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Associate Director for Communications
Associate Director for CommunicationsColorado State University • Fort Collins, CO, US
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Associate Director for Communications

Associate Director for Communications

Colorado State University • Fort Collins, CO, US
16 hours ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

Posting Detail Information

Working Title : Associate Director for Communications

Position Location : Fort Collins, CO

Work Location : Position is fully in-office / in-person

Research Professional Position : No

Posting Number : 202501578AP

Position Type : Admin Professional / Research Professional

Classification Title : Prof / Indiv Contrib III

Number of Vacancies : (unspecified)

Work Hours / Week : 40

Proposed Annual Salary Range : $75,000 - $80,000

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it's a thriving community that's transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

  • Review our detailed benefits information here. (https : / / hr.colostate.edu / wp-content / uploads / sites / 25 / 2021 / 01 / benefits-summary-afap.pdf)
  • Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
  • For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https : / / hr.colostate.edu / total-compensation-calculator / ).
  • Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https : / / hr.colostate.edu / prospective-employees / our-community / ).

Position Summary

As a member of Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs, the Associate Director for Communications specializes in content development, marketing, and project management of communication campaigns for students and families in collaboration with partner offices. This position requires creative and systems thinking to generate ideas and solutions to enhance communication, and the ability to work independently as well as within cross-functional teams.

The Associate Director for Communications reports directly to the Executive Director of Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs and serves as a member of the department leadership team. The work hours for this position are primarily Monday through Friday between 8 : 00 a.m. – 5 : 00 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend work with events and programs.

Required Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field with a minimum of four years of full-time experience in communications field
  • Demonstrated writing and editing skills in digital and print platforms (articles, media stories, news releases, and / or web content)
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of industry software including Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, etc.) and website content management (Elementor, WordPress, etc.)
  • Demonstrated success managing and communicating large volumes of information to various audiences through various platforms

    • Preferred Job Qualifications

  • Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field
  • Demonstrated experience developing and executing communications campaigns
  • Demonstrated experience with project management
  • Demonstrated experience building and maintaining collaborative relationships with strategic campus partners
  • Demonstrated experience moderating and managing social media channels
  • Ability to analyze policies, programs, and initiatives to make recommendations for improvement
  • Demonstrated experience with public relations and issues management
  • Professional experience in a higher education setting
  • Experience managing or supervising student staff or interns

    • Essential Duties

    Project Management

  • Manage project calendars within a project management system including regular meetings with department staff and campus partners, ensuring project scope is defined, setting timelines, and confirming completion of projects
  • Provide regular updates and share information on project statuses and ensure projects are on schedule with department staff and campus partners
  • Collaborate on the new student and family onboarding communication plan with Admissions, Housing and Dining Services, and Academic Advising; share content with department staff and campus partners
  • Maintain and execute an annual calendar of content for parent / family engagement including timely topics, campus partner contributions, Parent and Family Programs content, CampusESP contributions, etc.
  • Monitor media channels for information relevant to the department to identify potential issues to address; communicate with department leadership to strategize solutions; collaborate with University Marketing and Communication on appropriate responses
  • Create and maintain a social media strategy with the staff in PFP, OTP, and FSP; annually evaluate opportunities, content contributors, guidelines for engagement, and needs
  • Evaluate and ensure language translation and accessibility for OTFP content on websites, emails, and publications
  • Delegate projects to student staff and ensure completion of projects
  • Identify and execute opportunities to share PFP, OTP, and FSP stories and mission with campus partners and stakeholders (e.g., submit an article at Source, share infographics with campus partners, highlight student leaders, highlight campus collaborations in support of student success, etc.)
  • Represent OTFP on campus-wide communication committees; share updates and needs with OTFP leadership

    • Content Development (40%)

  • Plan, write and edit promotional, technical, and informational content for PFP, OTP, and FSP websites, email, social media, and publications (print and digital)
  • Create and update OTFP content for the new student and family onboarding communication plan
  • Create and update OTFP content for parent / family engagement using the Parent and Family Programs website, CSU Parent and Family Facebook Group, and CSU Family Connection (CampusESP portal)
  • Review and edit OTFP websites and communications for timeliness, brevity, clarity, accuracy, and accessibility for end-user
  • Assist office leadership in developing content in response to student and family complex customer service issues and critical concerns
  • Engage students and families at campus events, tabling, and programs as a representative of the department

    • Student Supervision (20%)

  • Recruit, hire, and supervise 1-2 student staff
  • Support training and development of student staff
  • Develop work plans with students each semester
  • Conduct weekly check-ins with students

    • Application Details

    Special Instructions to Applicants

    For full consideration, application materials must be submitted by Monday, November 10, 2025 at 11 : 59pm MT. Please apply with a cover letter addressing the required and preferred qualifications, resume, and 3 professional references. References will not be contacted without prior notification. If you have questions, please contact Cameron Smistek, cameron.smistek@colostate.edu.

    CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.

    Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

    Conditions of Employment

    Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

    EEO Statement

    Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

    Background Check Policy Statement

    Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and / or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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    Associate Director • Fort Collins, CO, US