Assistant Director for Communications

position is filled We are unable to offer a work visa sponsorship for this position. You must be authorized to work in the U.S. to apply. Position Summary Reporting to the Senior Director for Administrative Services and Communications, the Assistant Director for Communications provides strategic leadership and direction for University Housing's comprehensive communications, marketing, public relations and digital engagement functions in support of departmental priorities and institutional objectives. This position develops and implements integrated communication strategies to inform and engage students, families, university leadership, campus partners, employees and external stakeholders regarding University Housing policies, services, initiatives and operations. The position oversees departmental publications, mass communications, marketing initiatives, web content, digital signage and other engagement platforms while collaborating with university communications and marketing professionals and campus partners to maintain brand integrity and ensure consistent, effective messaging. The Assistant Director for Communications exercises substantial independent judgment in managing complex communications initiatives, advising leadership on messaging and communication strategies, responding to sensitive or time-critical issues, coordinating media inquiries and mitigating reputational risk. Serving as a key communications resource for a large, multifaceted residential operation, this position evaluates emerging issues and coordinates timely, accurate communications during operational disruptions, emergencies, policy changes, and other matters affecting residents and departmental operations. Through strategic planning, professional consultation, and oversight of communications functions, the position directly influences departmental effectiveness, stakeholder confidence, institutional reputation and the residential experience of UGA students. Duties/Responsibilities (30%) Staff Leadership, Project Management, Collaboration and Resource Stewardship Recruit, train, supervise and evaluate the Social Media and Marketing Manager and the Web Developer Principal, providing direction for daily operations, workload management, project coordination and professional development. Establish priorities, allocate resources, monitor project progress and adjust staffing and support to address changing departmental needs and competing deadlines. Actively promote and participate in the development, retention and engagement of each staff member. Develop and manage the communications budget, including monitoring expenditures, reconciling account activity and ensuring responsible stewardship of departmental resources. Coordinate communications project workflows and collaborate with internal and external contributors to ensure initiatives are completed accurately, efficiently and consistently. Collaborate with University Housing leadership, the Division of Student Affairs, university communications and marketing professionals, campus partners and external stakeholders to coordinate initiatives, maintain consistent messaging and advance shared institutional priorities. Lead University Housing presentations - both in person and virtually - given to returning, prospective and newly-admitted UGA students and their families. Serve as a University Housing communications representative on various departmental and campuswide committees and advisory groups. Assume other duties assigned that are consistent with the purpose and scope of this position, which may include evening, weekend and holiday hours. (30%) Strategic Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation and evaluation of an integrated communications and marketing plan aligned with University Housing's mission, strategic priorities and operational needs. Direct communications strategies that inform, engage and support residents, families, prospective students, university leadership, employees, campus partners and other stakeholders. Advise departmental leadership on communications strategy, public relations, messaging, stakeholder engagement, and sensitive or time-critical issues. Coordinate responses to media inquiries and public-facing issues in collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs communications office and other university partners. Oversee marketing research, audience analysis and outreach strategies to identify stakeholder needs, promote programs and services, and strengthen the effectiveness of departmental communications. Evaluate emerging communications platforms, technologies and industry practices to identify opportunities for innovation, enhance stakeholder engagement and improve service delivery. (30%) Digital Engagement, Content Development and Brand Management Direct the strategy, development and maintenance of University Housing's digital communications platforms, including the departmental website, social media, digital signage, videos, virtual tours, intranet, the staff intranet and other digital resources. Create, review and distribute student-focused communications and content, including mass emails, publications, promotional materials, recruitment materials, community guides, family communications and summer conference materials. Establish standards for messaging, visual identity, brand compliance, accessibility and quality across departmental publications, digital platforms and promotional materials. Serve as the departmental resource for licensing and appropriate use of university and University Housing branding. Direct content development and production by professional staff, student employees, photographers, designers, freelancers, printers and other contributors to ensure timely, coordinated and high-quality deliverables. Ensure communications and digital content meet applicable accessibility requirements, university policies, brand standards and other relevant guidelines. Oversee the planning and execution of digital engagement initiatives and experiential learning opportunities associated with student staff employees. (10%) Policy and Issues Management; Continuous Improvement Serve as a departmental communications resource during emergencies, facility disruptions, policy changes and other significant operational events, coordinating timely and accurate messaging to students and families in collaboration with appropriate university partners. Lead the annual review and maintenance of the departmental policies and procedures manual, coordinating updates and ensuring consistency with established formats, branding requirements and applicable university policies. Maintain knowledge of departmental operations, programs, services and strategic priorities to ensure communications activities effectively support University Housing's mission and the residential student experience. Develop and implement methods to evaluate the effectiveness of communications, marketing campaigns, digital platforms and stakeholder engagement initiatives. Translate data to improve communications strategies, digital experiences, operational processes, and service delivery. Use website analytics, audience feedback, marketing research and other available data to assess performance, identify trends and recommend improvements. Preferred Education/Experience: Master's degree in marketing, communications or related field. Previous supervision experience or demonstrated ability to supervise a team. Well-developed portfolio of work examples in which the applicant served as the lead designer or project manager. Experience with mobile technology and coordinating social media activities for various accounts (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and TikTok), as well as experience with social media management systems. Experience with professional photography and/or videography. Experience with website or content management systems. Experience with crisis management or emergency-related communications. Demonstration of strong communication skills (e.g., excellent writing skills and copy-editing ability as well as oral presentation skills) with the proven ability to promote and share the impact of a program to various audiences, as well as respond to concerns or issues. Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., MailChimp).