TITLE:    Director for Integrated Marketing and Communications
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR:      Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communications

OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY
Washington Adventist University (WAU) is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that supports a culture of excellence where all feel valued.  Nestled in a desirable residential community in Takoma Park, Maryland, WAU offers its faculty and staff an environment where professional expertise is valued and lasting connections between co-workers are formed as we work together to ensure the success of our students.  Regardless of title, every employee supports WAU’s vision of producing graduates who bring moral leadership and competence to their communities.

GENERAL FUNCTION:
The Director for Integrated Marketing and Communications has the responsibility for providing writing and editorial support for the university.  The Director serves as the University’s chief copy editor and is an essential member of the Integrated Marketing and Communication’s team for communications, publications, photographic services, social media, digital signage, web, news media, and marketing research relevant to high education.  Responsible for reviewing written content such as articles, blog posts, manuals or manuscripts to ensure excellent readability, grammar and punctuation. Duties include communicating with Writers, Editors and Publishers, reading through content and making notes of odd passages and correcting grammar and punctuation errors.  The Director represents and promotes the University, increasing its visibility and supporting the institution’s mission, vision, and goals.  The Director supports the development and implementation of the University’s brand vision, marketing strategy, and public relations campaigns to attract the best students, motivate alumni and donors, and recruit high quality faculty and staff. The Director will lead strategic research initiatives leading to the development and implementation of action plans for effective promotion of the University and its academic programs. 

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proofread text and correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors
• Verify factual correctness of information, such as dates and statistics
• Check text for style, readability, and adherence to editorial policies
• Arrange page layouts of photos, articles, and advertisements
• Rewrite text to improve clarity and readability
• Helps to develop style guides to govern how content is created.
• Arrange page layouts to include written content as well as elements like photos and ads.
• Train new Writers and Editors about the company’s content creation process.
• Meet with clients or customers to define content needs and create a content calendar.
• Check content against a style guide, such as AP Style or Chicago Style.
• Supports the marketing, communications and public relations initiatives and coordinates at the strategic and tactical levels with all University departments.
• Supports the comprehensive, long-term and proactive University-wide communications, marketing, and branding strategy consistent with the strategic goals, plans, and aspirations of the University.
• Conducts research and recommend programs to market the University to various communities.
• Manages copy editing for the University.  
• Supports the development of collateral materials in support of marketing strategies including publications, videos, electronic communications and multimedia presentations.
• Research the themes and/or messages to promote University priorities for use by all campus offices engaged in student, community, alumni, and development outreach.
• Utilizes a research-based approach to identify key messages and audiences, works consistently to tell the University’s stories by weaving them together to create a consistent, unified message in support of the WAU brand, and articulates the University’s image and brand in the delivery of the University’s message to all constituents.
• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Vice President and or President.
• Supports and affirms a culture of distinctive excellence and exceptional service.
• Attends university events and, required meetings (including weekly Convocation).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Communications

• Communicates the University’s position and policies on a variety of issues to specific media and to various University constituencies which includes serving as the University backup spokesperson with the media as appropriate.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive integrated communications plan for the campus, in consultation with the President, Provost, VP’s, Deans, and the academic departments.
• Supports the Development and implements plans for the use of electronic and web-based communication for implementation of public relations strategies.
• Provides editorial leadership for all release and publications, such as, the Gateway magazine, promotional information, institutional events and programs and for various campus brochures and newsletters.
• Advises President and other senior administrators on public relations implications and potential strategies for internal and external communications.

SUPERVISION
The Director for Integrated Marketing and Communications is supervised by the Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience

A mastery of language, communication, and copy-editing skills. Experience with one or more style guides.

• Written and oral communication skills
• Time management skills
• Multitasking skills
• The ability to work under pressure
• The ability to meet tight deadlines
• Organization skills
• Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented
• Degree in journalism, public relations, communications, or a related field is required
• 3-5 years of experience in a similar role, preferably in higher education
• Passion for WAU’s mission and vision
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with internal stakeholders and external media, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements
• Extensive successful writing and editing experience with a variety of print and online communications media
• Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output
• Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs
• Excellent and persuasive communicator
• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with senior management, WAU Board of Trustees and staff
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team builder and leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance, and administration initiatives
• Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and other related communication/marketing software and demonstrate the ability to learn and use institutional software systems.

Title VII Exception Notice
Washington Adventist University is a religiously qualified Equal Opportunity Employer under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.  As such the University has the legal right to prefer a member of the Seventh-day Adventist ("SDA") Church in its hiring process. In the event that a qualified SDA candidate is not identified, the University will give the opportunity to candidates who must understand and respect the mission, purpose, and identity of Washington Adventist University as a condition of their employment.