Assistant Director, Communications & Engagement

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

Swarthmore has a unique perspective on how to use one's intellect in service to others. Here, students integrate social consciousness with intellectual rigor in their academic pursuits and their lives outside the classroom -- including their careers. A commitment to social justice and advocacy have been guiding principles of Swarthmore since its founding by members of the Quaker faith as a co-ed institution of higher education in 1864.

At Swarthmore, Career Services partners with colleagues across campus, including faculty, to promote a campus culture of career wellness, such that all students feel empowered to explore their interests and navigate fulfilling career paths. We believe in meeting students and alumni where they are at, acknowledging that each person’s career journey is unique, whether they are exploring new possibilities or have a particular destination in mind.  Swarthmore Career Services fulfills its educational mission of inclusive excellence through collaborative programming and our individualized approach to advising. These strategies help students and alumni leverage their strengths, connect learning within and in and beyond the classroom, and prepare to engage as leaders making a difference in their chosen fields.

The opportunity:

The Assistant Director for Communications & Engagement advances the department's recognition and amplifies its reach through data-informed analysis and cutting-edge communication strategies. Reporting to the Associate Director of Technology & Assessment, with close collaboration with the Assistant Vice President & Executive Director on special projects, the Assistant Director for Communications & Engagement oversees integrated marketing efforts and data management practices to enhance, assess, and expand student, alumni, and employer engagement.

This on-site role involves curating inclusive and compelling digital and print content to amplify the reach and effectiveness of the department's initiatives, and often includes liaising with offices across campus to coordinate these efforts. Tracking a variety of engagement metrics, the Assistant Director provides monthly stats and produces annual reports & visualizations that help identify campus engagement trends that enhance initiative and service delivery assessment. The person in this position is responsible for hiring, training, and supervising digital media and data analyst interns who create content for social media as well as clean/analyze engagement and student outcomes data. This position plays a crucial role in aligning with institutional goals and promoting the department's mission, values, and impact. We are a 35 hour per week, in-person office with normal operating hours of 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.

Essential Responsibilities

Communication Strategy & Marketing

• Develop and implement annual communications strategies that promote engagement across constituent groups while maintaining uniform office brand and consistency with College communications guidelines.
• Lead storytelling initiatives that highlight diverse perspectives representative of all identities and communicate impact of the office’s work in formats including e-newsletters, social media, videos, print, annual reports, and data visualizations.
• Establish and manage center’s integrated communications efforts by developing and managing a content calendar and related supportive projects.
• Liaise with Communications, Admissions, Advancement & Institutional Effectiveness on cross-cutting institutional initiatives and priorities that involve Career Services.
• Maintain and update branded communications-related templates (e.g. slide decks, annual reports, email headers, flyers, and social media posts) in line with office and institutional branding guidelines.
• Manage Career Services student and faculty/staff newsletters; develop, edit and public content. Create professional and visually appealing marketing and communications materials, including office reports, infographics and data dashboards.
• Collaborate with colleagues