Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications, the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications serves as a communications leader responsible for advancing the university's reputation through integrated strategic communications, storytelling, web content project coordination and enterprise social media strategy.

The Assistant Director develops and implements communication strategies that support institutional priorities while providing day-to-day leadership for the university's strategic communications, content strategy and social media efforts. Working collaboratively across the university, the incumbent advises campus leaders, manages complex communications projects, develops compelling content, oversees content planning, and collaborates on social media strategy while remaining actively involved in content creation, writing, editing, photography, video production, and community engagement.

This position combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution, serving as both a communications strategist and content creator who ensures the university's messaging is timely, compelling, accessible, and aligned with institutional goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated strategic communications plans supporting university priorities, presidential initiatives, enrollment, advancement, and institutional reputation.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction to the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager, establishing priorities, aligning work with institutional goals, and supporting professional development and performance.
• Guide the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager in the development and execution of integrated content, social media, and communications strategies that strengthen the university's reputation and audience engagement.
• Serve as a communications advisor to university leadership on messaging, storytelling, and audience engagement.
• Lead strategic content planning across print, digital, web, social media, and multimedia channels.
• Write, edit, and oversee high-profile communications including leadership messaging, feature stories, newsletters, websites, institutional publications, and major digital campaigns.
• Coordinate cross-functional communications projects with colleges and administrative divisions, including projects led or supported by the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager.
• Support media relations efforts by developing messaging, background materials, strategic communications plans, and integrated digital content.
• Serve as a member of the university's emergency and crisis communications team, developing messaging, coordinating digital communications, and providing direction for social media response during critical incidents.
• Establish workflows, priorities, content calendars, and quality standards for strategic communications and social media efforts, ensuring effective coordination between institutional storytelling and digital engagement.
• Review and provide strategic guidance on major social media campaigns, sensitive or high-profile content and reputation-focused initiatives.
• Lead development and implementation of the university's enterprise social media strategy.
• Create and publish engaging social media content, including writing copy, photography, short-form video, livestreams, graphics, and multimedia storytelling.
• Analyze performance using social media analytics and Google Analytics, translating insights into recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Identify emerging digital trends and recommend new approaches that enhance audience engagement.
• Provide training, coaching, and best practices for campus communicators and social media contributors.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expert-level writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple platforms, audiences, and formats, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling, accessible content.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement integrated strategic communications plans that advance institutional priorities, strengthen reputation, and ensure consistent messaging across channels.
• Strong knowledge of executive, organizational, media, and crisis communications, with the ability to advise senior leaders and campus partners on messaging, positioning, and emerging issues.
• Expertise in enterprise social media and digital communications strategy, including content planning, audience engagement, community management, analytics, and performance measurement.
• Knowledge of web content strategy and digital best practices, including content governance, accessibility, usability, and coordination of complex web and digital communications projects.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality multimedia content, including photography, video, visual storytelling, and other digital assets that support institutional communications.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex, high-priority projects, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain quality.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and build effective collaborative relationships across a complex, diverse organization, including with senior leaders, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.
• Excellent presentation, consultation, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and represent the university professionally.
• Strong editorial judgment, adaptability, and strategic problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess communications opportunities and risks, respond to changing priorities, and balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital communications, or a related field, including experience leading multifaceted communications projects and providing direction to staff, project teams, or other communications professionals. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field
• Professional experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans for a complex organization; Demonstrated experience developing, writing, and editing high-level communications for internal and external audiences; Experience developing and executing social media strategies and creating content for institutional or organizational social media channels; Experience working in higher education or another large, complex organization; Experience with crisis and emergency communications; and Experience with social media management, content management, analytics, and digital publishing platforms

Compensation

Classification: Administrator II
Anticipated Hiring Range: up to $9,167/month
CSU Salary Range: $5,053/month - $16,221/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: September 19, 2026 through October 2, 2026. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

People and Culture
jobs@sjsu.edu

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Advertised: September 19, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled

Organization

Welcome to San José State University!

San José State University is a major, comprehensive public university located in the center of San José and in the heart of Silicon Valley. SJSU is the oldest state university in California. Its distinctive character has been forged by its long history, by its location, and by its vision - a blend of the old and the new, of the traditional and the innovative. Among its most prized traditions is an uncompromising commitment to offer access to higher education to all persons who meet the criteria for admission, yielding a stimulating mix of age groups, cultures, and economic backgrounds for teaching, learning, and research. SJSU takes pride in and is firmly committed to teaching and learning, with a faculty that is active in scholarship, research, technological innovation, community service, and the arts.

Located on 154 acres in downtown San José, the university offers the excitement of studying at a large, metropolitan campus where many cultures meet. Yet students find personal attention from faculty members in the smaller setting of the university's eight colleges.

Mission Statement

In collaboration with nearby industries and communities, this faculty and staff is dedicated to achieving the University's mission as a responsive institution of the State of California.

To enrich the lives of its students, to transmit knowledge to its students along with the necessary skills for applying it in the service of our society, and to expand the base of knowledge through research and scholarship.

Leadership at SJSU

Leadership at San Jose State is defined by a belief that shared decision making and collaborative university governance is at the core of our culture. With this inclusive approach as a guide, President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson and the university's leadership promote discussion and engagement among faculty, staff, students and the community to shape and accomplish the goals of San Jose State.

California State University System

San Jose State is one of 23 campuses within the California State University System, the largest, the most diverse, and one of the most affordable university systems in the country. The 25-member CSU Board of Trustees is responsible for the oversight of the California State University system. See the California State University, Office of the Chancellor website for more information.