DIRECTOR-COMMUNICATIONS

University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Alabama at Birmingham is seeking a Director of Communications for Student Affairs to lead a department responsible for comprehensive communication plans, budgets, and executive advising. The role focuses on engaging students, enhancing the division's reputation, and ensuring brand integrity across audiences and channels.

The position reports to executive leadership and collaborates with the Office of Marketing and Communications to align messaging with institutional priorities and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations or related field and ten years of related experience required.
• Advanced degree preferred; work experience may not substitute.

Responsibilities

• Oversees production of high-quality, multi-channel content with consistent messaging.
• Develops and oversees strategic storytelling channels (web, email, social, video, newsletters, print).
• Defines performance metrics, uses data to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategy.
• Serves as primary liaison to Office of Marketing and Communications for the division.
• Directs large-scale initiatives, allocates resources, and manages budgets and priorities.
• Advises senior leadership on opportunities and coordinates with partners to amplify messaging.
• Represents the unit in institution-wide discussions and planning.
• Provides vision for communications that align with institutional goals and brand standards.
• Supports University's crisis management when needed.
• Hires and manages talent, onboarding, and performance expectations.

Skills

Leadership

Written and verbal communication

Marketing tools

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Marketing software

Job description

General Responsibilities:

The Director of Communications for Student Affairs leads the department responsible for the development and execution of comprehensive communication plans, manages budgets and resources, and serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership. The Director is responsible for engaging with students in meaningful ways and enhancing the university's and division's reputation, relationships, and communications on behalf of the division and its leadership. As a recognized subject matter expert, they maintain brand integrity, advance division and institutional priorities and achieve measurable outcomes across audiences and platforms.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

General Responsibilities:

The Director of Communications for Student Affairs leads the department responsible for the development and execution of comprehensive communication plans, manages budgets and resources, and serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership. The Director is responsible for engaging with students in meaningful ways and enhancing the university's and division's reputation, relationships, and communications on behalf of the division and its leadership. As a recognized subject matter expert, they maintain brand integrity, advance division and institutional priorities and achieve measurable outcomes across audiences and platforms.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversees the production of high-quality, multi-channel content, ensuring messaging is consistent, strategic, and accessible.
• Develops and oversees the execution of strategic storytelling channels for the division, to include web, email, social media, video, newsletters, and print publications.
• Defines performance metrics and goals for communication initiatives, uses data to evaluate effectiveness and inform decision-making and strategy.
• Serves as the primary liaison to the Office of Marketing and Communications on behalf of the division.
• Directs large-scale communication initiatives, allocates resources effectively, and manages complex budgets and priorities.
• Advises senior leadership on communication opportunities and challenges; collaborates with institutional partners to ensure alignment and amplification of messaging.
• Represents the unit in institution-wide discussions and planning.
• Provides vision and direction for communications within the unit, ensuring strategies support institutional goals, brand standards, and long-term reputation building.
• Supports the University's crisis management when needed.
• Hires and manages the talent needed to achieve goals, ensuring successful employee onboarding, communicating performance expectations, and creating goal alignment and a positive team culture.
• Uses excellent customer service skills to maintain proactive and effective communication with internal clients, supervisors, and team members.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Salary Pay Range:

$95,000 – $125,000

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field, and ten (10) years of related experience required. Advanced degree preferred. Work experience may NOT substitute for the education requirement.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with productivity, communication and marketing tools and software.
• Strong knowledge of communication assessment and metrics.

UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.

Job Category

Media and Communication

Organization

143005000 Office of Marketing and Communication

Employee Status

Regular

Shift

Day/1st Shift

Work Arrangement (final schedule to be determined by the department/hiring manager)

Onsite