Executive Director - Marketing and Communications

Purpose, Scope & Dimension of Job

The Executive Director of Marketing and Communications has the overall responsibility for the creation and implementation of the College's marketing and communications plans and budget. In collaboration with the President and other senior leaders, this role develops, coordinates, and implements marketing strategies and communications plans that build and maintain the College's image, promote College events, and attract potential students, faculty, staff, community partners, and returning students. The Executive Director accomplishes institutional objectives through developing capacity in Marketing and Communications Staff by hiring, coordinating, and overseeing the efforts of all department staff, contractors, consultants, and media representatives; monitoring and approving content of all communications disseminated; and overseeing and managing, with President approval, the allocation of the Marketing and Communications budget. This position has primary responsibility for the image of the College, including the Office of the President, in the media, publications, digital assets, and the broader community. The Executive Director develops and maintains relationships with representatives of local media and publication companies and manages public relations strategy for the Office of the President and the College at large. Serves on institutional committees as appropriate or assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Executive Director has supervisory authority over the Marketing and Communications staff and is empowered to work with specialists and consultants to produce written and electronic information about the College and its programs, creating an image that will position the institution to accomplish its objectives. The Executive Director has primary authority over the presentation of College publications and messages.

Essential Duties / Major Accountabilities

• Develop strategy and provide leadership over the public relations, communication, and marketing functions of the College.
• Execute and manage a comprehensive and proactive College-wide marketing, communication, and branding strategy that supports the strategic goals, plans, and aspirations of Mott Community College.
• Enhance the College's profile and visibility on a local, regional, and national level through productive relationships with regional and national partners.
• Provide leadership to the Marketing and Communications and College Information Center departments, and any other staff as assigned by the President (Department structure and job titles and descriptions are subject to change).

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor degree in communications, business, marketing, or related field required.
• Minimum of 8-10 years experience in marketing positions that included leadership/management of a marketing/communications staff and media relations.
• Demonstrated experience in writing speeches for executive leaders.
• Demonstrated experience creating multimedia presentations in a manner that has significant impact on designated audiences.
• Experience with local media and managing media messaging.
• Experience with oversight of department budgets.
• Experience with media buying.
• Experience with digital marketing tactics – search engine marketing, local directories, website development and maintenance, and search engine optimization.
• Experience conducting, commissioning, and overseeing the development and interpretation of databases.
• Experience in crisis communications planning and implementation.
• Experience leading a cross-functional team that may include members of the community as well as personnel to develop programs, events, strategies, and publications that support organizational interests.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Master's degree in Communications, Marketing, English, Writing, or a related field.
• More than ten years of successful supervisory experience over a multi-member team or teams.
• Direct experience working as a Director of Marketing (or equivalent title) and/or in agency work in an environment serving multiple customers simultaneously.
• Experience working in higher education, preferably in a community college environment.
• Experience working in a large organization, with dozens of employees and customers, and a variety of internal departments and sites.
• Experience working in fund development in the nonprofit or educational sectors.
• Proficiency in desktop publishing.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions

• Must be able to frequently remain in a seated position.
• Frequently moves about interacting with faculty, staff, media representatives, and others.
• Frequently operates a computer.
• Constantly communicates with others in connection with duties; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

Work Schedule

40 hours per week plus additional hours as required. The Executive Director must have the flexibility and willingness to work beyond these hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of the President and College.