Director of Communications & Events

Job no : 528865

Work type : Staff Full Time

Location : UMass Amherst

Department : Graduate Dean's Office

Union : PSU

Categories : Public Relations, Marketing, Communications

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Summary

The Director of Communications and Events provides leadership and oversight for the communications, marketing, and national visibility efforts of the Graduate School. The Director initiates School and campus committees, projects, and activities in service of the School’s mission and goals. The Director of Communications manages key events and develops materials that promote the activities, initiatives, and accomplishments of the School to constituents such as alumni, current students, and prospective students. The Director of Communications is a significant contributor to the Dean’s senior staff, serves as a representative of the Dean, and is the spokesperson for media outlets.

Essential Functions

Provides oversight and direction for materials representing the School

• Creates and oversees School branding.
• Develops and produces multi-media marketing and communications materials (including print publications, email, website and social media) for distribution to constituents.
• Writes feature stories, news items, press releases, etc.
• Develops, writes, designs, edits, and produces documents, posters, pamphlets, special event publications, and other material.
• Supports and oversees the coordination of written communication efforts in School units.
• Prepares annual budget recommendations for communications materials and website and participates in budget determination.
• Develops printed and digital recruitment materials and other collateral.
• Creates multimedia assets, including videos and photos.
• Supervises a team of student communications assistants.
• Evaluates and procures off-campus vendors and services.

Provides vision / guidance for use of resources and technology to meet the School's communications needs

Responsible for the School website, including construction of new pages and creation of content. Ensures overall visual and navigational consistency throughout website.

Oversees content and distribution of weekly e-newsletter for students.

Manages the School’s customer relations management system account.

Partners with the school’s IT unit to meet communications objectives.

Creates and maintains dynamic and Search Engine Optimized webpages, including news, student profiles, blogs, and multi-media sections.

Creates and oversees social media.

Provides leadership to various School and campus-wide communications initiatives to produce communications pieces

Provides strategic planning and project management expertise to units, the School, and campus-wide committees and projects.

Takes a leadership role in website redesign.

Provides strategic direction to units for their communications goals, including website content.

Consults with other units about website creation and development.

Liaises with University Relations colleagues around campus-wide communications.

Partners with and represents the Graduate School on campus-wide committees and / or partnerships with other campus units.

Develops collateral for School events

Responsible for communications and collateral for School events and activities.

Creates communications and collateral for annual recruitment and new student events.

Creates talking points, PowerPoint slides, and other materials for the Dean and other school leaders as needed.

Participates in all aspects of event planning including conceptualization, logistics, publicity, communication, budget, volunteer recruitment, etc.

Supervises Graduate assistant and student workers. Coordinates event coverage.

Secures venues. Ensures appropriate setup / breakdown, IT needs, and accessibility needs. Trouble shoots and resolves venue problems.

Manages contractors / vendors, including catering, furnishings, and venue access.

Other Functions

Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area / Division, and University goals and objectives.

Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery and other compliance requirements.

Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.

Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of the Graduate School.

Provides workshop materials and workshop evaluations, both print and electronic.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Bachelor’s Degree.

Three to five years’ communications experience, to include a combination of print and digital media production, graphic design, publication development, writing, working with vendors and editorial services.

Demonstrated strong creative, communication, organizational, and excellent writing / editing skills.

Speech writing and talking points for Graduate School events.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex tasks, advanced planning and project management skills.

Knowledge of current media technology.

Experience in large and small event planning.

High degree of independent initiative, ability to establish and adjust priorities as needed, successful in collaboration with units across campus.

Capable of working successfully with diverse populations.

Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.

Demonstrated ability to set work priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Capacity for a high degree of independent action and initiative, including the ability to establish priorities and organize multiple complex tasks, while working collaboratively.

Demonstrated ability to take on new challenges and tasks as needed.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Master’s Degree.

Knowledge and experience in the design and maintenance of websites and media collateral.

Superior ability to communicate verbally and in writing and to target materials for general and more specialized audiences

Understanding of current technology and software relevant to marketing and communications, such as Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, or similar.

Understanding of the potential of new technologies to advance goals of the position and School.

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8 : 30-5, with occasional nights, weekends, and outside traditional hours, as needed.

Salary Information

Salary Level 27

PSU Salary Ranges.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your cover letter, resume, and a written sample, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

Advertised : Oct 24 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close : Jan 25 2026 Eastern Standard Time

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