Communications Manager, College of Business

Academic Affairs – College of Business

About the role

The Communications Lead at the College of Business is a strategic storyteller and brand ambassador responsible for developing and implementing multi-channel communication strategies that elevate the college’s reputation, engage a broad range of stakeholders, and support key initiatives such as enrollment, alumni and donor relations, and research visibility. The ideal candidate blends creativity with analytics, has a deep appreciation for higher education, and excels at turning complex ideas into accessible, engaging content.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the development of a content strategy aligned with the college strategic priorities and the resulting communication goals.
• Collaborate with college schools, centers, programs, and departments to plan and develop content for their program needs.
• Directly support content development with the writing of articles, press releases, and internal communications.
• Engage in active prospecting – connecting with college faculty, staff, and university partners as well as scanning other lead sources for story ideas.
• Collect, monitor, and analyze performance metrics for articles and e-newsletters, and suggest improvements accordingly.
• Work with the graphic designer to provide content for webpages and collateral. Further support the role with event promotion by creating body copy for web portals, invitations, ads, etc.
• Work with team members in developing social media campaign ideas and video storyboards that support broader communication goals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
• Previous work experience with interviewing, story identification, news reporting, and feature writing.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills with a demonstrated knowledge of AP Guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience with MS Office, Google Docs, and Adobe Acrobat editor.
• Proven experience in journalism, English, communications, marketing, or related field is beneficial but not required.

Benefits

• Generous Leave: Paid vacation, sick leave, parental leave, community service leave, and 19 paid holidays annually.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access high-quality health insurance options that fit your needs.
• Retirement Options: Plan for your future with retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System.
• Employee Well-Being: The Balanced Dukes program promotes wellness and work-life integration through resources, events, and support.
• Tuition Waiver Program: Advance your education with tuition waivers for undergraduate and graduate courses taken at JMU.

Pay

$50,000 - $56,000 per year