The Agency Director/Associate-IN

ASO IN

The Agency, a client-serving firm based in the College of Journalism and Communications (CJC) at the University of Florida staffed by students and led by professionals, is looking for its next director. We are seeking an energetic, visionary leader who can utilize their substantial professional experience in advertising, public relations, or an integrated mix of both fields, to guide the Agency through its next phase of growth. The director will lead the administrative management team responsible for business development, operations and client services, and mentor, guide and develop the operational and student staff. They will maximize the immersive learning experience, preparing students for careers in a rapidly changing communication marketplace through hands-on, applied, and collaborative learning.

The position is classified as an Associate-In faculty position within the Agency (12-month, non-tenure track) to begin in the Spring 2027 term. The director will teach 2-3 agency related courses per term, mentor and advise undergraduate students as assigned, participate in scholarly and professional organizations, participate in shared governance, and perform other duties as assigned. This is an in-person position based in Gainesville, Fla.

We are particularly interested in candidates who are excellent professionals/teachers/mentors that are on their way to establishing a national/international reputation. The selected candidate will provide strategic leadership for the UF communications agency model that integrates professional practice, teaching, mentoring, and student development. In addition, the candidate will contribute to the undergraduate program by supporting curriculum development, course delivery, advising, and student success initiatives, balance the academic, operational, and professional dimensions of the agency, including curriculum alignment, financial sustainability, and experiential learning opportunities. The candidate will build and maintain relationships with clients, alumni, industry professionals, faculty, and campus partners to expand student opportunities. Mentoring students as emerging professionals through project-based work, portfolio development, client engagement, teamwork, and career preparation is a key component of this role. The candidate will collaborate with the College's academic departments and professional graduate program, and contribute to departmental teaching, service, and program goals, along with supporting an inclusive learning environment that prepares students to work across advertising, public relations, strategic communication, and related professional fields.

About UF's College of Journalism and Communications

Accredited by ACEJMC, the college has earned its reputation for excellence over the last half century on the strength of its programs, faculty, students and alumni; the stories they tell; and the difference they make around the world. Our 80 full-time faculty members and 175 part-time instructors serve in four academic departments: Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations and Media Production, Management and Technology. We enroll about 2,500 undergraduates both in-person and online. More than 800 students are earning master's and doctoral degrees.

The Agency was dedicated in 2015 as a unit within the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Its purpose is to provide immersive learning experience for our students to gain experience working for real-world clients and develop the professional skills needed to navigate an agency's work environment. The founding vision of the Agency prioritized bridging the industry and the classroom, and it continues to tear down walls between the two. Today, The Agency is a Gen Z-focused strategic communications firm, where approximately 120 students work alongside professionals to create real-world campaigns. Students can work as strategists, creatives, developers, researchers, producers, and media coordinators.

The College of Journalism and Communications is committed to building a culture of belonging and engagement, preeminent scholarship, cross-disciplinary education, superior skills development, and collaboration spanning the science and practice of communication to produce significant societal impact on a local, state, and global scale. CJC is also home to several cross-disciplinary initiatives such as the Innovation News Center, The Agency, Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology, the STEM Translational Communication Center, the Center for Public Interest Communication, the Atlas Social Media Listening Lab, the Brechner Freedom of Information Project, and the Media Effects and Technology Lab, among others.

About the University of Florida

UF is the state's sole member of the Association of American Universities. It is in the midst of a multi-year pre-eminence initiative that has created more than 500 new faculty positions and generated a $70 million partnership with NVIDIA to create the nation's top research lab in artificial intelligence. The University of Florida spent a record $1.34 billion on research in fiscal year 2026. The University of Florida offers a competitive salary commensurate with similar positions and includes a full benefits package.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent by fostering environments where team members feel included, valued, and empowered to do their best work.

About Gainesville, Florida

As home to Florida's largest and oldest university, Gainesville () is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. Gainesville and the surrounding area is home to about 250,000 people, a robust arts community, several museums, a world-class health care system anchored at UF, a downtown core known for its restaurants and brew pubs, excellent public and private schools, and abundant nature exemplified by clear, natural springs. Additionally, within 2 hours are attractions such as Disney World, University Studios, Busch Gardens, and historic St. Augustine.