Associate Director of Marketing and Strategic Engagement

Position Summary: Reporting to the Vice President of UDRI, The Associate Director of Marketing and Strategic Engagement leads the planning and execution of integrated marketing, communications, and high-visibility engagement activities that advance the organization’s reputation, stakeholder relationships, and growth objectives. This role oversees brand stewardship and messaging across platforms while ensuring a coordinated, professional experience for executive meetings, change management initiatives, Board of Trustees activities, client visits, tours, and conferences. The position works closely with senior leadership to translate institutional priorities into compelling communications and memorable engagements. Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field plus a minimum of 6 years of experience, OR a master’s degree plus a minimum of 5 years of experience.
2. Experience leading a team of marketing and communications professionals and managing external vendors or agency partners to meet organizational objectives.
3. Ability to create and execute integrated marketing, communications, and engagement initiatives across multiple platforms.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills, with experience translating complex technical or research materials into clear, compelling messages for a variety of audiences.
5. Experience responding to sensitive inquiries and managing high-visibility communications with discretion.
6. Experience collaborating with senior leadership to support executive-level meetings, Board of Trustees engagements, client visits, and high-profile conferences.
7. Experience working with internal and external stakeholders at various levels to achieve organizational goals.
8. Due to the requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

1. Experience working in a defense contractor or technical research environment.
2. Proficiency with industry-standard tools for website analytics, digital engagement metrics, and campaign performance evaluation to inform decision-making.
3. Experience creating graphic design content using Adobe Creative Cloud or similar applications.
4. Successful experience in developing marketing and communications strategies that enhance organizational reputation and stakeholder engagement.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and any applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

Closing Statement:

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. The University is committed to policies of affirmative action designed to increase the employment opportunities of individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1973.