Job Description

Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives

Posting Number: SP004878P
Division/College: $ATSDivCollege
Department: College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
Location: Moscow

Posting Context Statement:

The Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives leads marketing and communications for CALS and facilitates key operations and strategic initiatives. The role oversees alumni relations, web content, media and public relations and publications. The director advises college leadership on marketing strategies, supervises the CALS Communications Team and Alumni Events and coordinates with faculty and staff. This position is responsible for managing major operations and initiatives and serves on the college’s executive team, contributing to CALS’s overall strategic direction.

Position Overview:

This position directs media relations, marketing, web communications, social media and digital media for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences ( CALS ) and UI Extension and facilitates key operations and strategic priorities and initiatives. As the primary communication representative for CALS , this position is the chief content strategist for marketing and communications in support of the reputation and positioning of CALS . The director serves in a leadership role as a contributing member of the executive team of the college.

Duties may include:

• Provide marketing leadership in a variety of areas, including alumni relations, web content, media and public relations and publications
• Provide leadership, vision, management and assessment of key operations and strategic initiatives for CALS
• Advance CALS initiatives through purposeful and creative messaging that is tied to the university’s brand and the strategic initiatives of the college
• Provide counsel to the dean and departments on marketing approaches and supervises the Marketing and Communications Team as well as Alumni Events
• Identify and prioritize strategic initiatives that advance the initiatives and objectives of CALS
• Other duties as assigned

Required Experience:

• Five years in a marketing or brand development role
• Two years of supervisory experience
• Using web and social media platforms for marketing
• Project management experience
• Event planning experience
• Using computer software and applications for word processing, email, internet searches and data organization

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field; four additional years of experience in a communications role (for a total of nine years) may substitute for a Bachelor’s Degree

Required Other:

• Must be able:
  • Travel
  • Work nonstandard hours as needed, including occasional evenings and weekends

Additional Preferred:

• Education:
  • Master’s Degree in a related field

Experience:

• Using content management systems ( CMS ), customer relationship management ( CRM ) systems and other distribution tools, including web and bulk email
• Developing and monitoring a budget
• Producing personalized marketing content
• Using computer software applications for photo editing, social media platforms, content posts and project management
• Developing concepts and scaling to meet the needs of the brand

Knowledge and skills

• With University of Idaho programs
• Building and maintaining internal and external relationships
• Excellent written and oral communication, presentation and problem-solving skills

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• None

Degree Requirement:
Listed degree qualification is required at time of application
FLSA Status: Exempt
Employee Category: Exempt
Pay Range: $102,000 or higher depending on experience
Type of Appointment: _of_Appointment
FTE:

1.0

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Funding:
A visa sponsorship is available for the position listed in this vacancy: No
Posting Date: 05/20/2025
Closing Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applications received by June 3, 2025 will receive first consideration.

IMPORTANT : To be considered, your “Letter of Qualification” must address EACH of the minimum qualifications, including pertinent education and/or experience. In addition, to improve your ranking during the evaluation process, address as many of the Preferred Qualifications as possible. Information on a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for submitting a Letter of Qualification.

If you would like to receive a full position description, please email Heather Biersner at hbiersner@uidaho.edu and request that one be sent to you.
Applicant Resources:
Background Check Statement:

Applicants who are selected as final possible candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check.

To apply, visit

The University of Idaho is an equal employment opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Job Tags

Full time, Part time, Visa sponsorship, Afternoon shift,

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