Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications (HR Title: Marketing Specialist II)

Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications (HR Title: Marketing Specialist II) – (DED00000440)

Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Assistant Director of Marketing Communications for Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences supports the largest and most diverse academic unit on campus. As part of an integrated communications team, this position collaborates closely with the Dean’s Office, academic departments, research institutes, alumni and development teams, as well as recruitment partners across schools, regions, and units. The role is central to developing and executing the College’s marketing and communications strategy, including website management for both internal and external audiences. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Recruiting, Scholarships, and Communications, the Assistant Director plays a vital role in enhancing the visibility, reputation, and engagement of Dedman College’s programs and initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Strategic Planning & Execution
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of comprehensive marketing and communications strategies for Dedman College and its departments and institutes.
  • Analyze marketing trends, gather data, and identify opportunities to enhance outreach and engagement.
  • Maintain and enforce visual identity and editorial standards to ensure brand consistency across all platforms.
• Content Creation & Storytelling:
  • Write, edit, and curate compelling content for a variety of audiences across digital and print platforms—including newsletters, web content, LinkedIn, social media, feature stories, and email campaigns.
  • Oversee the creation and distribution of the Dedman College Newsletter and manage content for SMU blogs and news sections.
• Digital & Web Management:
  • Oversee day-to-day updates and long-term management of the Dedman College website (Sitecore), ensuring content is current, accessible, and aligned with best practices.
  • Coordinate web approval processes and collaborate with campus partners to ensure digital communications meet compliance and accessibility standards.
• Social Media & Digital Marketing:
  • Lead content strategy and execution for social media platforms to support student recruitment, alumni engagement, donor relations, and overall brand awareness.
  • Implement targeted digital campaigns using tools such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud and web-based analytics to measure performance and impact.
• Design & Visual Media:
  • Create and coordinate print and digital assets, including promotional materials, graphics, and signage.
  • Partner with external vendors and in-house designers to ensure timely and high-quality production of creative assets.
• Project & Calendar Management:
  • Maintain an editorial calendar and production timelines for web updates, communications projects, and campaigns.
  • Conduct post-project evaluations, gather testimonials, and collect success stories to support marketing initiatives and resource development.
• Performs other duties as requested or required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree is required. Candidate with master’s degree is preferred. Study of field in marketing, advertising, public relations, journalism, creative writing, communications, English is desired.

A minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience is required. Candidate with experience in a university/research setting, or educational/research NGOs is desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate with exceptional writing, editing, visual and storytelling skills with attention to detail and audience engagement is preferred. Effective communicator with the ability to collaborate across teams is desired. Candidate must demonstrate to be skilled at managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced setting. Candidate must also demonstrate to be a creative thinker/problem-solver with a proactive approach. Experienced in creating content for social media sites, eblasts, websites, newsletters, promotional materials is a must.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) is required. Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Teams, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), and web content management systems (Sitecore and/or WordPress) is highly desirable. Candidate must demonstrate familiarity with email marketing tools (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud), social media scheduling tools, and video or visual content platforms. Experience with analytics tools such as Google Analytics and social media is preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

Deadline to apply: 08/08/2025

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by 07/22/2025.

Samples of previous work materials is required.

A resume and cover letter in a PDF format is required.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU’s retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn’t just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location

: USA-TX-Dallas

Job

: Marketing and Communications

Organization

: Dedman College

Schedule

: Regular

Shift

: Staff

Employee Status

: Individual Contributor

Job Type

: Full-time

Job Level

: Day Job

Travel

: No

Job Posting

: Jul 8, 2025, 3:47:59 PM

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