"Instructor, Renewable Contract-Advertising & Public Relations-College of Communication & Information"

Job Details

The Department of Advertising and Public Relations in the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama invites applications for a nine-month Renewable Contract Instructor in Advertising or Public Relations to begin in August 2026.

The primary focus of this position is undergraduate teaching. As part of one of the nation’s top five Advertising and Public Relations programs, you’ll join a community of leading scholars and seasoned industry practitioners, collaborate with exceptional students, and help shape the next generation of communication professionals.

The ideal candidate will possess professional experience in advertising or public relations. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate the ability to teach across both disciplines or in interdisciplinary contexts. Additional consideration will be afforded to candidates with expertise in integrated marketing communications (IMC).

Depending on the candidate's experience and background, assigned classes could include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advertising and/or Public Relations Campaigns
• Advertising & Public Relations Management
• Channel Planning
• Public Relations Writing
• Branding Principles and Practice
• Advanced Digital Marketing
• Introduction to Audience Analysis
• Introduction to Channels & Messaging
• Introduction to Consumer & Media Research

The ability to work with student groups, such as the National Student Advertising Competition Team or the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), is also desired.

Applicants must demonstrate the ability to be an active and engaged member of a highly collaborative faculty team. The successful hire will teach four undergraduate courses each fall and spring semester, with the ability to teach master's and Ph.D. courses, dependent on academic qualifications.

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations houses a growing community of faculty, staff, and students with various research and professional interests. The department faculty engage in a variety of successful cross-campus collaborations and leadership roles, including directorships in multiple communication-oriented labs and the Institute for Communication & Information Research within the college’s Office for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity.

The advertising and public relations undergraduate programs are ACEJMC-accredited. Advertising majors have four options: a general major or a concentration in brand management, advertising creative, or integrated channel planning. Public Relations majors have the option of a general or digital communication concentration. The graduate program awards a Master of Arts in advertising and public relations. The two-year residential program offers an individualized track and more specialized advertising, creative, and media strategy concentrations. The graduate program also provides distance-learning concentrations in digital communication and marketing communication management.

The Department is home to the award-winning Minerva creative concentration in advertising and the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. It has been listed by PRWeek magazine as one of the top five programs in the country and APR teams have been recognized in national student competitions including the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition, the PRSSA Bateman Case Study Competition, and the Washington Media Scholars Foundation Case Competition. Students gain extensive practical experience before graduation through multiple outlets, including work with the student-run Capstone Agency and industry clients such as NASCAR, the Country Music Association, McLaren Automotive, Twitch, and Tervis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in an appropriate field or an undergraduate degree with a significant record of relevant experience.
• Professional experience in advertising and/or public relations, with experience in one or more of these areas: strategy, research, account management, account planning, brand planning, account leadership, or agency leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching college-level classes, or experience in leading employee training or workshops, is desired.
• Experience with developing or managing IMC campaigns or client relationships is preferred.
• Experience in an agency environment, either external or in-house, is preferred.
• Experience working with AI to meet client needs and assist in agency workflows is desired.

To apply, provide the following:

1. Cover letter highlighting your overall match for the position including mention of relevant clients and industries you have experience in.
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Names and contact information for three references

The College of Communication & Information Sciences has four academic units, approximately 110 full-time faculty members, and serves approximately 3,500 students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including approximately 95 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program. The college’s Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. The ICIR collaborates with businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other entities to produce high-impact research that informs and improves our evolving communication and information landscape. The College is also home to the Public Opinion Lab, equipped with the Sprinklr data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources; a biometrics lab outfitted with state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware; and the near-term development of an interactive VR/theater lab, among others. The college is also home to the Holle Center for Communication Arts, whose mission is guided by a commitment to advance narrative justice through innovative and arts-informed research, community engagement, and creative co-operation. The college also maintains the 40,000 square-foot Digital Media Center, which is home to Alabama Public Radio and WVUA 23, a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.