Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing

Job Purpose

The Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing will advance Wesley’s mission, vision, and programs with diverse existing audiences and new constituencies through coordinated multi-media marketing campaigns and public relations initiatives to increase enrollment, fundraising, and brand recognition. The Director will supervise a full-time manager to assist with daily tasks or specific responsibilities and may utilize existing contracted web admins, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers, depending on the successful candidate’s skills and interests.

Duties and Responsibilities (not an exhaustive list)

• Develop short- and long-term marketing plans with measurable outcomes to increase enrollment, fundraising, and brand recognition.
• Ensure all materials align with Wesley’s brand and promote the seminary’s vision, mission, and objectives.
• Oversee and coordinate varied marketing and communications platforms to accomplish marketing, fundraising, and recruitment goals.
• Serve as the communications and marketing strategist and content leader for the seminary, focusing on admissions/enrollment.
• Plan and produce promotional campaigns and materials, develop budget projections, and provide marketing results and analyses.
• Manage primary institutional web pages; improve SEO and usability; create compelling web marketing content, including homepage stories, images, and videos; train and oversee content owners on managing their site sections.
• Research and develop new tools to engage external audiences and advance recruitment and fundraising.
• Create copy, and edit, design, and manage the production of promotional materials, including but not limited to print materials (brochures, posters, mailings, newsletters, annual reports, etc.), e-newsletters, videos, and live streams, photography, web content, and social media.
• Manage staff, contractors, student workers, and interns to produce content and accomplish marketing goals on deadline.
• Manage the communications team budget with the guidance of the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives.
• Respond to communications crises and challenging situations quickly and professionally.
• Develop and maintain contacts with local, regional, and national press to place stories; prepare responses to inquiries from the media; monitor and improve the seminary’s presence in the media.
• Guide the seminary’s internal and external communications by establishing a Wesley-style guide, templates/tools, and best practices and by training staff.
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of the seminary’s mission.

Qualifications

• Three to five years of experience with a successful communication and marketing campaign track record and proven website development.
• Social media management and production capabilities are required.
• Experience in higher education marketing preferred.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in communications, marketing, or other related fields is desired.

Desired Qualities (professional and personal)

• The ability to develop, analyze and apply marketing strategies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate with various teams.
• Basic photography, video, design, social media, and web development skills.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe InDesign, WordPress, and Photoshop.
• Experience with website design and build preferred.
• An understanding of church-related organizations and the United Methodist polity will be beneficial.

Job Details

• Full-time, 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30.
• Wesley Seminary operates in a hybrid work modality, and employees must work on campus three days a week.
• Reports to Beth Ludlum, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives.
• Starting salary is $73,000 but can be negotiated within reason depending on experience.

To Apply

Please email your resume and a cover letter to Maggie Ayres, HR Director, at [email protected]

Wesley Theological Seminary is committed to fostering and upholding an inclusive community.

We affirm a policy of equal opportunity employment. We will not discriminate against employees in any personnel action or against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, disabling condition, sex, or sexual orientation. Wesley Seminary intends that the makeup of the student body, administration, board of governors, faculty, and staff reflect this commitment to an inclusive community. To that end, Wesley Seminary considers every position opening an opportunity to pursue the goal of inclusiveness.

-Vacancy posted 8.8.2023

Wesley Theological Seminary