The Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) is seeking a full-time Communications and Marketing Professional to lead the communications of the global engagement of UTIA.

The primary goal of this position is to elevate the messaging of the global work being conducted by faculty, staff and students across UTIA. The person holding this position will provide creative leadership in communicating the globally oriented work of UTIA. This position will liaise with UTIA, UTK and UT System Marketing & Communications offices, the UTK Center for Global Engagement, UTIA Advancement, and other departments and units across UTIA.

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The Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) is seeking a full-time Communications and Marketing Professional to lead the communications of the global engagement of UTIA. The primary goal of this position is to elevate the messaging of the global work being conducted by faculty, staff and students across UTIA. The person holding this position will provide creative leadership in communicating the globally oriented work of UTIA. This position will liaise with UTIA, UTK and UT System Marketing & Communications offices, the UTK Center for Global Engagement, UTIA Advancement, and other departments and units across UTIA.

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Required Qualifications

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree

• Experience:

  • Previous experience developing communication and marketing materials.

• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

  • Strong interpersonal skills.

  • Ability to produce creative content in various platforms and formats.

  • Excellent time management skills.

  • Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously.

  • Knowledge of global agricultural and/or natural resource programming.

  • Ability to influence and persuade diverse audiences to new ideas, concepts or programs.

  • Ability to organize, integrate, and effectively relay information to UT and external audiences.

  • Ability to solve problems and act on own initiative.

  • Skilled in commonly used software such as Microsoft Excel and Word.

  • Ability to learn and use various software, including databases and website management, and social media.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:

  • Master’s Degree in agricultural and/or natural resource communications, international agriculture, global development, journalism, or related discipline.

• Experience:

  • Previous experience living and/or working outside the United States.

  • Previous experience working in higher education.

  • Relevant field of study including communications/marketing and/or agriculture/natural resources.

• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

  • Knowledge of international agriculture programming particularly in higher-education settings.

  • Ability to develop video content.

  • Skilled in use of Canva, Adobe, and similar software.

  • Skilled in use of multiple forms of electronic communication.

  • Project management experience.

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite
  

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: MR10

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application along with:

1. a letter of application detailing your ability to carry out the responsibilities of the position as described,

2. a curriculum vitae or resume,

3. at least two examples of communication or marketing materials that the applicant has developed as evidence of quality work, and

4. names and contact information (address and telephone number) of three references.

First review of applicants will begin March 25, 2026, and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Start date anticipated late May / June 2026.

About The College/Department/Division:

The Smith Center for International Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) is seeking a full-time Communications and Marketing Professional to lead the communications of the global engagement of UTIA.

The Smith Center was established in 2017 through a generous donation of alumnae Donnie and Terry Smith with a mission of empowering UT faculty, staff and students to position UTIA as the go-to U.S. land-grant institution for global engagement in agricultural sciences. We serve as a hub for international research, education, extension and partnerships across agriculture, natural resources, and related fields. For more information, visit: https://smithcenter.tennessee.edu/

UTIA, through its colleges, research and education centers, and county extension offices, serves the people of Tennessee and beyond through the discovery, communication and application of knowledge. UTIA is made up of four units that provide instruction, research and public service: AgResearch, the Herbert College of Agriculture, the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and UT Extension. UTIA’s main campus is in Knoxville, Tennessee, but the institute also operates 10 Research and Education Centers throughout the state, as well as having a presence in all 95 counties through Extension.

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This is a full-time appointment reporting directly to the Smith Chair in International Sustainable Agriculture, located at UT’s Knoxville campus. The responsibilities of this appointment include:

• Lead the implementation of the UTIA global engagement communication strategy in alignment with the Smith Center strategic plan, and with other units across UTIA. Update the strategy to ensure the strategy aligns with the UTIA Growing Greatness 2025-2030 strategic plan. Communicate with internal (to UT) and external (to current and potential partner agencies, donors, organizations, and institutions) audiences. Determine what information is communicated and how it is communicated based on the global engagement communication strategy. (25% time)

• Produce various types of written and other digital media outputs to help translate the global work of UTIA into accessible formats for internal and external audiences (including donors, federal agencies, foundations, and the general public). Work with the Smith Center team and consult with UTIA units and personnel (faculty and staff) and with Herbert College and College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) students to understand the global engagement of UTIA, and prioritize what information to communicate, and how to communicate it through a range of media outputs, including news releases, reports, flyers, brochures, summary documents, policy briefs, and other written materials. Develop video and other digital media outputs to communicate the work of the Smith Center and global engagement work of UTIA faculty and staff, and Herbert and CVM students. Lead the implementation of a comprehensive global engagement presence across UTIA, through leading the management of the Smith Center website and social media accounts and providing expert advice and input to other UTIA units on methods and opportunities to further their communications about global engagement. (50% time)

• Collaborate with the UTK Center for Global Engagement, UTIA Advancement, and offices of Communications and Marketing (UTIA, UTK and UT System), on development and editing of written and other digital media outputs that convey the global work of UTIA faculty, staff and students in conjunction with faculty, staff and students across other colleges and units at UTK and across the UT System. (25% time)