Communications Partnerships Manager

University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Greensboro (NC); On-site; USD 72,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

UNCG's Communications Partnerships Manager role partners with editorial, creative, digital, web, media, and marketing teams to align initiatives with university priorities, brand standards, and accessibility guidelines. The role advances the portfolio of schools and units through strategic plans and collaborative leadership, enhancing reputation and impact.

The position emphasizes cross-functional coordination, analytics, and proactive storytelling while staying current on higher education

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, English, or related field.
• Minimum four (4) years of progressively responsible communications experience.
• Experience developing communications plans and leading communications initiatives.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships.
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary communications environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the communications liaison and advisor to academic/administrative leadership across an assigned portfolio of schools, colleges, and University units. Develop and maintain expert understanding of all units within the portfolio, including but not limited to: audiences, pride points, faculty and student achievements, research, degree and program offerings, marketing, and media opportunities.
• Develop and implement comprehensive annual strategic communications plans that support unit and University goals.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships across University Communications to ensure the successful implementation of communications plans.
• Lead planning, coordination, and project management of communications initiatives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for communications projects.
• Coordinate editorial, creative, digital, web, media, photography, videography, and other communications resources.
• Develop project briefs, scope, timelines, and resource plans.
• Monitor progress, risks, and priorities while communicating updates.
• Utilize the University’s project management platform and established workflows throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate completed initiatives to improve future planning and partner experience.
• Develop integrated communications strategies.
• Collaborate on audience-centered content across all communications channels.
• Ensure communications meet brand, accessibility, editorial, and digital standards.
• Recommend messaging, channels, and communications approaches.
• Use analytics and audience insights to improve communications.
• Identify proactive storytelling opportunities.
• Stay current on higher education trends, AI-enabled tools, and emerging technologies.
• Foster partnerships across academic and administrative units.
• Participate in communications planning and portfolio discussions.
• Champion continuous improvement and workflow enhancements.
• Support the adoption of project management and communications best practices.
• Pursue ongoing professional development. Share knowledge and best practices. Demonstrate leadership through collaboration and accountability.

Skills

Project management

Written communication

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Partnership building

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, English, or related field

Master’s degree in a related field

Tools

Monday.com

Job description

Position Number:

013280

Functional Title:

Communications Partnerships Manager

Position Type:

Staff

Position Eclass:

EP - EHRA 12 mo leave earning

University Information:

Located in North Carolina’s third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal — helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University’s 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit:

University Advancement elevates UNCG’s reputation, advances institutional strategy, and fosters community pride through integrated communications aligned with its public mission as a student-centered research university. The department develops and executes strategic communications and marketing initiatives that enhance visibility, engage key audiences, and convey the University’s distinctive value. Working across schools, colleges, and administrative units, University Communications manages media relations, marketing campaigns, content strategy, branding, digital engagement, sponsorships, and crisis communications.

Position Summary:

Working collaboratively with editorial, creative, digital, web, media, multimedia, and marketing professionals, the Communications Partnership Manager ensures communications initiatives are strategically planned, appropriately prioritized, and aligned with institutional priorities, University brand standards, and the needs of key audiences. Through strategic partnership, project management, and integrated communications leadership, this role strengthens the University’s reputation while advancing the unique mission and goals of an assigned portfolio of schools, colleges, and university units.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, English, or related field.
• Minimum four (4) years of progressively responsible communications experience.
• Experience developing communications plans and leading communications initiatives.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Experience building collaborative partnerships.
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary communications environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Higher education communications experience.
• Experience with digital communications, analytics, content strategy, and web governance.
• Experience with Monday.com or similar project management platforms.
• Knowledge of accessibility, AP Style, and brand standards.
• Experience with AI-enabled communications tools.

Recruitment Range:

$72,000 - $76,000

Org #-Department:

University Communications - 33901

Job Open Date:

10/14/2026

Job Close Date:

11/04/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

FTE:

1.000

Type of Appointment:

Permanent

Number of Months per Year:

12

FLSA:

Exempt

Percentage Of Time:

35

Key Responsibility:

Strategic Communications & Academic Partnership

Essential Tasks:

• Serve as the communications liaison and advisor to academic/administrative leadership across an assigned portfolio of schools, colleges, and University units. Develop and maintain expert understanding of all units within the portfolio, including but not limited to: audiences, pride points, faculty and student achievements, research, degree and program offerings, marketing, and media opportunities.
• In partnership with unit leadership, develop and implement comprehensive annual strategic communications plans that support unit and University goals.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships across University Communications to ensure the successful implementation of communications plans.

Percentage Of Time:

30%

Key Responsibility:

Project Management & Integrated Communications Leadership

Essential Tasks:

• Lead planning, coordination, and project management of communications initiatives.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for communications projects.
• Coordinate editorial, creative, digital, web, media, photography, videography, and other communications resources.
• Develop project briefs, scope, timelines, and resource plans.
• Monitor progress, risks, and priorities while communicating updates.
• Utilize the University’s project management platform and established workflows throughout the project lifecycle.
• Evaluate completed initiatives to improve future planning and partner experience.

Percentage Of Time:

20%

Key Responsibility:

Consultation, Cross-Functional Partnership & Strategy Alignment

Essential Tasks:

• Develop integrated communications strategies.
• Collaborate on audience-centered content across all communications channels.
• Ensure communications meet brand, accessibility, editorial, and digital standards.
• Recommend messaging, channels, and communications approaches.
• Use analytics and audience insights to improve communications.
• Identify proactive storytelling opportunities.
• Stay current on higher education trends, AI-enabled tools, and emerging technologies.

Percentage Of Time:

10%

Key Responsibility:

Communications Team Collaboration & Planning

Essential Tasks:

• Foster partnerships across academic and administrative units.
• Participate in communications planning and portfolio discussions.
• Champion continuous improvement and workflow enhancements.
• Support the adoption of project management and communications best practices.

Percentage Of Time:

5%

Key Responsibility:

Professional Development & Leadership

Essential Tasks:

Pursue ongoing professional development.Share knowledge and best practices.Demonstrate leadership through collaboration and accountability.Mentor students, interns, or school-based communications staff when appropriate.Contribute to a positive, inclusive, collaborative team culture.

Physical Effort:

Eye-hand coordination - C, Hearing - C, Talking - C, Standing - O, Sitting - C, Walking - O

Work Environment:

Inside - C