POSITION OBJECTIVE
Case Western Reserve¿s University Marketing and Communications (UMC) team seeks an experienced, strategic leader to become the marketing and communications director for the Case School of Engineering. This individual will serve as a key strategic partner and point of contact within the school, overseeing the development and execution of holistic marketing and communications plans that serve varied audiences¿from prospective students through to engaged alumni and donors. Working with a high degree of independence, and in collaboration with the senior executive director of marketing and communications and the dean, this individual will coordinate the resources and budget needed to service projects, track performance and adjust course based on outcomes. The director will develop and oversee meaningful campaigns to raise awareness of school successes, initiatives and events; clearly convey priorities for the school and the university; celebrate achievements among its faculty, staff and students; and keep the university and broader communities informed of significant developments across the school. This individual will oversee all projects created within the school and coordinate their implementation with partners within the school and across UMC, including communications managers, media relations representatives, enrollment marketing professionals and more. Through these activities, the director will advance efforts to help engage and inspire stakeholders at all levels within the Case School of Engineering.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
-
Deeply understand and intuit the clients¿ needs and develop strategies to meet their objectives. Lead the development and execution of holistic, integrated marketing and communications plans that align with the school¿s strategic plan and priorities, and work with teams to execute on all initiatives, monitoring outcomes and adjusting tactics as needed. Own all related projects and processes from beginning to end, ensuring all work done aligns with University Marketing and Communications¿ and the school¿s goals and priorities. Develop a service partnership agreement for the clients, and ensure all aspects are executed on time and as described; if new projects or needs arise that do not align with the agreements, collaborate with the senior executive director to determine how to balance those needs with existing projects. Develop systems, reports, and presentations to convey impact to internal and external stakeholders. (45%)
-
Serve as a trusted resource and advisor for the Case School of Engineering leadership, developing strong relationships and providing strategic advice aligned to their goals based on a thorough understanding of marketing and communications best practices. Think strategically about the needs of the school¿s many audiences (e.g., faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community members, peer institutions, etc.) and make recommendations for cost-effective and efficient solutions. (20%)
-
Serve as a team leader for a cross-disciplinary team within UMC (communications and content planning, media relations, alumni relations, creative, web, marketing, etc.) to ensure that all projects (newsletters, web updates, enrollment marketing, organic/paid social, event communications, etc.) are executed on time and in alignment with their client(s)¿ strategic objectives and brand guidelines. Partner with a communications manager to identify news opportunities and share them through school and university communications vehicles, social media pages and websites. Collaborate consistently with team leaders across UMC to ensure recommendations align with industry best practices, as well as UMC workloads and priorities. Work with other team leaders within the department to assign projects and tasks to subject matter experts within UMC as appropriate. (20%)
-
Review all work prior to delivery to the client(s), including strategic alignment and proofreading, and checking that all requirements and/or changes have been addressed. (8%)
-
Develop strong familiarity with assigned client unit(s) and ability to write on behalf of leadership, including for speeches, talking points, email messages, presentations, quotes, articles and publications. (7%)
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Perform other duties as assigned. (<1%)
CONTACTS
Department: Daily contact with team members to complete projects.
University: Regular contact with faculty and staff to exchange information.
External: Occasional communication with external contacts to exchange information.
Students: Regular contact with student employees to exchange information.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Indirect supervisory responsibility across teams.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: 8 or more years of marketing and communications experience, preferably including project management and work in higher education.
Education: Bachelor¿s degree in communications, marketing or related field required.
REQUIRED SKILLS
-
Excellent verbal/ written communication and editing skills.
-
Demonstrate resourcefulness, sound decision making and strong problem-solving capabilities to address challenges and opportunities creatively.
-
Ability to translate complex topics in ways that engage, inform and inspire.
-
Ability to engage and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, cultures and diverse populations, including unit leaders, staff, researchers, academics and students. Think strategically about the most effective methods to meet the needs of the school¿s varied audiences.
-
Maintain a deep understanding of marketing and communications best practices with the ability to analyze data, metrics, market trends and consumer behavior to measure the effectiveness of campaigns and inform strategies.
-
Ability to think creatively and innovate in a rapidly changing environment.
-
Strong leadership, interpersonal, collaboration and customer service skills.
-
Outstanding planning and organizational skills with ability to coordinate and help execute high volume of client projects/activities with a sense of urgency and strong attention to detail. Balance and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines and adjust assignments as needed relative to available resources.
-
Work independently while also seeking appropriate guidance and providing necessary updates to supervisor and colleagues regarding UMC activities.
-
Proficiency in Google Suite (documents, sheets, slides) and MS Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
-
Ability to represent Case Western Reserve University by participating in meetings, conferences and other events.
-
Ability to meet consistent attendance.
-
Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
-
Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face.
-
Prefer experience in developing and enforcing a strong brand identity.
-
Prefer proficiency in digital marketing strategies, including social media, SEO and content marketing.
-
Prefer familiarity with CRM software, content management systems and marketing automation tools.
-
Prefer basic understanding of graphic design and multimedia content creation.
WORKING CONDITIONS
General office environment (hybrid work option available after orientation period is complete). The employee will perform repetitive motion using a computer, mouse and keyboard.
