Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations

Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations :

College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

Knoxville, TN, (On-site)

Job Description

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications & Media Relations reports directly to the Dean of CECS and serves as a core member of the Dean’s Cabinet Leadership Team. This position provides senior-level leadership in strategic marketing, communications, and external affairs to strengthen CECS’s visibility and reputation nationwide and beyond. The Senior Director oversees branding and visibility efforts by aligning the Dean’s public appearances, speeches, and media presence with the College’s mission and institutional priorities, while managing the development of digital, print, and social content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment.

The role also manages the Dean’s travel and event coordination for major events, ensuring seamless logistics, professional representation, and strategic engagement opportunities. In addition, the Senior Director leads special projects and visibility campaigns, develops annual communications plans with measurable outcomes, and serves as the central coordination point among the Dean’s office, marketing and communications staff, and external partners. Through strategic supervision of the Director of Campus Marketing and Communications and the Marketing Coordinator as well as the Events Manager and Events Coordinator, the position fosters collaboration, accountability, and innovation to advance CECS’s reputation, influence, and impact.

Responsibilities

Media Preparation & Strategy :

• Develop key messaging and talking points tailored for national and regional audiences
• Coordinate media preparation for interviews, panels, and live broadcasts
• Monitor current events and industry news to brief the Dean on relevant topics and potential questions
• Draft and review press releases, op-eds, and statements for regional, national and global audiences to ensure consistency with the college’s mission and vision
• Build and maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and producers to secure coverage and rapid response
• Maintain and launch new CECS external-facing events and activities such as webinars, newsletter columns, etc.
• Strategically enhance the footprint of CECS’s social media presence in multiple platforms

Branding & Visibility

Travel & Event Coordination

Internal & External Communications

Special Projects & Strategic Planning

Operational & Administrative Support

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Education : Bachelor’s degree in political science, public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, management, or related field

Experience

Skills & Competencies

Professional Traits

Preferred Qualifications

Education : Master’s degree in political science, public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, management, or related field

Experience

Skills & Expertise

Professional Traits

Work Location

Location : Knoxville, TN

Onsite

Benefits

Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments :

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

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Job Info

Job Identification 5545

Job Category : Communication & Mktg

Job Schedule : Full time

Location : 1331 Circle Park, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US (On-site)

The University of Tennessee is an EEO / AA / Title VI / Title IX / Section 504 / ADA / ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.