Marketing and Communications Director

University of Wisconsin; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison’s College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence seeks a Marketing and Communications Director to lead the college’s identity, reputation, and storytelling. The role shapes integrated strategies, elevates research visibility, and coordinates with college leadership to engage diverse audiences.

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer and Chief of Staff, the director will oversee a team, build proactive workflows, and balance long-term strategy with hands-on

Qualifications

• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in communications, marketing, PR, or related field.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic marketing or communications initiatives across multiple audiences and channels.
• Experience communicating complex research, technical, or complex subject matter to various audiences.
• Demonstrated experience directing the work of others and leading project teams.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience advising organizational leaders on communications strategy.
• Ability to establish priorities and exercise sound judgment in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Audits and directs day-to-day operational plans aligned with strategic initiatives.
• Develops and monitors strategic communication initiatives for designated audiences and stakeholders.
• Supervises staff, including hiring, performance management, and discipline for multiple FTE.
• Identifies and manages media relationships and partnerships.
• Proposes and implements new or revived operational policies and procedures.

Skills

Experience in communications

Strategic marketing

Technical communication

People management

Strong writing & editing

Leadership advisory

Strategic prioritization

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category:

Limited

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Communications Director (B)

Job Summary:

The College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence (CAI) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as its Marketing and Communications Director. As UW–Madison’s first new college in more than 40 years, CAI is at a defining moment in building its identity, reputation, and organizational culture. This position offers a distinctive opportunity to help shape how a new college tells its story, engages its audiences, and establishes its presence as a leader in computing, data, information, and artificial intelligence.

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer & Chief of Staff, the Marketing and Communications Director will provide strategic and operational leadership for the college’s marketing and communications function. Working in close partnership with college leadership, the Director will develop and implement an integrated marketing and communications strategy that advances CAI’s priorities, strengthens its reputation, and builds the college’s marketing capabilities.

The Director will lead and develop the college’s communications team, establish priorities and effective workflows, and strengthen coordination across the college, its departments, and the broader university. They will help build a proactive, collaborative marketing and communications operation that elevates faculty and student achievements, advances research visibility, supports internal engagement, and responds thoughtfully to emerging opportunities and challenges.

As a trusted advisor to college leadership, the Director will bring strategic judgment, creativity, and communications expertise to a dynamic academic environment. The successful candidate will be comfortable balancing long-term strategy with hands‑on leadership and will thrive in an evolving organization where there is an opportunity to build, innovate, and make a lasting impact.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Audits and directs day-to-day operational plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives

• Develops, implements, and monitors strategic communication initiatives for designated audiences and internal stakeholders to maximize engagement and strengthen collaboration efforts

• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

• Identifies, establishes, and directs media relationships and partnerships with internal and external sources

• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revived operational policies and procedures

Department:

UW-Madison, College of Computing and Artificial Intelligence

Compensation:

The expected salary range for this position is $90,000 to $128,500 with flexibility based on qualifications and experience. Candidates whose qualifications and experience support placement at or above the top of this salary range are expected to demonstrate substantial relevant experience and expertise in strategic communications and marketing leadership.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as:
- Generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off
- Competitive insurances and savings accounts
- Retirement benefits
More Benefits information can be found here.

Required Qualifications:

• At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic marketing or communications initiatives across multiple audiences and channels, including coordinating stakeholders and managing complex projects.
• Experience communicating complex research, technical, or complex subject matter to various audiences.
• Demonstrated experience directing the work of others, including coordinating assignments, providing feedback, or leading project teams.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate, and compelling content.
• Experience advising organizational leaders and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders on communications strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, exercise sound judgment, and manage competing demands in a complex organizational environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a research-intensive university, academic division, research institute, or similarly complex organization, with an understanding of academic culture and institutional decision-making.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing professional marketing or communications staff.
• Experience developing audience-focused marketing strategies including digital campaigns, audience research, analytics, or strategies supporting student recruitment and enrollment.
• Experience leading research communications, media relations, or thought leadership initiatives that strengthen organizational reputation and visibility.
• Experience establishing or improving marketing and communications operations, including workflows, editorial planning, resource allocation, and coordination across multiple units.
• Experience advising senior leaders on sensitive issues or high-profile reputational opportunities.
• Experience managing budgets, external vendors, or agency relationships.
  

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required

Conditions of Appointment: This is a 100% LimitedStaff appointment. Salary will be assigned within the appropriate range, commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and experience. An excellent benefits package is also included. Successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information:

Kayla Weisensel at [e-mail]

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.