Director of Communications and Marketing - VCU School of the Arts

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Job Code 13411-13416

Recruitment Pool All Applicants

Posting Number req8074

Unit School Of The Arts MBU

Department Arts Dean's Office, School of the Arts

Department Website Link arts.vcu.edu

Location VCU

Address 907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23284 USA

Duties & Responsibilities

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.

The Opportunity:

The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) seeks a Director of Communications and Marketing to lead and implement comprehensive communications, marketing and public relations activities that promote the school to both external and internal audiences—including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and the general public.

The Director of Communications and Marketing manages the strategies, personnel, budget, projects, deliverables and day-to-day operations of a robust unit within the School of the Arts that includes the oversight of the Office of Communications of the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU. This also includes designing and directing media campaigns, representing VCUarts at media events, coordinating with the school’s admissions, development and arts research teams, faculty and student affairs, the communications office at VCUarts Qatar, and VCU’s Enterprise Marketing and Communications team. The successful candidate brings experience and energy to lead and inspire an integrated communications team around a shared vision for the school’s long-term success.

Reporting to the Dean of the School of the Arts, the Director of Communications and Marketing will direct print and digital media (design and production), recruitment and admissions collateral, donor and alumni publications, website content and management, public relations, internal communications, photography and videography, social media and crisis communications. The ideal candidate will have significant and demonstrated experience in writing, editing, design and marketing, and will have a vital role in developing and executing a communications strategy that both furthers the Dean’s vision and priorities, and leverages the school’s national and international prominence.

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.

Major Responsibilities:

• 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.

VCUarts: Ranked by US News & World Report as a top-five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts, and has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 60 staff members that assist in daily processes. The School includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or the equivalent combination of education, professional training, and relevant experience.
• A minimum of five years experience in a complex organization engaged in marketing, communications, advertising and/or public relations preferably in a higher education or a cultural organization.
• Experience writing, designing and implementing annual communications plans with clear goals that align with school and institution priorities.
• Ability to develop compelling, creative, and effective messages and statements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Project management skills with the ability to lead substantial marketing and communication projects in a variety of media to completion.
• Excellent supervisory and managerial experience in leading, developing, and motivating high-performing teams.
• A significant understanding of issues, controversies, and trends affecting higher education.
• Broad and in-depth knowledge of publishing methods and writing and editing techniques.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Experience building effective partnerships at the senior level of an organization and collaborating with executives in an intense, dynamic environment.
• Possess outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate complex environments with a wide range of constituents from different backgrounds.
• Proficiency with content management and social media tools.
• Ability to implement high-level marketing and communications projects.
• Strong understanding of effective graphic design and branding principles.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with a major art school, university recruitment, and/or an arts organization or creative industry.
• Successful history of pitching stories to the national media.
• Proficiency with WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Slack, project management systems, and digital asset management systems such as Resource Space.
• A passion for the arts and a keen understanding of audiences specific to the arts.

FLSA University Employee

Job FTE 1

Exemption Status Exempt

Restricted Position

E-Class UF - University Employee FT

Job Category Executive and Senior Leadership

ORP Eligible Yes

Salary Range Commensurate with experience

Compensation Type Salaried

Target Hire Date 8/15/2025

Contact Information for Candidates

artshr@vcu.edu
Arts HR
804-828-3189

Documents Needed to Apply Only electronic applications will be accepted. The following documents should be submitted online via the VCU Jobs Website: Letter of Interest that includes an overview of professional experience Resume/CV List of three references including names with titles and contact information (references will not be contacted prior to a candidate’s approval)