DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
Start Date: Fall 2025
For best consideration: Applications are due by September 12, 2025. Applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled.
This opportunity is being advertised as a multi-series recruitment. The selected finalist could be hired in one of several job titles under the Communications job family. A job title will be identified based on the required and preferred experience and education of the selected candidate.

CRITICAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

A successful Director of Communications and Marketing has excellent written, verbal and digital skills as well as problem-solving capabilities. The Director also must possess managerial talent to guide a team of communications staff. Other notable skills include:

• Leading and motivating staff to produce high-level, brand-driven content.
• Utilizing analytical, creative and organizational skills to address challenges and increase the school’s media presence and quality of presentation.
• Working effectively in a fast-paced environment, meeting tight deadlines, managing multiple projects and assignments simultaneously, and managing competing priorities.

• Direct and manage the school’s dynamic communications office, and empower, lead and coach 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. This includes 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, and serve 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. This includes partnering with Enterprise Marketing constituents as well as partners and media outlets external to VCU.
• Serve as the key spokesperson and media contact for VCUarts, when necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.