Associate Director for Marketing and Communications

Hiring Department:

University Unions

Position Open To:

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Earliest Start Date:

Jul 01, 2025

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details:

General Notes

The Division of Student Affairs is the hub of student life and well-being at The University of Texas at Austin. The team inspires all students to live the Longhorn life through its uniquely designed programs, spaces and resources. They serve every student through physical health, mental health and well-being services; recreational sports; university student union facilities; family orientation and the University’s official parent association. The Division supports 1,000+ student organizations; student governance organizations; student outreach, veteran, legal, and disability and access services. The team also provides student employment; leadership, first generation and volunteer programs.

Serving under the Division of Student Affairs, the University Unions’ mission is to enhance the student experience and enrich campus life by providing cultural, educational, social and recreational programs as well as related goods and services to the campus community.

What sets you apart when you join the University Unions?

As a Longhorn, you’ll be working for a globally recognized university. Your work will make a difference in the lives of faculty, staff, and of course, our students! During your time on campus, you will contribute to programs, organizations, and activities that help our students develop a sense of community and learn valuable leadership skills that they will carry with them throughout their professional and personal lives.

What benefits do I receive with UT? The university offers an impressive benefits package including, but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan.
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses

Work Shift:

This is an on-site position – Monday through Friday. At times, this position may be work nights, evenings, and/or weekends as specific business needs require.

Purpose:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Associate Director for Marketing and Communications manages the strategic communications and marketing for University Unions. This position serves as a member of University Unions’ Leadership Team.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement the marketing and outreach strategy. Interact with staff to establish, execute, and evaluate campaigns and initiatives promoting activities and services. Develop original content for web/print/social while staying updated on industry trends. Produce fresh, innovative work that translates complex ideas into compelling materials.
• Supervise, review, and approve work of the Graphic Design team in the product of web, print, and digital collateral. Ensure output accurately addresses messaging goals and the needs of the organization.
• Serves as the primary media contact for University Unions and as the primary University Unions representative for university and Student Affairs communications teams. Maintain departmental compliance with Student Affairs and UT communications processes, policies, and timelines.
• Prioritize spending and keep costs in line with budget.
• Prioritize work and resources based on short and long-term needs, establishing production schedule by collaborating with designers, senior leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Marketing/communications support will occasionally require a presence at special events outside normal working hours.
• Train and develop student employees for successful engagement outcomes.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or related field or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Three years or more of experience in marketing or communications.
• Experience with media relations and/or experience as a member of media.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team in a dynamic environment.
• Polished writing skills for a variety of platforms, including print, social media, and web.
• Excellent project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in marketing, communications, or related field.
• Five years or more of relevant experience.
• Experience within higher education.
• Supervisory experience.
• Public speaking experience.

Salary

$80,000

Working Conditions

May work around standard office equipment. Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. Frequent standing and sitting and the use of manual dexterity. Candidate will be required to pass a background check prior to starting employment.

UT Austin is a Tobacco-free Campus.

Required Materials

• Resume.
• A letter of interest.
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor, current or former.
• Writing sample

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Driving Record:

Class “C” Operator’s Driver’s License. Applicant selected must provide a current three year Driving Record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, must obtain a Texas Driver’s License within 30 days after entering Texas as a new resident.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.