal background check prior to employment.
EOE
Please be sure to mention you found this position on KansasJobsLink.com
Contact Information:
100 E Claflin
Salina, Kansas 67401
E-mail Your Resume
Job Link: Kansas Wesleyan University Jobs Page
