Director of Marketing & Communications - CEHHS - UTK

University Of Tennessee College

University Of Tennessee College

Marketing & Communications

Knoxville, TN, USA

USD 120k-130k / year

Posted on May 21, 2026

The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is seeking a Director of Marketing and Communications to lead the College's marketing efforts and provide leadership and accountability for the marketing and communications team. Coordinating with the UT Office of Communications and Marketing to ensure brand alignment, integrity and overall university standardization, the director will develop an integrated marketing strategy to include content strategy, outbound student communications innovations, inbound marketing, paid media, donor communications, data and trends analysis, and project management. The director will lead an internal team and serve as the primary contact for outside vendors and partners.

The director will report to the dean, serve on the dean's leadership team, and work closely with the academic and operational leadership to stay informed of College priorities and opportunities. The role will be integral in helping CEHHS move to the next level in terms of research and student experience goals. The director will be operating in an environment of change and will need to continually update priorities and tactics to reflect the environment in which the College operates. The director will supervise at least three other professionals who work in the office.


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!

The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences is seeking a Director of Marketing and Communications.

Required Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree

Experience:

  • Five years of progressively responsible relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

  • Relevant experience in multiple specialty areas, including extensive experience working collaboratively with other communications professionals including writers, editors, print designers, web designers/developers, photographers, videographers, and video production professionals.

  • Significant experience working on a wide variety of communications projects including digital and print magazines, newsletters, and website development.

  • Experience with industry-standard publishing tools including Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Dreamweaver, Microsoft Office suite, WordPress, etc.

  • Proficiency in directing and overseeing vendors, including printers, writers, photographers, media buyers, and multi-media teams.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Exceptional and visionary leadership and management skills with the ability to bring together broad constituencies to build collaboration, teamwork, and synergies.
  • Exceptionally strong oral and written communications skills, including editing and writing experience across long- and short-form print, web, video, and social media pieces and platforms.
  • Strong understanding of video production and ability to apply it to enhance existing and future C&M efforts.
  • Strong understanding of social media’s power, including current and future trends that may impact our messaging.
  • High-level understanding of and experience with communications strategy and branding, especially as they relate to higher education.
  • Strong project management skills to direct and guide staff in a fast-paced environment with simultaneous complex projects and multiple deadlines to deliver excellence on time.
  • Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Master’s degree

Experience:

  • Ten years of progressively responsible relevant experience including supervisory experience of a team.

  • Expertise in multiple specialty communications areas (design, writing, media relations, marketing, communications strategy, etc.).

  • Experience conducting communications and marketing work at an institution of higher education, government agency, or company.

Work Location

  • Location: Knoxville, TN

  • On-site

Compensation and Benefits

  • Anticipated hiring range: $120,000 up to $130,000, depending on experience & qualifications

  • 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 with the noted below attachments:

  • Resume

  • Cover Letter

  • Samples or links to samples of work/portfolio that supports the candidate’s ability to perform the position's responsibilities

About The College

The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville offers undergraduate and graduate programs that enhance the quality of life for others and prepare future educators, health professionals, and service industry leaders. We also provide numerous community-based collaborations and initiatives that help to empower people all over the world. As a college, we value our students, staff, and faculty and pride ourselves in our innovative cross-departmental collaborations.

Working at CEHHS connects you to award-winning educators, notable authors, Fulbright Scholars, world-class researchers, and outstanding professors.


STRATEGY EXECUTION

  • With the CEHHS administration and the members of the CEHHS OCM, the director plans and oversees the overall development, administration and evaluation of marketing channels, paid and earned media, content and communications within CEHHS and establishes policies and procedures to ensure consistency of vision, narrative, and implementation.
  • Serves as editor and curator of all marketing and communications content and ensures quality.
  • Works closely with other CEHHS units to develop and execute communications and marketing strategies and timelines.

MARKETING STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

  • Leads the development and execution of all strategic marketing initiatives in CEHHS by articulating who the key audiences are and developing unique marketing and communication strategies, tactics, and timelines for reaching the specific groups according to CEHHS goals.
  • Define the CEHHS brand by developing the relevant message via text, actions, concepts, and experiences that support the specific brand, while establishing policies and procedures to ensure consistency of the vision, narrative and implementation.
  • Develop metrics to adequately assess brand awareness. Provide regular monitoring of metrics via measurement of website traffic, social media engagement, search volume, and surveys. Evaluate additional strategies as necessary based on results.
  • Develop strategic budget priorities based on established metrics and goals, and monitor activity to ensure appropriate progression in achieving established goals.
  • Identify key contracts and partners, and facilitate collaboration.

TEAM OVERSIGHT AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Establishes and holds team accountable to goals and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Oversees staff performance and ensures quality
  • Oversees hiring and staff development
  • Ensures positive and proactive interaction between communications and marketing team and other teams in CEHHS

RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Cross-functional leader who participates on the dean's leadership team, collaborating on ideas to move the College to the next level.
  • works closely with department heads, associate deans, and the University Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM) to ensure goals are being met and to reassess as necessary.
  • Provides exceptional relationship management by creating synergies with CEHHS teams, campus marketing units, and external vendors and partners.
  • Monitor external contract partners to ensure adequate performance metrics and timeliness.
  • Manages and grows relationships with non-contract partners external to the University, finding areas of common interest
  • Manages and grows relationships with media partners