Director, Communications and Marketing - UT Southern

The Director for Communications and Marketing serves as the University's chief communications and marketing officer and reports directly to the Vice Chancellor of Integrated Enrollment and Brand Strategy. The Director provides strategic leadership for the university's communications, marketing, brand, public relations, digital strategy, executive communications, crisis communications, creative services and institutional reputation. 

As a key principal advisor, the Director helps shape institutional strategy by providing thoughtful counsel grounded in sound judgment, discernment and a deep understanding of higher education, public perception and stakeholder engagement. The Director translates institutional priorities into integrated communications and marketing strategies that strengthen the university's reputation, elevate its brand and advance enrollment, fundraising, advocacy and strategic initiatives.

The Director serves as a thoughtful steward of the UT Southern brand, ensuring communications consistently reflects the university's mission, values and aspirations while supporting the broader University of Tennessee System brand. Through collaboration with campus leaders, faculty, staff, students and the UT System Division of Communications and Marketing, this leader strengthens the university's visibility, builds trust among key audiences and advances the UT Southern strategic plan, as well as the UT System strategic plan.

The successful candidate leads with professionalism, integrity and humility, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement while exemplifying the Be One UT values in every interaction.

Strategic Leadership, Executive Counsel and Reputation

• Serves as UT Southern and the Chancellor's chief communications and marketing advisor, providing strategic counsel on institutional priorities, reputation management, public engagement and executive communications. 

• Translates institutional priorities into integrated communications and marketing strategies that support enrollment, student success, fundraising, community engagement and institutional advancement. 

• Anticipates emerging issues and opportunities while exercising sound judgment and discernment in advising university leadership. 

• Leads communications planning for major institutional initiatives, organizational change and executive decision making.

• Builds confidence and trust through proactive, transparent and authentic communication. 

Brand Strategy and Marketing 

• Effectively stewards the UT Southern brand while ensuring alignment with the University of Tennessee System brand architecture and governance. 

• Develops integrated marketing strategies that increase awareness, consideration and affinity among prospective students, families, alumni, donors, community leaders and other stakeholders. 

• Guides audience research, brand perception studies and market analysis to inform communications and marketing strategies. 

• Champions audience-centered marketing that leverages storytelling, digital engagement, research and analytics to achieve measurable outcomes. 

• Identifies opportunities to strengthen the university's reputation through innovative marketing, strategic partnerships and earned/owned/paid media. 

• Works collaboratively with UT Southern's Department of Finance and Administration to support the university's trademark licensing and brand compliance program by ensuring adherence to University of Tennessee policies, procedures and brand standards; and effectively preserve the integrity, consistency and value of the UT Southern brand.

Communications Leadership

• Provides leadership and execution strategies for media relations, executive communications, internal communications, creative services, digital communications and social media. 

• Leads crisis communications planning, issues management and emergency communications, and collaborate with UT System Administration officials when applicable in accordance with the UT System crisis communication protocols and procedures. 

• Ensures communications consistently reflect institutional priorities and reinforce the university's mission, vision and values, alongside the UT System’s Be One UT values. 

• Oversees development of speeches, strategic messaging and communications for executive leadership. 

Collaboration and Organizational Leadership

• Fosters a collaborative communications and marketing culture that exemplifies the UT Southern mission, vision and values, alongside the