Director, Communications

Austin Peay State University; Clarksville (TN); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee seeks a senior Marketing and Communications professional to lead strategic planning, budgeted campaigns, and media relations for the College of Education.

You will manage a $50,000 annual budget, supervise student workers, oversee digital platforms, and produce annual reports, while aligning messaging with college and university goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or related field.
• Minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, public relations, or communications.
• Experience supervising staff or student workers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the College of Education marketing and communication planning and budget management.
• Coordinate campaigns for student recruitment, program growth, and community engagement.
• Provide leadership for college-wide communication efforts and ensure brand consistency.
• Oversee media relations, press releases, and liaison with APSU Office of Public Relations and Marketing.
• Manage the college’s social media presence and supervise student workers’ content creation.
• Lead creation and publication of the College of Education Annual Report and related promotional materials.
• Participate as a member of the College of Education leadership team and align initiatives with college goals.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Writing & editing

Budget management

Supervising staff

Digital marketing

Analytics

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or related field

Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field

Job description

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Marketing Management

• Develop, implement, and evaluate the College of Education annual marketing and communication plan, includingmanaging a minimum $50,000 budget, includinga digital marketing campaign with a minimum $25,000 budget.
• Design, coordinate, and oversee campaigns that promote student recruitment, program growth, faculty achievements, and community engagement.

Leadership & Supervision

• Provide leadership and direction for the college’s communication efforts, ensuring alignment across all platforms and initiatives.

Media & Public Relations

• Write, edit, and distribute press releases highlighting the college’s programs, students, faculty research, and achievements.
• Serve as thecollegeliaison with the APSU Office of Public Relations and Marketing.

• Build andmaintainrelationships with media outlets to increase visibility of the college.

Digital & Social Media Oversight

• Oversee the college’s social media presence, with content created and managed by student workers under the Director’s supervision.
• Ensure consistency, professionalism, and brand alignment in all digital platforms.

Publications & Reports

• Lead the creation and publication of the College of Education Annual Report, coordinating content across departments and programs.
• Develop promotional and informational materials in support of advancement, recruitment, and community engagement initiatives.

Other Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the College of Education leadership team to align communication strategies with college-wide goals.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic leadership in communication, marketing, and branding initiatives.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple platforms.
• Ability to manage budgets and evaluateROI ofcommunication campaigns.
• Experience supervising and mentoring staff, students, or interns.
• Proficiencyin digital marketing, social media management, and analytics.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability torepresentthe college to internal and external audiences.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, or related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, public relations, or communications.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising staff or student workers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit communication leadership.
• Demonstrated success in managing digital marketing campaigns and budgets.

Physical Requirements

• Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.