Director of Communications and Marketing

About the role

The Director of Communications and Marketing plays a pivotal role in advancing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s mission and strategic goals. Reporting to the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives and Communications for Finance and Operations, this position translates complex operational topics into clear, accessible messaging that builds trust and drives engagement across a large campus community.

Responsibilities

• Converts the Executive Director’s strategic priorities into clear work plans, campaigns, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring leadership priorities are translated into effective messaging and high-quality execution across channels and audiences.
• Assists the Executive Director with strategic planning, attends meetings on their behalf, and acts as their designee in their absence.
• Identifies proactive storytelling and marketing opportunities that advance the division’s mission and reputation.
• Sets standards for brand alignment, messaging consistency, editorial quality, and audience effectiveness.
• Maintains hands-on expertise across communications disciplines and writes, edits, produces, or reviews content when needed.
• Serves as the social media manager in the absence of a separate designated staff member for that function.
• Executes day-to-day internal communications, including staffing updates, website updates and administrative communications.
• Coordinates with University Communications and Marketing (UCM) on media strategy, media response and issues management.
• Guides communication and marketing priorities, resource allocation, and long-range planning in alignment with divisional goals.

Requirements

• Master’s or Bachelor’s and 0-2 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Qualifications

• Communication & Content Expertise: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; thorough knowledge of the methods of planning, writing, and editing publications; detailed knowledge of and experience with maintaining an interactive website and communicating via social media.
• Strategic & Organizational Skills: Experience working with strategic and integrated communications planning, as well as implementation and change management; proven ability to manage and lead effectively both people and programs including planning, resource allocation, budget allocation, and supervision; independent judgment and initiative required; experience in the principles of project management; ability to manage time effectively and meet project deadlines; demonstrated experience in setting and achieving challenging goals.
• Interpersonal & Collaborative Skills: Strong diplomacy skills able to successfully manage external and internal relationships and effectively liaise with colleagues at all levels, including central university units such as UCM; customer service-oriented attitude with demonstrated experience working in a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment; coalition building and collaboration skills; effective organizational communications both internal and external to the organization.
• Operational Knowledge: Knowledge of principles of management and human resources management related to day-to-day program operation and the supervision of staff; familiarity with news media operations and their deadlines; ability to respond quickly to requests for information; understanding of what information is considered private and should not be disseminated; knowledge of how to distribute information and which media to contact to effectively reach campus or the public.