Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media RelationsInsideHigherEd • Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations

InsideHigherEd • Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

10 hours ago

Job type

Full-time

Job description

Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations :

College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

Knoxville, TN, (On-site)

Job Description

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations reports directly to the Dean of CECS and serves as a core member of the Dean’s Cabinet Leadership Team. This position provides senior-level leadership in strategic marketing, communications, and external affairs to strengthen CECS’s visibility and reputation nationwide and beyond. The Senior Director oversees branding and visibility efforts by aligning the Dean’s public appearances, speeches, and media presence with the College’s 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 Dean’s travel and event coordination for major events, ensuring seamless logistics, professional representation, and strategic engagement opportunities. In 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 Dean’s 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 CECS’s reputation, influence, and impact.

Responsibilities

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 college’s 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 CECS’s social media presence in multiple platforms

Branding & Visibility

Advance and position CECS’s image and visibility in alignment with the College’s strategic priorities and overarching vision Align the Dean’s 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 Dean’s 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 College’s 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 dean’s 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, provost's communication team, Enrollment management, registrar’s 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 CECS’s marketing and communications priorities Provide leadership, supervision, and guidance to the Events Manager and Events Coordinator

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education : Bachelor’s degree in political science, public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, management, or related field

Experience

5–7 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 : Master’s 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 Benefits here

Application Instructions

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

Resume Cover Letter List of 3 Professional References

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

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Job Info

Job Identification 5545

Job Category : Communication & Mktg

Job Schedule : Full time

Location : 1331 Circle Park, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (On-site)

The University of Tennessee is an EEO / AA / Title VI / Title IX / Section 504 / ADA / ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

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