Communications Director jobs in Kansas

Director of Marketing and Communications

APPLICATION PROCESS AND HIRING TIMELINE INFORMATION
To apply for this position, you should submit:

1. KWU Employment Application
2. Cover letter,
3. Resume/curriculum vitae,
4. Three references,
5. Desired salary (may be entered on application)
6. Please email your application materials to hr@kwu.edu.

time capacity beginning in July.

KWU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity in employment. We will check references of
past employers and personal references. We will acknowledge receipt of your application as soon as we receive it.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
POSITION TITLE: Director of Marketing and Communications
POSITION’S OPERATING GROUP: Advancement, Admissions and Marketing
OPERATING GROUP’S PURPOSE AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: The operating group of Advancement,

Admissions and Marketing works as one to grow, advance and maintain the high standards of KWU.
POSITION’S DEPARTMENT: Marketing and Communications (MARCOM)
DEPARTMENT’S PURPOSE AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: The purpose of the Marketing and Communications

Office is to promote Kansas Wesleyan University, both internally and externally. This includes recruitment
advertising and fundraising campaigns, media relations and brand management, as well as disseminating
information to KWU staff and faculty. The MARCOM office is a staff of three full-time employees – including
this position – multiple part-time assistants and occasional interns. The office has won 12 notable awards in
the last three years. This position would be the fourth full-time role, with a targeted start date of the early
summer. The department operates in a positive, team-based culture of ideas and constant movement.

POSITION’S DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Assistant Vice President of MARCOM
DATE POSITION LAST REVIEWED OR ANALYZED: March 2024. Revised by MARCOM and Human Resources.
POSITION’S EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Staff, Full-Time, Salaried/Exempt (administrative professional exemption), At-

Will
POSITION’S SALARY OR SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS: Salary to be determined at hiring based on the applicant’s

qualifications and experience. Benefits are available for full-time employees.

Position Description – Director of Marketing and Communications |

POSITION INFORMATION
POSITION SUMMARY: This position is a director-level role in the Kansas Wesleyan’s Marketing and
Communications office. Its chief task is to serve as a project manager, helping ensure that operations continue in
the absence of the assistant vice president. This would include working with MARCOM staff, individuals this role
would not manage, already in place to produce elite-level products for the benefit of the institution. As such, the
successful candidate should have experience – with positive results – of working in an organization where success
depends on getting buy-in from people they do not manage.

• They should understand the importance of community in the marketing and communications efforts of a

• This individual will be tasked with important work on the university’s social media accounts, to include

• This individual should have on-camera and/or on-air experience, providing the ability to more easily serve

• The role must have knowledge of AP style and the ability to contribute to the office’s writing needs,

• Finally, the role will work with the assistant director of marketing and communications to manage needs

POSITION WORKS WITH: 4-5 people who work directly in the Marketing and Communications Office and
numerous individuals in departments throughout campus.
POSITION’S BUDGET AUTHORITY: None
POSITION’S PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS: This position is in a typical office environment.
POSITION’S UNUSUAL HAZARDS OR WORKING CONDITIONS: None
POSITION’S WORK SCHEDULE: The successful candidate will work a full-time schedule, with attendance at

approximately 5-10 university events per year (Commencement, Homecoming, etc.) expected outside of that.
Occasional remote hours may be allowed for the successful candidate, but those hours will be limited and
should be discussed prior to accepting the role.

POSITION’S TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: None

POSITION DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES
POSITION’S ESSENTIAL DUTIES:
PROJECT MANAGEMENT/VENDOR MANAGEMENT
• Assists with the management of the university’s marketing and communications vendor and marketing

partner relationships, to include some portion of contracted assistance, printing needs, marketing partners
and more, with a goal of creating a mutually beneficial association.

• Serve as the university’s secondary marketing and communications project manager. This may include videos,

• Works directly with the assistant vice president to monitor staff workload in correlation to projects needed.

Position Description – Director of Marketing and Communications |

COMMUNITY RESILIENCE HUB
• Manages the day-to-day MARCOM needs of the Community Resilience Hub, making sure that all staff

members are involved and kept “in the know” about future needs. Expected to attend monthly strategy
meetings and discussions with CRH leadership and report to the rest of the office. Involves all needed staff
members in CRH projects, as feasible.

o Works with the CRH to establish and enforce expected timelines for project submission and
turnaround times.

o Coordinates project-related work with the assistant vice president, in order to monitor staff
workload and manage overall university mindset.

o Works alongside the assistant director of marketing and communications to harmonize
brand and verbiage and determine content of written materials.

o Works with the graphic designer to output needed materials.

MARKETING
• Assists with marketing strategy at the institutional level. Will be given specific operational items to manage,

depending on experience.

SOCIAL MEDIA
• Assists with all social media content creation, posting and monitoring; serves as manager of designated

lead during crises, to include social media monitoring and website updates, as well as communication with
media members. In other such events, may be expected to work in concert with the AVP.

• Assists with media relations as needed and provide training/coaching to interviewees.
• Assists with university-level writing, to include emails, press releases, social media copyrighting and more.
• May assist with management and production of the university’s email communications, whether through its

new CRM or Constant Contact.

STRATEGIC PLANNING/BRAND MANAGEMENT
• Aids in efforts to develop day-to-day marketing and communications usage policies for the institution, with a

assistant vice president.

Position Description – Director of Marketing and Communications |

POSITION’S PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND STANDARDS: Actual performance standards for each measure will
be set at least annually after consultation between the job holder and their direct supervisor based on the job
holder’s existing qualifications and experience.
1. Makes sure communications are distributed on time and error-free
2. Proactively seeks improvements and contributions, both to regular tasks and required contributions to

materials needed for position
3. Contributes to a positive culture around campus and, specifically, in the Advancement/Admissions/MARCOM

area
4. Show solid understanding of KWU brand and adheres to AP and university style
5. Improves brand through management of and contribution to various social media accounts
6. Communicates professionally and with a positive attitude, seeks to establish answers and find solutions
7. Successfully works alongside MARCOM staff to further Community Resilience Hub’s image and goals.

Position Description – Director of Marketing and Communications |

• Experience with brand consistency and management.
• Experience managing video projects from start to finish (both working with a vendor and work managed

NOTICE OF SPECIAL JOB OR EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
1. THIS JOB/POSITION DESCRIPTION IS NOT DESIGNED TO COVER OR CONTAIN A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL

DUTIES AND RESULTS TO BE PERFORMED IN THIS POSITION. DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS MAY BE
ADDED, SUBTRACTED, AND/OR CHANGED BY YOUR SUPERVISOR AT ANY TIME DUE TO CHANGES IN
DEPARTMENT OR UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS.

2. Unless exempt due to an employment contract signed by the President of the University, all employees of
Kansas Wesleyan are to be considered as an “at-will” employee.

3. All employees of Kansas Wesleyan University are considered to be “responsible employees” pertaining to Title
IX regulations concerning both the prevention and reporting of sexual assault or harassment situations. As
such, all employees must communicate with the Title IX Coordinator if they witness or hear about a sexual
assault or harassment situation.

4. Kansas Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity employer and complies with EEOC and ADA employment
requirements. It is and has been the policy of Kansas Wesleyan University to grant equal opportunity to all
qualified persons without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, gender, age, national origin, ancestry,
ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or veteran status. In order to fulfill its mission as a United
Methodist affiliated institution, preference in hiring shall be given to persons who can affirm the Institution’s
mission.

5. All “offers of employment” are subject to a criminal background check prior to employment.
6. All items created by this position are the sole property of Kansas Wesleyan University.

Position Description – Director of Marketing and Communications |