Director of Marketing and Communications, College of Education

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

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POSITION SPECIFICS​

Penn State’s College of Education seeks an accomplished, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as Director of Communications and Marketing. Reporting to the Dean, the Director will provide strategic direction and operational leadership for the College’s marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, and brand management.

As the College’s chief communications and marketing strategist, the Director will advise the Dean and senior leadership, strengthen the College’s reputation and visibility, and communicate the impact of its teaching, research, innovation, and service missions. Building relationships with students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and community partners is another key aspect of this role.

The Director will help position the College of Education as a national leader in education and public service while advancing priorities related to enrollment, fundraising, engagement, and institutional impact.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership, Brand, and Reputation

• Develop and implement an integrated marketing, communications, and public relations strategy aligned with the College’s mission, priorities, and strategic plan.
• Advise the Dean and College leadership on communications, reputation, stakeholder engagement, and crisis response in coordination with University Strategic Communications.
• Lead proactive public relations, thought leadership, strategic storytelling, and high-impact visibility initiatives that advance the College’s reputation.
• Identify emerging issues and reputational risks and coordinate timely and effective responses.

Marketing, Digital Strategy, and Analytics

• Lead marketing initiatives across branding, enrollment, advertising, publications, websites, social media, email, video, podcasts, events, and sponsored or owned content.
• Develop data-informed campaigns that increase awareness, enrollment, participation, donor support, and stakeholder participation.
• Oversee the College’s digital presence, including content governance, accessibility, search engine optimization, user experience, social media, and ongoing performance improvement.
• Use audience insights, analytics, customer relationship management systems, marketing automation, and reporting tools to measure results and guide decisions.
• Develop toolkits, templates, campaign resources, and tailored messaging that support the College while maintaining brand consistency.
• Establish project management and workflow systems that improve accountability, efficiency, and collaboration.

Events and Special Initiatives

• Oversee marketing and communications for conferences, symposia, public programs, stakeholder events, and other high-visibility activities.
• Develop plans for signature programs, strategic initiatives, launches, and College events.
• Ensure effective event branding, communications, audience engagement, logistics, and post-event evaluation.

Team, Budget, and Operations Leadership

• Recruit, supervise, mentor, coach, and develop a high-performing team of marketing, communications, public relations, digital, creative, and event professionals.
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, timelines, service standards, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, transparent, innovative, and service-oriented team culture.
• Develop and manage budgets; allocate resources strategically; monitor expenditures; and evaluate return on investment.
• Oversee agencies, vendors, consultants, designers, production partners, and other service providers.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, brand standards, accessibility requirements, ethical principles, and applicable laws and regulations.

Work Location & Schedule:

• This position is based at Penn State’s University Park campus and offers a hybrid work arrangement (a mix of on-site and remote work each week), subject to operational needs, College guidelines, and University policy.
• Regular on-campus engagement is required, along with occasional evening, weekend, and overnight travel for events, stakeholder meetings, conferences, and other College activities.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success developing and executing integrated marketing and communication strategies
• Advanced knowledge of brand strategy, public relations, media relations, digital marketing, content development, social media, web strategy, analytics, and stakeholder engagement
• Experience advising senior leaders and communicating effectively with a wide range of audiences
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, agencies, consultants, and large-scale events
• Effective written, verbal, presentation, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills; inclusive and respectful when working with and supporting others
• Commitment to ethical leadership and accessibility

Preferred Qualifications (one or more of the following):

• Experience in higher education, research, or in a comparable complex public institution
• Experience supporting enrollment marketing, advancement, alumni relations, donor engagement, research communication, or legislative advocacy
• Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) systems and marketing automation, project management, content management, digital analytics, and related platforms
• Professional certifications in digital marketing, performance marketing, communications, public relations, or related field
• Experience leading communications during a crisis or other high-consequence issues

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be a strategic and hands-on leader who:

• Translates vision and strategy into measurable results.
• Builds trust and productive relationships across the College and University.
• Inspires, develops, and empowers talented professionals.
• Brings creativity, sound judgment, resilience, and a solution-oriented approach.
• Uses data and audience insight to improve decisions and demonstrate impact.
• Balances institutional consistency with the needs of a wide range of programs and stakeholders.
• Communicates with clarity, credibility, empathy, and integrity.
• Embraces innovation, continuous improvement, and change.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree
8+ years of relevant experience, includes 3+ years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None

Additional Notes on the Minimum Education and Experience:

• A degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field is preferred. An advanced degree will also be considered a plus.
• The required 8+ years of relevant experience must consist of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communication, media relations, external relations, or a related field.
• The required 3+ years of supervisory experience must consist of supervising or managing  professional staff, preferably in a complex, distributed, or matrixed organization.

Important Application Instructions:

Applicants must submit the following with their application:

• Current resume
• Cover letter describing their qualifications, leadership experience, and interest in advancing the College of Education’s mission through integrated marketing, communications, and external relations. Visit our website to read the College’s mission statement.
• Additional materials may be requested during the search process.

Additional Information:

The College of Education is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $91,488.00 - $137,280.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

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