Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Retirement Programs

Paid Tuition

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

13 Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

University of South Carolina seeks an Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships to lead communications, publications, and digital content for New Student Orientation. You will cultivate partnerships and manage external funding and in-kind support, ensuring consistent branding and messaging.

The role requires strategic thinking, exceptional written and verbal skills, and the ability to collaborate with diverse teams while handling sensitive information with discretion.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of planning and implementing orientation programs for new students and families.
• Commitment to inclusion and skill in working with diverse groups of people.
• Ability to work independently, while also knowing when to seek guidance.
• Must be a self-starter and adaptive with strong attention to detail.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to gauge impact before action.
• Ability to handle confidential or sensitive situations with poise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; capable of public speaking.
• Strong organizational skills and multitasking in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with print/graphic design terminology and copy editing.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and oversee communications, publications, websites, and social media for New Student Orientation.
• Lead the office's partnership program, managing external funding and in-kind support.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align branding and messaging across channels.
• Monitor budgets and guide production for quality and cost-effectiveness.

Skills

Orientation programs

Inclusion & diversity

Independent work

Self-starter

Attention to detail

Strategic thinking

Confidentiality

Public speaking

Written & verbal communication

Relationship building

Project prioritization

Budget awareness

Graphic design principles

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

Microsoft Office

Job description

Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships

Department: EM New Student Orientation

Advertised Salary Range:

Part/Full Time: Full Time

About UofSCFrom the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Inclusive Excellence Statement

Advertised Job Summary

The Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships reports to the Director of New Student Orientation and is responsible for planning, coordinating and overseeing all communications, publications, websites, and social media that support New Student Orientation. This role leads the office's partnership program, including the cultivation, management and retention of external funding and in-kind support.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Knowledge of planning and implementing orientation programs for new students and families/supporters.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and skill in working with diverse groups of people.
• Must be able to work independently, while also knowing when to seek guidance.
• Must be a self-starter and adaptive.
• Must demonstrate superior attention to detail.
• Must be able to think strategically and gauge effects of actions/initiatives before implementation.
• Must be able to handle confidential or sensitive situations with poise and professionalism.
• Must relate well to people, have an engaging personality, and be able to speak with confidence before groups.
• Must possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must represent the University effectively.
• Must be able to interact with new students, and families with empathy, tact, and discretion.
• Must possess excellent organizational skills and be able to handle and prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Must be able to effectively present to groups of varying sizes, provide guidance, support and positive customer service to others and maintain confidentiality of student credentials.
• Must understand budgetary impact of design decisions and provide appropriate guidance during project production to maximize quality output solutions that are also cost effective.
• Must possess keen knowledge of mass communication and graphic design principles, printing industry terminology, and copy editing style.
• Graphic design skills are critical in this role.
• Must handle multiple unrelated tasks simultaneously and prioritize projects in a fast paced environment where both quality and delivery timing directly impact the success of the office's events.
• Requires proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.; and Adobe Creative Suite; InDesign, Photoshop; Illustrator, etc.
• Must be able to cultivate and manage key relationships with internal and external constituents and develop marketing projects collaboratively with key stakeholders.
• Knowledge of marketing strategies and tactics and familiarity with digital tactics such as key word placement, SEO, email marketing and web analytics.
• Ability to consistently meet tight deadlines.
• Understanding of print and graphic design terminology as well as photojournalism.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct university orientation experience.
• Master's degree.
• Previous marketing experience including graphic design, video editing, social media and/or photography is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with AP style, Adobe Creative suite, and Mac platform .
• Experience with online digital marketing tools like dashboards and constituent relationship management software is desired.
• Knowledge of emerging trends related to social media tools is desired.
• Experience aligning multiple brand strategies and ideas as well as handling multiple projects by prioritizing and managing time effectively.
• Desktop publishing, editing, and design experience using Mac platform.

Job Close Date: 10/10/2026

Benefits Package

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, transgender status, age, color, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetics, protected veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions.je-67e0c966496c453687f5d8f6324e55d6