Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Positional Summary

The Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications leads the planning, coordination, and operational execution of communications projects for Student Affairs’ external channels and key initiatives, while supporting division-wide internal communications in collaboration with campus partners.

This role serves as the project management and workflow lead for Student Affairs Communications, ensuring projects move efficiently from intake to completion, timelines and expectations are clearly defined, and deliverables meet Duke’s high standards for quality, accessibility, and brand alignment. The Assistant Director supervises staff and student employees, manages communications systems and calendars, and partners closely with colleagues across the division and University to bring the student experience to life through coordinated, strategic storytelling.

Key Position Duties

Project & Workflow Management (Approximately 35%)

• Lead the intake, prioritization, scoping, and execution of communications projects across Student Affairs alongside the Director of Communications.
• Own and manage the team’s project management system, establishing best practices for tracking work from request through completion.
• Develop and manage project timelines, dependencies, and deliverables, proactively identifying risks and adjusting plans as needed.
• Balance staff and student capacity to ensure timely delivery while maintaining creative quality and production standards.
• Serve as a primary point of coordination for complex, cross-divisional communications initiatives alongside the Director of Communications.

Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Partnership (Approximately 20%)

• Partner with colleagues across Student Affairs and the University to translate communications needs into clear, actionable project plans.
• Establish and maintain editorial and communications calendars to support proactive planning for news, campaigns, and events.
• Advise campus partners on communications strategy, channels, timing, and tools to support effective outreach.
• Support coordination during time-sensitive or high-impact moments such as major events, emergencies, or divisional announcements.

Team Leadership & Quality Control (Approximately 15%)

• Supervise communications staff and student employees, including workflow planning, coaching, and performance support.
• Review and provide feedback on communications deliverables to ensure clarity, consistency, accessibility, and alignment with Student Affairs and University brand standards.
• Ensure consistent processes and standards across communications outputs.

Writing, Editing & Message Development (Approximately 15%)

• Oversee the execution of email communications, including newsletters, ensuring clarity, tone, and alignment with divisional voice and branding.
• Review and refine content produced by others to ensure quality and consistency.
• Support in developing visually appealing graphics and content that align with the Student Affairs brand for a variety of topics, including student stories, event campaigns, digestible announcements, and campus life content.

Digital Channels & Analytics Oversight (Approximately 10%)

• Direct and maintain flagship Student Affairs communications channels, including students.duke.edu, social media platforms, and email communications.
• Ensure regular, coordinated updates across digital platforms including social media, website, and digital flyer system.
• Monitor analytics and performance data across channels to inform communication strategies and recommend adjustments.
• Develop and maintain expertise in communications tools used across the division and advise colleagues on best practices.

Other- 5% of Effort

• Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet departmental, Division and University goals and objectives, as assigned by their Supervisor, Director, or respective designees.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative outline of the type of responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as all-encompassing or as a declaration of all specific duties and responsibilities of this position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Anticipated Pay Range:

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $62,694 to USD $107,633. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family- friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Education

• Work requires analytical, communication, and organizational skills generally acquired through the completion of a bachelor’s degree program.

Minimum Experience

• Position requires a minimum of four years of professional experience, preferably in marketing, communications, English, education, or a related field. OR ANY OTHER EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Strongly Preferred Experiences:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects and managing workflows.
• Advanced technical skills, including experience with project management tools such as Asana, Airtable, or Miro.
• Experience with Google Analytics and marketing or communications data analysis.
• Ability to think critically, strategically, and creatively with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing needs.
• Experience supervising full-time staff and student employees.
• Ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Dedication to providing excellent service to students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.
  
  

Preferred Skills and Competencies

• Experience with email and social media marketing tools such as Emma, Salesforce, HubSpot, Blueshift, or Loomly.
• Experience with WordPress.
• Experience with design and content tools such as Canva, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft products.

Must be able to complete all positional requirements outlined above with or without reasonable accommodations. For more information, please visit https://hr.duke.edu/policies/ada/