Director of Marketing and Communications

Position Overview

Established in 2023 as UT Austin’s newest college, the School of Civic Leadership is a community dedicated to advancing a free society through independent thought, civil discourse, and intellectual curiosity. The Director of Marketing and Communications: will lead strategic planning to define and amplify the voice of the School of Civic Leadership, working closely with the Dean’s office and executive leadership to build a compelling narrative across multiple platforms. Location: AUSTIN, TX
Schedule: 40 hours per week
Salary: OPEN

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive, ground-up marketing and communications strategy for the School of Civic Leadership.
• Define and develop the school's brand identity and voice across multiple audiences and platforms.
• Serve as a core member of the executive leadership team, translating strategic goals into high-impact communications initiatives.
• Provide expert guidance on brand development, institutional messaging, and long-term positioning.
• Build and lead the marketing and communications team, overseeing recruitment and performance scaling.
• Drive national audience growth and enhance brand visibility using social, traditional, and digital media.
• Manage and optimize the marketing and communications budget, key vendors, contracts, and signature events.
• Oversee content development across digital, print, advertising, email, and publications ensuring consistency with strategic goals.
• Partner with Admissions and Development teams to craft messaging for recruitment and fundraising campaigns.
• Represent the School within university-wide communications and act as the primary liaison to UT Austin’s central communications office.
• Establish and lead crisis communications protocols to ensure preparedness and message consistency.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience Required: At least seven to ten years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, or brand management with a record of success in implementing multichannel campaigns.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leveraging consumer preference, public opinion, and market research tools to guide strategy and content development.
• Prior experience in higher education, mission-driven organizations, or government sectors.
• Ability to craft original messaging that advances the School of Civic Leadership’s vision and themes.

Benefits & Perks

• Benefits: Competitive health benefits with employee premiums covered at 100% and family premiums at 50%.
• Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Access to the Teachers Retirement System of Texas (defined benefit retirement plan) and additional voluntary retirement programs including 403(b) and 457(b) options.
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses.
• Training, conference opportunities, and tuition assistance.
• Athletic ticket discounts, access to UT Austin's libraries and museums, and free rides on all UT Shuttle and Capital Metro buses with a staff ID card.