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Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications

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Posting Details

 Posting Details 

Job #  | 042109
Department Code  | 21701-2100
Department  | Law College-Dean
Job Title  | Director of Strategic Marketing and Communications
Location  | Syracuse, NY
Pay Range  | $108,000 - $113,000
Pay Determination  | Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Staff Level  | S6
FLSA Status  | Exempt
Hours  | Standard University business hours.

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.
Job Type  | Full-time
Campus  | Syracuse, NY
Unionized Position Code  | Not Applicable
Job Description  | The Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications at SUCOL creates, directs, and oversees execution of comprehensive marketing and comm plans and strategies to advance the College’s mission, in alignment with SU’s positioning and in collaboration with SU’s Division of Marketing and Communications.

The Director partners with the College’s leaders and the central marketing team to identify priorities, define goals, and lead the College’s MarComm team in executing multi-platform plans and strategies. Focus areas include enrollment marketing, strategic comms to faculty, staff, and stakeholders, reputation-building, and public relations on behalf of College leaders, faculty, alumni, and community.

The Director plays a key role in strategy and initiatives that enhance the College’s national reputation and rankings. This includes effective messaging to law deans and faculty, legal community leaders, alumni, employers, prospective students, and internal SU/College audiences. The Director supports Advancement and Alumni teams with comm strategies to strengthen alumni engagement. This role requires a creative, innovative team player with sound judgment and high emotional intelligence. Some evening and weekend work required.
The Director also works closely with SU’s central marketing team, adheres to all central marketing guidelines and protocols.
Education and Experience  | Bachelor’s degree in marketing, comm, or related field from an accredited university. 7+ years’ experience in marketing/comms, including utilization of marketing automation platforms, website content management software, and customer relationship management systems. Higher ed experience preferred. Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative mindset. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to establish new systems and protocols and ensure their successful adoption. Experience and/or understanding of best practices of marketing automation, email marketing, and CRM, including development of complex decision-tree-based marketing automation. Familiarity with WordPress, HTML, CSS, and other front-end web-related languages. Knowledge of email marketing best practices, optimization, and legal compliance (CAN-SPAM, CASL, GDPR). Strong understanding of digital content trends, UX, social media, SEO, and online lead-gen strategies. Track record of deploying campaigns across multiple platforms. Expertise in writing for a variety of audiences and experience creating marketing content, often within tight deadlines. Excellent project management and collaboration skills. Ability to meet deadlines and stay within budget. Skilled in writing for varied audiences; able to produce quality content quickly. Adaptable, tech-savvy; capable of integrating different systems. Proficient in AI, Google Analytics, mass email analytics, and social media/web monitoring tools. Committed to equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Demonstrated success engaging diverse stakeholders/working in cross-functional teams. High ethical standards. Can handle confidential info with discretion.
Skills and Knowledge  | Exceptionally strong writing and verbal communication skills. Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated expertise in working with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Experience working within an academic environment. Diverse technical skillset related to print and digital communication and production. Willingness to acquire additional technical skill sets to meet the needs of new and expanding strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities  | Strategic Leadership Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing and comm plan aligned with College’s goals. Use data from third-party vendors (e.g., enrollment and segmentation study consultants) to inform strategies. Align priorities with the Dean and Assistant Dean. Integrate input from College leadership into overall strategy. Lead SUCOL’s marketing and comm functions in alignment with both College and SU strategies and core values. Collect and develop marketing analytics accessible to the internal College community to enhance data-driven decisions and transparency, including supporting innovative marketing approaches and strategies to accelerate the use of AI, Google Analytics, social media, and digital ad performance. Partner with leadership to develop, curate and monitor the College’s value proposition. Build and lead a high performing results-driven team grounded in collaboration, inclusivity, and trust. Hire, supervise, and evaluate MarComm staff and external vendors. Manage marketing and comm budget. Collaborate closely with SU’s Division of Marketing on content, digital, and social media strategy.
Brand Management Lead the comprehensive marketing strategy and brand development for all external communications, including outreach to law school deans and faculty with support from the Director of Communications, major publications, digital platforms, and videography, to elevate the law school’s reputation and rankings. Align College and department initiatives with major publications, strategic communication development and digital strategy. Shape how the College’s brand strategically interacts and intersects with internal and external stakeholders, including students, prospective students, alumni, partners, and the legal community. Collaborate with internal clients by delivering strategic, brand-aligned content tailored to specific audiences. Lead, oversee, and assess strategic development and implementation of initiatives that elevate institutional branding, awareness, and visibility. Oversee the creation, distribution, and upkeep of all print and digital materials, including the College’s website, newsletters, brochures, etc. Ensure all comms follow SU brand standards, governance, and approach. Work with SU editorial calendar. Coordinate content with marketing content strategy and develop content consistent with Syracuse University brand approach. Enrollment Marketing Develop and implement comprehensive, multi-media marketing strategies and all aspects of media relations, marketing, and internal and external communications for the College that lead to and grow applications and enrollments. Partner with the Enrollment Management team to strategize and execute plans to reach enrollment goals, including the coordination of media buys and advertising. Create and share stories about the College of Law and the accomplishments of faculty, students and alumni worldwide in coordination with Marketing Content and digital teams. Collaborates with Syracuse University’s Division of Marketing to advance University wide goals.
Communications Collaborate with the Director of Communications to lead the development, implementation, and assessment of the annual communications plan tailored to the College’s distinct audiences- current students, internal faculty and staff, alumni, peer institutions, the media, and the legal community. Partner with all College of Law departments to create clear, relationship-driven communication strategies that address their unique needs and enhance their visibility. Mentor and lead team members responsible for marketing and communications, including media relations. Collaborate with advancement team and support their marketing and communications needs to help reach fundraising and alumni engagement goals.
Physical Requirements  | Not Applicable
Tools/Equipment  | Not Applicable
Application Instructions  | In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University  | Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About the Syracuse area  | Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement  | Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans  | Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community  | Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.


Quick Link  | https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/110381
Job Posting Date  | 08/04/2025
Application Deadline  |
Full Consideration By  |
Job Category  | Staff
Message to Applicants  | 

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