Manager, EngageKY Communications and Engagement

Northern Kentucky University Research Foundation, Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Kentucky University Research Foundation, Inc. is seeking a Manager of Communications and Engagement to lead EngageKY's communications, marketing, events, and stakeholder engagement across Kentucky.

The role combines storytelling, content creation, brand management, and data-driven analysis to raise visibility, foster partnerships, and advance program growth. It requires strategic leadership and hands-on execution to turn ideas into measurable impact.

Qualifications

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy aligned with EngageKY's mission and growth priorities.
• Translate organizational goals into compelling stories and measurable campaigns across web, email, and print.
• Lead organization messaging, brand positioning, and content strategy across channels.
• Oversee development and distribution of annual reports, impact reports, and promotional materials.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy aligned with EngageKY's mission, programs, and growth priorities.
• Create integrated, multi-channel communications plans across web, email, social media, CRM, print, and other platforms.
• Translate organizational goals and program outcomes into compelling stories and measurable communications initiatives.
• Lead organizational messaging, storytelling, brand positioning, and content strategy.
• Manage content development and distribution across EngageKY's digital platforms and public-facing communications.
• Oversee the development, design, and distribution of annual reports, impact reports, promotional materials, presentations, and other organizational collateral.
• Create print and digital materials, including brochures, booklets, handbooks, displays, programs, posters, social media graphics, web content, and email campaigns.
• Maintain EngageKY's website content and coordinate updates and improvements as needed.
• Ensure consistent application of EngageKY's brand identity, voice, logos, graphics, and messaging across organizational materials.
• Monitor communications and engagement analytics and use results to refine strategies and increase reach and effectiveness.

Skills

Communications strategy

Marketing

Events planning

Stakeholder engagement

Content creation

Digital content

Branding

Data analytics

Storytelling

Tools

CRM

Website management

Analytics tools

Email marketing

Job description

Position Title: Manager, EngageKY Communications and Engagement Position Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term)

About the Role: EngageKY is seeking a creative, strategic, and relationship-driven Manager of Communications and Engagement to help tell our story, grow our impact, and strengthen our connections across Kentucky. This role brings together communications, marketing, events, program strategy, and stakeholder engagement to increase awareness of EngageKY's work and create new opportunities for growth and partnership. The ideal candidate is both a big-picture thinker and a hands-on doer who can develop compelling stories and campaigns, create engaging digital and print content, lead high-quality events, build meaningful partnerships, and use data to understand what is working. If you enjoy turning great ideas into action and want to use your skills to support programs that strengthen communities across Kentucky, we’d love to hear from you.

The Manager of Communications and Engagement provides strategic leadership for EngageKY's communications, marketing, external engagement, events, and program advancement efforts. Working closely with the Executive Director and organizational leadership, the Manager helps translate EngageKY's strategic priorities into initiatives that strengthen programs, expand partnerships, increase organizational visibility, and demonstrate impact. The position uses data, storytelling, relationship development, and strategic communications to advance EngageKY's mission and support sustainable organizational growth.

Communications and Marketing Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy aligned with EngageKY's mission, programs, and growth priorities.
• Create integrated, multi-channel communications plans across web, email, social media, CRM, print, and other platforms.
• Translate organizational goals and program outcomes into compelling stories and measurable communications initiatives.
• Lead organizational messaging, storytelling, brand positioning, and content strategy.
• Manage content development and distribution across EngageKY's digital platforms and public-facing communications.
• Oversee the development, design, and distribution of annual reports, impact reports, promotional materials, presentations, and other organizational collateral.
• Create print and digital materials, including brochures, booklets, handbooks, displays, programs, posters, social media graphics, web content, and email campaigns.
• Maintain EngageKY's website content and coordinate updates and improvements as needed.
• Ensure consistent application of EngageKY's brand identity, voice, logos, graphics, and messaging across organizational materials.
• Monitor communications and engagement analytics and use results to refine strategies and increase reach and effectiveness.

Event Coordination

• Assist in the planning and execution of EngageKY external events from initial concept through implementation, evaluation, and follow-up.
• Develop event strategies, project plans, budgets, sponsorship models, timelines, staffing plans, and promotional strategies.
• Coordinate with program and operations staff on logistics, vendors, technology, registration, accessibility, and other event needs.
• Support the planning and promotion of training events and other program-related experiences as needed.
• Oversee event communications, marketing, sponsorship visibility, participant engagement, and post-event stewardship.
• Ensure events support EngageKY’s broader programmatic, advancement, partnership, and brand objectives.
• Develop appropriate risk management and contingency plans for major events.
• Coordinate virtual, hybrid, and in-person event experiences.
• Evaluate events using financial, participation, engagement, partnership, and relationship-based measures of success.

Brand Awareness

• Coordinate organizational representation and messaging to ensure EngageKY presents a consistent and compelling public presence.
• Manage newsletter and social media channels to connect with stakeholders.
• Serve as a connector across programs to identify opportunities for shared communications, partnerships, events, and organizational storytelling.

The Manager of Communications and Engagement performs other duties as assigned and contributes to a collaborative organizational culture focused on service, innovation, accountability, and measurable community impact.

Pay

• Minimum $42, 549 Annually
• Posted Salary: Minimum $42,549 Annually

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Why Work at Northern Kentucky University At NKU, our work revolves around three things: opening doors, helping people finish what they start, and connecting learning to real life. Those pillars-Access, Completion, and Career & Community Engagement-aren't just strategic-plan wallpaper. They shape how we hire, how we serve students, and how we show up for the region. If you want your work to matter—NKU is a place where you can see your impact every day.

About NKU Northern Kentucky University is a public, student-centered institution located just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Our vision is clear: to be nationally recognized as a student-ready, regionally-engaged university that empowers diverse learners for economic and social mobility. We focus on opening doors, supporting students through graduation, and connecting learning to real opportunity in our region. NKU offers the reach of a comprehensive university with the feel of a close, collaborative campus.