Job Details

Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

Position Number: 6529305
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Public Relations, Marketing and Communications

Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

Position Title:
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

Position Type:
Regular

Hiring Range:

$91,800-$103,275

Pay Frequency:
Annual
A. POSITION PURPOSE

Santa Clara Law is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven Associate Director of Marketing & Communications to help shape the voice and vision of the law school. This on-campus role is perfect for a seasoned communicator who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels at crafting compelling stories, and brings a strong editorial and brand perspective to everything from real-time content to long-term campaigns.

As Associate Director, you'll lead the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies that elevate Santa Clara Law's brand, support enrollment and advancement goals, and connect meaningfully with prospective students, alumni, faculty, and the broader legal community. From media relations and thought leadership to print publications, email campaigns, and digital storytelling, your work will help showcase Santa Clara Law's distinctive strengths and core values.

This role requires a strong writer, creative thinker, and thoughtful collaborator-someone who can lead cross-functional projects, unify messaging across platforms, and turn complex ideas into content that resonates with a range of audiences. Working closely with key partners across campus, you'll ensure our communications reflect the excellence, innovation, and human-centered mission that define Santa Clara Law.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Assistant Dean for Advancement..

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Content Strategy & Development

Collaborate with the creation and execution of multi-channel communication strategies aligned with the law school's strategic goals, priorities, and branding.
Maintain focus on the law school's distinctive strengths, reinforcing and advancing the school's strategic priorities.
Collaborate with University Marketing & Communications and the Assistant Director of Digital Media to ensure seamless communications across all audiences, including the Santa Clara Magazine, University website and other media sources.
Develop and oversee marketing, media, and communications guidelines and training to support law departments with promoting their news, events, and activities.

Internal & External Communications

Oversee the development of high-quality internal and external communications content for digital platforms, newsletters, press releases, executive communications, speeches, and marketing materials.
Plan, write, edit, and publish regular communications to alumni, friends, faculty, and staff of the Law School. Must have the ability to craft original content that reinforces the Law School's distinctive strengths to diverse and sophisticated audiences.
Manage the production of the Law School's primary publications and communications (including, but not limited to Santa Clara Law News, Admissions Viewbook, and Discern Magazine); provide recommendations should this collection of communications need to be adjusted to maximize readership and impact.
Target audiences may include, but are not limited to, prospective students, students, faculty, staff, campus partners, alumni, donors, employers/prospective employers, the academe, the judiciary, legal organizations/bar associations, the legal and business communities.

Media Relations and Public Affairs

Cultivate and maintain relationships with media contacts.
Serve as the law school's main point of contact for coordinating press outreach and managing media inquiries.
Draft and pitch compelling stories to elevate the law school's visibility and thought leadership.
Work with the law school's faculty, staff and administration to develop a press and PR contact list by area(s) of expertise and interest, and establish a process to maintain and update the list each semester.
Work closely with the University Marketing & Communications team to provide press and PR training and tool kits.
Provide press and PR interview preparation support including hosting mock interviews.
Monitor and assess media coverage and public sentiment.

Marketing

In collaboration with the Assistant Director of Digital Media, develop and execute a marketing strategy-with an emphasis on digital marketing-that promotes all law school programs in a way that advances the law school's mission and vision, and reaches intended audiences for purposes of recruitment, retention, engagement, advancement, rankings and reputation.
Develop and implement paid marketing initiatives.
Build brand awareness and affinity with key audiences. Lead the team through concept, messaging and development of campaigns that reinforce and promote the law school's brand identity.
Work with key law school stakeholders to ensure business and marketing goals are achieved.
Work closely with key law school stakeholders and University partners to ensure cohesiveness in the law school's image and brand, and consistency in the law school's marketing messaging.

Rankings and Reputation

Prepare and submit marketing materials to US News & World Report (USNWR), The National Jurist, preLaw Magazine, and other news and media outlets.
Supervise and direct the list of law school deans, faculty and administrators involved in the review process for law school rankings.
Develop and send marketing materials in advance of the annual law school rankings cycles in order to inform and appeal to target external audiences including law school deans, faculty and administrators.
Prepare internal and external marketing, media, and communications to promote the law school's rankings.

