Southern Methodist University
Executive Director for Marketing & Strategic Communications (Dedman School of La
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75215
Job Description
Executive Director for Marketing & Strategic Communications (Dedman School of Law) (DED00000450)
About SMU SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Position This role is an on-campus, in-person position.
The Executive Director for Marketing and Strategic Communications will lead the Dedman Law Marketing and Communications team in developing and implementing a cutting-edge marketing and communications strategy campaign to highlight the strengths of Dedman Law. This position will manage and enhance the school's brand image and messaging across various channels, including the law school’s website, email communications, and social media for faculty, staff, centers, clinics, etc.
The executive director will work with the Dean and other staff to craft a communications plan for key external audiences and collaborate with media outlets and stakeholders to enhance the law school's visibility. The goal of this position is to communicate information about and enhance the reputation of Dedman Law internally and externally—regionally, nationally, and globally.
Essential Functions
Develop communications strategy and implement marketing campaign to highlight the strengths of Dedman School of Law. Work with the Dean and other law staff in the administration to craft a communications plan for key external audiences.
Overall management of the school's brand image and messaging across various channels, including the law school website and social media for faculty, staff, centers, clinics, etc. Manage a team responsible for the web, email communications, and social media presence of Dedman Law, as well as oversee the creation of printed materials for both internal and external use. This involves planning, writing, honing messaging, and overseeing communication tools such as the law school’s monthly newsletter, email communications, the annual magazine, media pitches, annual giving fundraising letters and emails, videos, presentations, speeches, and more.
Establish and maintain relationships with media contacts and maintain an awareness of media coverage of Dedman Law. Oversee public relations efforts on behalf of Dedman Law to promote and enhance the reputation of the school. Connect with SMU central marketing and communication to ensure university brand guidelines are upheld and Dedman Law is accurately represented and promoted in multiple channels of print and digital outlets.
Responsible for creating some content for the website, press releases, alumni magazine, social media, and alumni and stakeholder correspondence. Also responsible for the development of some content related to videography, including scripts and storyboards.
Liaise with law faculty and staff to accurately represent and promote Dedman Law to audiences. Maintain awareness of faculty scholarship, events, programs, faculty, staff, and clinic accomplishments that should be publicized.
Assist the Dean, the law school administration, alumni relations, and development with various law school board meetings, events, lectures, and programs.
Track deadlines, oversee data gathering and alumni/peer school/employer outreach efforts for law school rankings. Report out rankings results to key law school administration. Maintain awareness of new rankings and determine which ones are relevant for Dedman Law participation.
Coordinate and communicate directly with key Dedman Law alumni and stakeholders for events and Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Oversee and track marketing and external relations budget.
Qualifications Education and Experience:
A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably a degree in marketing and communication.
A minimum of seven (7) years of experience is required, preferably in the areas of marketing and communication.
Experience with CRM systems and data management is required, with Blackbaud or Salesforce CRM highly preferred. Salesforce Marketing Cloud is desired.
Must have strong executive management skills to manage the Marketing and Strategic Communications Office at Dedman Law.
Experience with annual giving fundraising preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must have at least seven (7) years of experience in communications and/or marketing at a university, law firm, professional school, nonprofit, public or private organization is preferred. The ideal candidate must have a high degree of autonomy, must exercise independent and good judgment, and be able to manage a team.
The candidate must have the ability to prioritize and manage projects to meet deadlines and delegate as appropriate to team members. The candidate must possess creative thinking skills and be a strategic thinker.
The candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University, foster productive internal and external relationships, and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies.
The candidate must demonstrate strong written and communication and editing skills, and have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. Must have a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
The candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Strong project management skills are essential.
The candidate must have the ability to attend/participate in some evening or weekend events as needed.
The candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Physical and Environmental Demands
Sit for long periods of time
Deadline to Apply December 7, 2025.
EEO Statement SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu .
Benefits SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
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About SMU SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Position This role is an on-campus, in-person position.
The Executive Director for Marketing and Strategic Communications will lead the Dedman Law Marketing and Communications team in developing and implementing a cutting-edge marketing and communications strategy campaign to highlight the strengths of Dedman Law. This position will manage and enhance the school's brand image and messaging across various channels, including the law school’s website, email communications, and social media for faculty, staff, centers, clinics, etc.
The executive director will work with the Dean and other staff to craft a communications plan for key external audiences and collaborate with media outlets and stakeholders to enhance the law school's visibility. The goal of this position is to communicate information about and enhance the reputation of Dedman Law internally and externally—regionally, nationally, and globally.
Essential Functions
Develop communications strategy and implement marketing campaign to highlight the strengths of Dedman School of Law. Work with the Dean and other law staff in the administration to craft a communications plan for key external audiences.
Overall management of the school's brand image and messaging across various channels, including the law school website and social media for faculty, staff, centers, clinics, etc. Manage a team responsible for the web, email communications, and social media presence of Dedman Law, as well as oversee the creation of printed materials for both internal and external use. This involves planning, writing, honing messaging, and overseeing communication tools such as the law school’s monthly newsletter, email communications, the annual magazine, media pitches, annual giving fundraising letters and emails, videos, presentations, speeches, and more.
Establish and maintain relationships with media contacts and maintain an awareness of media coverage of Dedman Law. Oversee public relations efforts on behalf of Dedman Law to promote and enhance the reputation of the school. Connect with SMU central marketing and communication to ensure university brand guidelines are upheld and Dedman Law is accurately represented and promoted in multiple channels of print and digital outlets.
Responsible for creating some content for the website, press releases, alumni magazine, social media, and alumni and stakeholder correspondence. Also responsible for the development of some content related to videography, including scripts and storyboards.
Liaise with law faculty and staff to accurately represent and promote Dedman Law to audiences. Maintain awareness of faculty scholarship, events, programs, faculty, staff, and clinic accomplishments that should be publicized.
Assist the Dean, the law school administration, alumni relations, and development with various law school board meetings, events, lectures, and programs.
Track deadlines, oversee data gathering and alumni/peer school/employer outreach efforts for law school rankings. Report out rankings results to key law school administration. Maintain awareness of new rankings and determine which ones are relevant for Dedman Law participation.
Coordinate and communicate directly with key Dedman Law alumni and stakeholders for events and Distinguished Alumni Awards.
Oversee and track marketing and external relations budget.
Qualifications Education and Experience:
A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably a degree in marketing and communication.
A minimum of seven (7) years of experience is required, preferably in the areas of marketing and communication.
Experience with CRM systems and data management is required, with Blackbaud or Salesforce CRM highly preferred. Salesforce Marketing Cloud is desired.
Must have strong executive management skills to manage the Marketing and Strategic Communications Office at Dedman Law.
Experience with annual giving fundraising preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must have at least seven (7) years of experience in communications and/or marketing at a university, law firm, professional school, nonprofit, public or private organization is preferred. The ideal candidate must have a high degree of autonomy, must exercise independent and good judgment, and be able to manage a team.
The candidate must have the ability to prioritize and manage projects to meet deadlines and delegate as appropriate to team members. The candidate must possess creative thinking skills and be a strategic thinker.
The candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University, foster productive internal and external relationships, and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies.
The candidate must demonstrate strong written and communication and editing skills, and have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. Must have a strong attention to detail and accuracy.
The candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Strong project management skills are essential.
The candidate must have the ability to attend/participate in some evening or weekend events as needed.
The candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Physical and Environmental Demands
Sit for long periods of time
Deadline to Apply December 7, 2025.
EEO Statement SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu .
Benefits SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
#J-18808-Ljbffr