Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing: College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing reports directly to the Dean of the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) and serves as a member of the Dean's Cabinet Leadership Team. This executive leadership position provides strategic direction for all marketing, communications, branding, media relations, public affairs, and visibility initiatives that advance the College's mission, enrollment growth, partnerships, reputation, and institutional impact.

As a senior leader within a rapidly growing and innovative college, the Senior Director is responsible for growing the existing team while leading and continuously evolving a high-performing communications and marketing team, including organizational structure, talent development, strategic planning, operational effectiveness, and performance accountability. The position serves as the Dean's chief communications and marketing strategist, leading integrated initiatives that elevate CECS's visibility, strengthen its market position, and establish the College as a national leader in interdisciplinary, workforce-focused, and future-oriented education.

The Senior Director collaborates extensively with university leadership, academic and administrative units, industry and community partners, media organizations, and external stakeholders to advance institutional priorities, expand strategic partnerships, and ensure consistent, high-impact messaging. Through visionary leadership, organizational development, and strategic execution, the position drives the College's long-term growth, influence, and success. 

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development

• Serve as a member of the Dean's Cabinet Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership that advances the College's mission, growth, visibility, and institutional impact.

• Design and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy that advances CECS's strategic priorities and long-term growth objectives. Anticipate emerging opportunities and challenges, align initiatives with available resources, and establish clear priorities, timelines, and measurable outcomes that maximize institutional impact.

• Grow the existing team by leading and continuously evolving a high-performing communications and marketing team, including organizational structure, workforce planning, operational frameworks, strategic priorities, and performance accountability.

• Define long-term communications and marketing objectives, success metrics, and implementation strategies that elevate CECS's reputation, enrollment growth, partnerships, and influence.

• Champion innovation and organizational transformation through strategic communications, marketing, branding, and visibility initiatives that strengthen the College's market position, reputation, and external influence. Anticipate emerging trends and opportunities in higher education, workforce development, and industry engagement, and drive innovative strategies that accelerate growth, expand stakeholder engagement, and position CECS as a national leader in interdisciplinary, workforce-focused, and future-oriented education.

Team Leadership & Talent Management

• Grow, lead, and inspire a high-performing communications and marketing team capable of supporting the College's rapid growth and evolving strategic priorities.

• Design workforce strategies, organizational structures, and staffing models that position the college for long-term success.

• Develop communications and marketing professionals while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and excellence.

• Establish performance expectations, measurable outcomes, and accountability standards that drive results and continuous improvement.

• Build, implement, and continuously enhance the operational infrastructure of the CECS communications and marketing team, including governance, policies, workflows, communication standards, performance measures, and resource allocation strategies. Drive operational excellence by optimizing processes, leveraging resources effectively, and creating scalable systems.

Marketing, Communications & Brand Management

• Direct all marketing, communications, branding, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, and visibility initiatives for the College.

• Shape, strengthen, and advance the CECS brand by ensuring proactive, consistent messaging, positioning, visual identity, and stakeholder engagement across all communications channels.

• Establish and govern the College's messaging strategy and communications standards, ensuring all communications consistently reflect CECS's mission, vision, values, brand, and strategic priorities while being tailored to