We're Hiring!

Position Function:

The Assistant Director for Marketing & Communications is responsible for facilitating and managing comprehensive marketing and communications strategies for the Division of Student Affairs.

Salary Grade:  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Develop and execute social media strategy for the Division’s social media channels while providing consultation and support to departmental staff regarding content planning, audience engagement, accessibility considerations, platform best practices, and emerging trends to ensure alignment with divisional and university standards.
2. Write and produce clear, compelling communications and stories for publication on the departments’ websites, email campaigns, newsletters, publications and social media outlets to engage various audiences.
3. Oversee the visual design and creative execution of Division publications, including photography selection, layout development, and graphic presentation.
4. Manage content on the Divisional website and assist departments with website content strategy, redesign initiatives, accessibility considerations, and ongoing content updates.
5. Coordinate Division photography and videography efforts, including production planning, assignment of projects, scheduling coverage of major events, management of digital assets, and implementation of multimedia storytelling initiatives that support divisional priorities.
6. Work with departments across the Division to develop communication plans and marketing strategies for program offerings that align with divisional priorities, institutional goals, and university branding standards.
7. Provide training, as needed, to departmental staff on best practices for creating, managing, monitoring, and developing content.
8. Coordinate the execution of Divisional marketing projects received through the marketing request process by establishing production timelines, monitoring project progress, communicating with stakeholders, coordinating with student staff, and ensuring deliverables are completed in accordance with established priorities and quality standards.
9. Establish and monitor benchmarks to assess the effectiveness of social media and digital communication efforts, report analytics, and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.
10. Recruit, hire, train, supervise, schedule, evaluate, and mentor graduate assistants and student employees while providing experiential learning, portfolio development, and career readiness opportunities.
11. Works closely with the Office of Public Affairs on initiatives which include but not limited to, social media coordination and content creation.
12. Ensures the Division of Student Affairs’ mission, vision and values are properly branded.
13. Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, English, or Journalism and three years experience directly related to duties and responsibilities specified.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, English or Journalism.
2. Five years work experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified, preferably in an institution of higher learning.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Proven knowledge and experience using appropriate technologies. Advanced computer skills and technical ability are required.
2. Excellent and engaging written and verbal communication skills that aid in finding original content as well as the ability to be innovative in producing and packaging content, including writing creatively.
3. Proven time management skills, multi-tasking, meeting deadlines and moving projects from inception to completion.
4. Proven ability to take quality photographs and shoot videos for social media platforms.
5. Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office 365.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. Requires limited lifting of records and equipment.
2. Work is performed in a temperature-controlled environment.
3. Frequent external imposed deadlines; set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; involves conflict management to resolve interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
4. Job frequently requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, listening, handling objects with hands; ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.