Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships

State-of-South-Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; 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

The University of South Carolina invites applications for the Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships within the EM New Student Orientation department. This full-time role leads communications, publications, websites, and social media supporting orientation and oversees the office's partnership program, including external funding and in-kind support.

The ideal candidate will have proven ability to plan strategically, manage multiple tasks, and collaborate with internal and external

Qualifications

• Knowledge of planning and implementing orientation programs for new students and families.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and skill in working with diverse groups.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and oversee all communications, publications, websites and social media for New Student Orientation.
• Lead the office's partnership program, including cultivation and management of external funding and in-kind support.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced setting.

Skills

Communication skills

Public speaking

Project management

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Confidentiality handling

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

Job description

Assistant Director for Communication and Partnerships

Department: EM New Student Orientation

Part/Full Time

Full Time

About UofSC

From 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.

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 keyword 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

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• 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.