Assistant Director Communications and Content Strategy

UMass Amherst; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

UMass Amherst's Commonwealth Honors College seeks an Assistant Director of Communications and Content Strategy to guide multimedia content across print, web, video, and social media. The role focuses on branding, storytelling, and expanding CHC visibility while upholding diversity and inclusion goals.

The position oversees a team of student staff and collaborates with University Relations, Events, and Outreach to develop feature stories, alumni profiles, and promotional materials.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and four (4) years' relevant work experience in communications, advertising, or public relations OR Master's Degree and two (2) years' relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated competency in data analysis and translating goals into successful operating plans.
• Previous supervision experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day operations of the CHC communications unit and leads development of content across print, web, advertising, video, and social media to improve CHC visibility.
• Provides guidance on content strategy for CHC groups including events and outreach, student success, academic advising, academic programs, and MassURC.
• Manages CHC website content and partners with teams to produce stories and visuals for newsletters, social media, and campaigns.
• Supervises 2–3 Communications student staff, mentors them, assigns projects, and reviews progress; acts as CHC Communications lead when the Director is unavailable.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Job description

Title: Assistant Director Communications and Content Strategy

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Other Academic Units

Department: Honors Administration & Dean

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Communications and Content Strategy provides leadership in managing the day-to-day operations of the Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) communications unit. This role is responsible for overseeing the development of dynamic content across multiple platforms, including print, web, advertising, video, and social media, to enhance CHC's visibility to both internal and external audiences. The Assistant Director's key focus areas include graphic design, videography, social media strategy, and promoting CHC activities and events. Additionally, this position plays a vital role in fostering a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and community, while also assisting with the overall oversight of the communications unit.

Essential Functions

Multimedia Content Management

• Partners with the CHC team and leadership, as well as University partners, to create and promote relevant content. Assists with the coordination, production, and design of videos and photography.
• Coordinates efforts and ensures brand consistency with University Relations, as required.
• Manages multimedia content library of images and videos, further develops metadata and systems for managing and tagging digital assets.
• Inventories and devises methods for photo organization.
• Oversees photo inventory, including organization, naming standards, and workflows associated with storage, access, and use.
• Tags and stores photos and albums to allow for quick and intuitive searches.

CHC Content Strategy and Marketing

• Provides insight and leadership regarding best practices and content strategies for groups within CHC including, but not limited to, the offices of events and outreach, student success, academic advising, academic programs, the Office of National Scholarship Advisement, and the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC).
• Assists in managing the Commonwealth Honors College website (umass.edu/honors) to improve audience engagement.
• Develops and pitches ideas for feature stories and alumni and student profiles. Researches and writes stories and interviews subjects for use on the CHC website, on social media channels, in newsletters and in marketing campaigns and materials for the College.
• Collaborate with the Administrative Assistant for Communications in graphic design support for marketing and promotional materials. Examples include graphics for newsletters and social media posts, event flyers, posters, banners and postcards, presentations and support for development activities and initiatives.

CHC Communications Team Supervision

• The Assistant Director will collaborate with the Administrative Assistant for Communications and directly supervises two to three Communications student staff focused on multimedia content creation by taking the lead on assigning them projects, tracking their progress, and mentoring and sharing skills relevant to their tasks.
• Leads the CHC Communications team when the Director is not available, and shares feedback with the Director about ongoing questions from student staff.

Other Functions

• Performs other duties as required.
• Must be able to reliably and independently travel to various work sites, vendor sites and event locations to support departmental events and activities.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and four (4) years' relevant work experience in communications, advertising, or public relations OR Master's Degree and two (2) years' relevant work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated competency in data analysis and translating goals into successful operating plans. Previous experience managing high volume of digital photography.
• Previous experience in higher education.
• Previous supervision experience.

Additional Details

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Pay Grade: PSSAP Grade 26

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.