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 CECS and serves as a core member of the Deans Cabinet Leadership Team. This position provides senior-level leadership in strategic marketing communications and external affairs to strengthen CECSs visibility and reputation nationwide and beyond. The Senior Director oversees branding and visibility efforts by aligning the Deans public appearances speeches and media presence with the Colleges mission and institutional priorities while managing the development of digital print and social content to ensure accuracy consistency and brand alignment.

The role also manages the Deans travel and event coordination for major events ensuring seamless logistics professional representation and strategic engagement addition the Senior Director leads special projects and visibility campaigns develops annual communications plans with measurable outcomes and serves as the central coordination point among the Deans office marketing and communications staff and external partners. Through strategic supervision of the Director of Campus Marketing and Communications and the Marketing Coordinator as well as the Events Manager and Events Coordinator the position fosters collaboration accountability and innovation to advance CECSs reputation influence and impact.

• 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 colleges 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 CECSs social media presence in multiple platforms
    
• Branding & Visibility
  • Advance and position CECSs image and visibility in alignment with the Colleges strategic priorities and overarching vision
  • Align the Deans 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 Deans 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 Colleges 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 in high-profile situations
    
• Special Projects & Strategic Planning
  • Lead special visibility campaigns including award nominations speaking engagements and thought leadership initiatives
  • Manage communications around high-level collaborations with industry government and nonprofit partners
  • Develop and update annual public affairs and communications plans including metrics for reach and impact
    
• Operational & Administrative Support
  • Prepare comprehensive briefing materials before every public-facing engagement
  • Maintain calendars talking points and priorities to ensure alignment across units
  • Serve as the coordination point between the deans office marketing communications and external partners
  • Collaboration and coordination with CECS leadership and personnel
  • Collaboration and partnerships with university units such as central communications office provosts communication team Enrollment management registrars office student success ORIED for informed and wide dissemination of CECS initiatives and brand
• Supervisory Leadership
  • Provide strategic direction and supervisory leadership to the Director of Campus Marketing and Communications and the Marketing Coordinator fostering collaboration accountability and innovation while ensuring all efforts align with CECSs marketing and communications priorities
  • Provide leadership supervision and guidance to the Events Manager and Events Coordinator

Required Qualifications

• Education:Bachelors degree in political science public relations communications journalism marketing management or related field
  
• Experience
  • 57 years of professional experience in public affairs communications media relations or similar high-profile roles
  • Demonstrated success in managing executive-level communications and media strategies
  • Experience in executive decision-making
    
• Skills & Competencies
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences
  • High attention to detail excellent organization and time management skills
  • Proven ability to prepare leadership for national media interviews including message development
  • Strong strategic planning and project management with the ability to meet tight deadlines
  • Experience coordinating travel logistics and high-profile events
  • Proficiency in digital media platforms analytics tools and media monitoring systems
  • Demonstrated proficiency in delivering consistent high-impact internal and external communications that ensure accuracy coherence and alignment with institutional brand standards
    
• Professional Traits
  • High level of discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively while managing multiple projects
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with leadership media and stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:Masters degree in political science public relations communications journalism marketing management or related field
  
• Experience
  • Experience in higher education government or corporate executive communications
  • Track record of national-level media engagement and communication leadership
  • Previous support of a president provost dean or C-suite executive
    
• Skills & Expertise
  
  • Knowledge of trends in public affairs higher education and technology sectors
  • Expertise in speech writing presentation design and multimedia storytelling
  • Data-driven strategy expertise using analytics to optimize visibility campaigns
    
• Professional Traits
  
  • Political savvy and ability to navigate complex organizational and external dynamics
  • Experience managing communications under pressure with rapid turnaround
  • Advanced relationship-building with journalists thought leaders and high-profile stakeholders

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville TN
• Onsite

Benefits

• Find more information on UT Benefitshere

Application Instructions

To express interest please submit an application with the noted below attachments:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References