Associate Director of Brand & Marketing Communications

Seattle StaffingSeattle, WA, US

2 days ago

Job type

Full-time

Permanent

Job description

Associate Director Of Brand & Marketing Communications

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Position Purpose

The Associate Director of Brand & Marketing Communications provides operational leadership and strategic oversight for the School of Nursing's marketing communications function during a critical growth period. This role manages daily communications operations, ensures editorial excellence across all platforms, and coordinates marketing initiatives that enhance the School's competitive positioning and recruitment success.

Position Complexities

This role requires immediate operational leadership during organizational transition, managing both permanent team members and temporary project support. Success depends on establishing quality control processes, building team cohesion, and ensuring consistent brand execution while the team stabilizes and grows. The position demands flexibility to adapt to evolving priorities while maintaining high standards for all external communications.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Editorial Oversight (40%)

Direct Team Management

Provide direct supervision and professional development for the Brand Manager, including performance management, goal setting, and skill development
Coordinate with the Project Manager and Communications Support on integrated communications initiatives and project timelines
Establish clear role boundaries and workflow processes between team members to optimize efficiency and reduce overlap
Foster a collaborative team environment while maintaining accountability for deliverables and quality standards

Editorial Excellence & Quality Control

Review and approve all external communications, marketing materials, and digital content before publication to ensure university and school standards

Establish and enforce editorial standards, brand consistency guidelines, and approval workflows across all communications channels

Provide content strategy guidance to ensure messaging aligns with institutional strategic priorities and competitive positioning goals

Serve as a final quality assurance checkpoint for recruitment materials, program promotion, and external brand representation

Strategic Communications Implementation (35%)

Marketing Campaign Execution

Implement strategic marketing initiatives and campaigns developed by the Director, ensuring tactical execution meets strategic objectives

Coordinate integrated marketing campaigns across digital platforms, print materials, events, and external communications

Manage campaign timelines, resource allocation, and cross-functional coordination to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery

Monitor campaign performance and provide regular reporting on effectiveness, engagement metrics, and ROI to inform future planning

External Communications & Brand Management

Oversee external brand consistency and reputation management across all school communications and marketing materials

Coordinate with University Marketing & Communications (UMAC) to ensure alignment with institutional brand standards and messaging

Manage crisis communications and sensitive messaging coordination with appropriate university stakeholders

Ensure all communications reflect the School's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging while supporting competitive positioning

Process Development & Systems Management (25%)

Workflow Optimization & Process Improvement

Develop and document standardized processes for content creation, approval, and publication across all communications channels

Establish project management systems and tracking mechanisms to ensure accountability and timely delivery of all communications initiatives

Create scalable workflows that accommodate both permanent team members and temporary project support during the transition period

Implement feedback loops and continuous improvement processes to optimize team efficiency and output quality

Cross-Functional Coordination

Serve as primary communications liaison with academic programs, admissions, advancement, and external stakeholders

Coordinate communications support for Dean's office initiatives, special events, and strategic institutional priorities

Manage vendor relationships and external partnerships for photography, videography, and specialized marketing services

Facilitate integration between the communications team and broader school strategic initiatives and planning processes

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Brand Management, or related field

Minimum 5-7 years of progressive marketing communications experience with demonstrated team leadership and management responsibility

Proven editorial and content strategy expertise with a portfolio demonstrating successful brand management and campaign execution

Experience managing creative teams, including graphic designers, content creators, or marketing specialists

Strong project management skills with experience coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives in deadline-driven environments

Advanced understanding of higher education marketing, competitive positioning, and recruitment communications best practices

Demonstrated ability to provide constructive feedback, develop team members, and maintain high-quality standards under pressure

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership and external stakeholders

Desired Qualifications

Experience in higher education marketing, enrollment management, or academic communications

Background in healthcare, nursing, or professional education environments

Familiarity with the University of Washington brand guidelines, systems, and institutional culture

Experience with content management systems, marketing automation platforms, and digital analytics tools

Project management certification or formal training in team leadership and development

Success Metrics

Successful team integration and performance improvement across all communications functions

Consistent quality and brand compliance across all external communications and marketing materials

Timely execution of strategic marketing initiatives with measurable impact on recruitment and engagement goals

Effective coordination and workflow management during the organizational transition period

Positive team development outcomes and improved operational efficiency

Working Conditions

Hybrid position with occasional on-campus presence for team meetings and strategic planning sessions

Collaborative environment requiring regular coordination with multiple departments and external partners

Position requires flexibility to adapt to changing priorities while maintaining consistent output quality

Opportunity to significantly impact organizational effectiveness during the critical growth and transition period

This position offers a significant opportunity to shape communications operations and team development while driving measurable impact on institutional recruitment and reputation goals during a dynamic period of organizational growth.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum : $96,000.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum : $114,000.00 annual

Other Compensation :

Benefits : For information about benefits for this position, visit https : / / www.washington.edu / jobs / benefits-for-uw-staff /

Shift : First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular? This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) : 100.00%

Union / Bargaining Unit : Not Applicable

About the UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is proud to be an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer (https : / / hr.uw.edu / eoaa / ). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law (https : / / app.leg.wa.gov / RCW / default.aspx?cite=28B.112.080). University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin

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