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

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations reports directly to the Dean of the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) and serves as a key member of the Dean’s Cabinet Leadership Team. This highly visible, strategic leadership role shapes and amplifies the College’s voice, positioning CECS as a national leader in the future of higher education within emerging, interdisciplinary, and workforce-driven education.

The Senior Director provides executive-level direction for strategic marketing, communications, and external affairs, driving cohesive branding, compelling storytelling, and high-impact visibility initiatives. The role aligns the Dean’s public presence that includes speeches, media engagements, and high-profile appearances with the College’s mission, priorities, and growth strategy, while overseeing the creation of integrated digital, print, and social media content that is accurate, engaging, and brand consistent.

The Senior Director also spearheads special initiatives and signature visibility campaigns, develops and executes comprehensive annual communications plans with measurable outcomes, and serves as the central strategic connector among the Dean’s Office, marketing and communications teams, and key campus and external partners. The Senior Director will provide strategic supervision and mentorship to the Director of Campus Marketing and Communications, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, and Events Manager with a dotted line to the Student Success Coordinator. 

In close partnership with the Dean, the Senior Director will build a high-performing, collaborative team culture that values innovation, accountability, and excellence. Collectively, this leadership ensures CECS’s story is told with clarity, purpose, and impact, advancing the College’s reputation, influence, and long-term success on a national and global stage.

• Media Preparation & Strategy: 

  • Develop key messaging and talking points tailored for national and regional audiences
  • Coordinate media preparation for interviews, panels, and live broadcasts
  • Monitor current events and industry news to brief the Dean on relevant topics and potential questions
  • Draft and review press releases, op-eds, and statements for regional, national and global audiences to ensure consistency with the college’s mission and vision
  • Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and producers to secure coverage and rapid response
  • Maintain and launch new CECS external-facing events and activities such as webinars, newsletter columns, etc.
  • Strategically enhance the footprint of CECS’s social media presence in multiple platforms
     
• Branding & Visibility
  • Advance and position CECS’s image and visibility in alignment with the College’s strategic priorities and overarching vision
  • Align the Dean’s public appearances with institutional strategic priorities and vision
  • Oversee social media presence, including curated content and live updates during key events
  • Prepare biographies, fact sheets, and background materials for introductions, panels, and profiles
  • Track and analyze media mentions and sentiment to inform strategy
     
• Travel & Event Coordination
  • Prepare and deliver to the Dean a comprehensive monthly agenda outlining all scheduled travel and media-related engagements
  • Coordinate and manage all associated logistics to ensure seamless execution before, during, and after each event
  • Accompany the Dean to designated engagements, serving as a professional representative while safeguarding the Dean’s time, focus, and presence
  • Build detailed travel itineraries, including key contacts, schedules, and briefing books
  • Coordinate with event organizers and hosts to ensure visibility and maximize networking opportunities
  • Prepare post-trip debriefs highlighting outcomes, follow-up tasks, and relationship management needs
     
• Internal & External Communications
  • Align messaging with university leadership and system-level communications teams
  • Ensure CECS maintains consistent, high-impact visibility that reflects and advances the College’s mission and vision
  • Oversee and approve all internal and external communications prior to public release to safeguard accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment
  • Direct the timely development and distribution of all media formats (print, digital, and social), with particular attention to recurring publications and campaigns
  • Guarantee that all content is polished, strategically crafted, and tailored to its intended audience, including presentation materials and slides
  • Coordinate crisis communications and rapid response