Crisis Communications

Assist in developing and executing crisis communication plans, including drafting statements and managing communication flow during emergencies or sensitive issues.

Implementation of Editorial Calendar

Plan and execute an annual editorial calendar aimed at promoting Santa Clara Law's students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Work with internal business units to ensure correctness of content. Utilize monthly All External meetings as well as email outreach to solicit news and events updates.
Leverage project management software to integrate a workflow process that ensures full coverage of law school activities.

Other Duties

Represent the Law School on campus-wide committees including the University Relations Story-Tellers Group, University Marketing & Communications. Collaborate with other campus counterparts as appropriate.
Support executive and advancement communications as needed.
Provide input on the Marketing & Communications portion of the External Relations budget, track and report expenses.
Create a team-oriented work environment, motivating staff and cultivating productive relationships across the law school and campus to innovate, collaborate, and achieve stated goals.
Other duties as assigned

WORK DIRECTION

Reports to the Assistant Dean for Advancement.
Provides work direction to student worker(s), freelancers, contract employees, and vendors as needed; provide editorial oversight and project management

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree required with preference for Digital Marketing, Communications, English, or related field. Graduate or professional degree preferred.
Minimum of five years of experience, with a strong preference for candidates responsible for content creation (written and visual) and a business or business unit's online presence required.

Knowledge

Deep understanding of integrated marketing and communications strategies across print, digital, and multimedia platforms
Knowledge of content strategy development, editorial planning, and audience segmentation
Strong understanding of media relations, public affairs, and strategic messaging for various stakeholders (e.g., media, students, faculty, alumni)
Familiarity with higher education and/or legal education marketing landscapes, including trends in rankings and reputation management
Experience managing media buys, preferably in higher education and/or law school marketing
Knowledge of crisis communications planning and response best practices
Working knowledge of branding, tone, and visual identity standards
Knowledge of internal communications strategies that build employee and student engagement
Familiarity with web authoring/content management systems such as T4, BBIS, WordPress, etc.
Familiarity with communications measurement tools, analytics, and SEO
Understanding of accessibility standards, inclusive messaging, and digital compliance requirements

Skills

Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple formats (press releases, op-eds, speeches, website copy, social media, etc.)
Skilled in developing, managing, and executing an editorial calendar that supports institutional priorities
Strong project management skills with the ability to lead complex campaigns and cross-functional initiatives from concept to execution
Ability to craft effective key messaging for a wide variety of audiences, both internal and external
Skilled in managing relationships with journalists, responding to media inquiries, and pitching stories to the press
Proficient in managing and interpreting data to inform communications strategy (e.g., web analytics, media coverage, sentiment analysis)
Ability to produce and manage content under pressure, especially in high-stakes or crisis situations
Adept at using digital communication tools, content management systems (e.g., T4, BBIS, WordPress), and collaboration platforms
Experience managing marketing collateral and developing strategic materials to support recruitment, advancement, and brand positioning
Exceptional verbal communication and active listening skills
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and build consensus among stakeholders with diverse viewpoints

Abilities

Ability to develop and execute communications strategies that enhance the institution's reputation and visibility
Ability to quickly synthesize complex or sensitive information into clear, persuasive messaging
Ability to work independently and proactively while leading or contributing to cross-functional teams
Ability to build and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders, faculty, leadership, and media
Ability to maintain professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment in high-pressure or sensitive situations
Ability to lead with empathy and inclusivity, promoting a welcoming and respectful communications environment
Ability to think both strategically and tactically - seeing the big picture while executing day-to-day tasks with precision
Comfortable providing communications counsel to senior leadership, faculty and staff
Ability to adapt tone and messaging across audiences, from prospective students and faculty to external press and peer institutions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
Will be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
May be required to attend conference and training sessions locally and out of state.
Will be required to occasionally travel to outside vendors or partners, including media sites.
Will be required to work occasional nights and weekends to cover important news and events.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Typical office environment.
Mostly an indoor office environment with windows.
Offices with equipment noise.
Offices with frequent interruptions.
Some outdoor events.

EEO Statement

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website . To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Associate-Director--Marketing-and-Communications_R6481