Associate Director, Communications

The Center for Student Success (CSS) seeks a creative, team-oriented individual to design and lead the communications efforts offered through the FLI Network. The network was created in 2018 as a home base for our growing community of first-generation and/or limited income (FLI) undergraduate students, along with FLI staff, FLI faculty, FLI alumni and FLI friends. Since then, our rapidly expanding wraparound services for FLI students and work toward institutional readiness – now known as “the FLI Initiatives” – has disclosed the need for a more clearly designated and easily visible hub for the FLI community on campus as well as prospective FLI students and their families. During 2021-2023 we have begun repositioning the FLI Network at the center of the CSS with the following aims: to provide a coordinated core of social and educational programming, including signature events that honor and celebrate the FLI community; to shape and broadcast out affirmative messaging about the diversity and strengths within the FLI community; and to supply a home base for engagement efforts.

We are seeking an Associate Director for Communications who will have a key role in transforming the FLI Network into the primary communications hub for the FLI community at JHU.

Organizationally, this role belongs to the leadership team within the FLI Network. In addition to operating as the lead architect of communications and marketing, the role establishes a communications hub that aligns with program delivery and stakeholder engagement. Within this team, the role directly supervises one FTE. This role is expected to be a highly visible presence within the FLI Network, demonstrating an investment in knowing and effectively telling the stories of FLI stakeholders, inviting them into conversation about their experiences, strengths, and aspirations, and ensuring their continued engagement in the FLI Network in and outside of Johns Hopkins.

The person in this role must move effortlessly among CSS programs and lead the development and implementation of a communications strategy to engage internal and external stakeholders—including students, faculty, staff, alumni, families, community partners, donors, and prospective donors. Responsibilities include conceptualizing, acquiring, creating, editing, and delivering content in traditional and innovative ways across multiple channels. The candidate should also demonstrate ability to work well with individuals from all backgrounds to promote equity and access, foster inclusion, and effect positive change. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, creative and collaborative, with considerable experience in producing high-quality, engaging, and effective communication efforts.

*The position reports to the Director of the FLI Network in the Center for Student Success.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Brand Management & Storytelling

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for brand management, online and direct marketing, media relations, and community engagement and will work closely with CSS leadership as the communications partner on a variety of strategic initiatives.
• Lead the development of strategies and objectives for building and executing year-round brand engagement through partnerships, social media, the website, and other marketing vehicles.
  
• Develop benchmark criteria and track and evaluate the effectiveness of the communications strategies on a regular basis.
  
• Create, manage and sustain an impactful online presence through social media, website and/or targeted email marketing to internal and external stakeholders.
  
• Oversee and directly contribute to the creation of original content across a variety of channels and platforms, including articles, news releases, social media posts, weekly announcements, quarterly newsletters, reports, and others as agreed upon.
  
• Collaborate closely with FLI Network stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, alumni, families) to learn about their experiences and find ways to highlight their experiences and impact through the art of storytelling.
  
• Lead communications strategy and coordinate media relations outreach plans for events, live, hybrid and virtual, including FLI Compass and other signature programs and events, connecting closely on goals, themes, key audiences, and outreach strategies across the FLI Network.
  
• Coordinate with the Student Affairs Communications and Marketing team to align the FLI Network’s strategies and tactics with department-level communications and marketing goals, channels, and best practices.
  
• Work with FLI Network Director to develop an overall assessment plan for communication and marketing; work with Assistant Director for FLI Network in the implementation of the plan.
  
• Ensure