Director of Marketing and Communications

Job Category: Director of Marketing
Job Type: Full Time
Job Location: Austin - TX

The University of Texas at Austin

Established in 2023 as UT Austin’s newest college, the School of Civic Leadership is a community of scholars and students dedicated to studying the foundational ideas and institutions of a free society, with the goal of advancing human flourishing. We value independent thought, civil discourse, reasoned deliberation, and intellectual curiosity as we prepare to meet the challenges of the present and sustain the blessings of liberty for future generations.

SCL is home to the Civitas Institute, a national and international hub for excellence in scholarship, commentary and public outreach on economic dynamism, individual flourishing, civic virtue, and constitutionalism. Upholding the University’s motto—Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis, “Education is the guardian genius of democracy”—we advance The University of Texas at Austin’s mission to achieve excellence in education, research, and public service.

The University of Texas at Austin provides an outstanding benefits package to staff, including: 

  • Competitive health benefits (Employee premiums covered at 100%; family premiums at 50%) 
  • Vision, dental, life, and disability insurance options 
  • Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays 
  • Teachers Retirement System of Texas (a defined benefit retirement plan) 
  • Additional voluntary retirement programs: tax sheltered annuity 403(b) and a deferred compensation program 457(b) 
  • Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses 
  • Training and conference opportunities 
  • Tuition assistance 
  • Athletic ticket discounts 
  • Access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums 
  • Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Capital Metro buses with staff ID card

Purpose

The Director of Marketing and Communications will lead the execution of strategic planning to define and amplify the voice of UT Austin’s School of Civic Leadership.  This will work closely with the Dean’s office and SCL’s Civitas Institute to convey a cohesive, integrated mission, increasing visibility for the School of Civic Leadership and Civitas Institute across higher education and the broader public.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive, ground-up marketing and communications strategy for the new School of Civic Leadership (SCL) and it’s in-house Civitas Institute as nationally recognized centers of excellence.
  • Define and develop brand identity and voice across multiple audiences, building a cohesive and compelling narrative across all platforms from day one.
  • Build and direct the marketing and communications team, overseeing recruitment, structure, and performance as the communications function scales.
  • Design and implement data-informed annual communications plans, integrating ROI analysis, market insights, and audience research tools.
  • Drive national audience growth and brand visibility through strategic use of social, traditional, and digital media.
  • Oversee and optimize the marketing and communications budget, including management of key vendors, contracts, and signature events.
  • Lead integrated content development across all channels—digital, print, advertising, email, and publications—ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals.
  • Oversee publication processes and marketing, providing editorial vision and content execution.
  • Partner with Admissions to develop and execute strategic recruitment communications informed by data and audience segmentation.
  • Collaborate with SCL’s Development team to craft compelling messaging for fundraising campaigns and high-profile events that build the school’s reputation and impact.
  • Represent SCL and Civitas within university-wide communications efforts and serve as the primary liaison to UT Austin’s central communications office.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree. Degree in an academic field relevant to SCL’s objectives and/or the position’s job description preferred.
  • At least seven to ten years of experience in strategic communications, marketing, or brand management.
  • Demonstrated success in national audience identification and growth, including multichannel campaigns (social, traditional, and digital media)

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience leveraging consumer preference, public opinion, and market research tools  to inform strategy and content.
  • Prior experience in higher education or government is a plus
  • Ability to develop original messaging that advances School of Civic Leadership vision and theme

Required Materials

  • Resume/CV

  • 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
  • Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

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