Jefferson Community College
Watertown, New York 

Director of Marketing and Communications 

Jefferson Community College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY), is currently conducting a search for the Director of Marketing and Communications.

The Director serves as the College's lead strategist for marketing, communications, branding, public relations, and media engagement. This position is responsible for directing the College's marketing and communications function and developing integrated strategies that strengthen the College's reputation, support enrollment and retention goals, increase community awareness, and advance institutional priorities. Working closely with executive leadership and stakeholders across the College, the Director provides oversight for brand management, media relations, website and digital communications, crisis and sensitive communications, and data-driven marketing initiatives. The successful candidate will bring demonstrated leadership experience in marketing and communications, including strategic planning, budget management, staff and project oversight, cross-functional collaboration, and the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to build collaborative partnerships, guide organizational messaging, and translate institutional goals into measurable results.

Successful candidates will demonstrate experience in the following areas

• Providing leadership for marketing, communications, public relations, or related function, including responsibility for strategic planning, budget oversight, project prioritization, and supervision of staff, vendors, agencies, or cross-functional teams.
• Establishing the strategic marketing and communications agenda for the institution, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and mission-driven priorities.
• Leading integrated marketing, advertising, and brand awareness campaigns across digital, social media, web, print, and traditional media platforms.
• Building productive partnerships with executive leadership and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Serving as a primary media contact, including media relations, press release development, and reputation management.
• Developing and delivering communications related to sensitive issues, crisis situations, or high-profile initiatives.
• Overseeing website strategy, content development, digital communications, and online engagement initiatives.
• Using data, analytics, and performance metrics to evaluate outcomes, inform decision-making, and continuously improve marketing effectiveness.
• Managing budgets, vendors, projects, and multiple priorities in a complex organizational environment.

Requirements: 

This position requires a bachelor's degree and six (6) years of appropriate professional experience in a leadership position OR a master's degree and four (4) years of appropriate professional experience in a leadership position.

The successful candidate will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and experience in the following areas:

• Demonstrated leadership experience directing marketing and communications initiatives, establishing priorities, managing resources, and guiding teams toward the achievement of strategic organizational goals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement marketing and communications strategies that support organizational goals and priorities.

• Experience leading integrated marketing, advertising, branding, and public awareness campaigns across digital, social media, web, print, and traditional media platforms.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, department leaders, and diverse internal and external stakeholders to align communications efforts with organizational objectives.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing executive communications, press releases, public statements, presentations, and other high-visibility communications.
• Experience serving as a media liaison, cultivating positive media relationships, and managing public relations and reputation-building initiatives.
• Ability to develop and implement communications plans for sensitive issues, crisis situations, and time-sensitive organizational communications.
• Experience overseeing website content strategy, digital communications, online engagement initiatives, and emerging communication technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to assess the effectiveness of marketing and communications initiatives through analytics, performance metrics, audience research, and data-informed decision making.
• Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and oversee complex projects from conception through completion.
• Experience developing and managing budgets, allocating resources, and evaluating return on investment for marketing and communications activities.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships and foster engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and community partners.
• Proficiency with communication, marketing, design, content management, and data analysis technologies and platforms.

To Apply: For additional information about the College and this posting, please visit https://www.sunyjefferson.edu, and select “Careers at Jefferson”.  You may then apply by selecting the “Apply Now” button.

The following documentation/information is REQUIRED: (Applications that are incomplete or missing required materials may be delayed in processing and may be deemed ineligible for consideration by the search committee.)

• Cover letter - In their cover letter, applicants are encouraged to highlight their leadership experience in marketing and communications, including strategic planning, team and budget management, media relations, brand management, digital communications, executive-level collaboration, and the use of analytics to measure marketing effectiveness and organizational outcomes.
• Résumé 
• Unofficial college transcript(s) showing college degree(s) earned
• Contact information for three professional references is required on the Employment Application Form.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until it is filled. Finalists will be responsible for interview-related expenses.

Final candidates are subject to a pre-employment criminal background investigation.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.