Inside Higher Ed
Director of Communications & Events
The Director of Communications & Events provides leadership and oversight for the communications, marketing, and national visibility efforts of the Graduate School. The Director initiates School and campus committees, projects, and activities in service of the School’s mission and goals. The Director manages key events and develops materials that promote the activities, initiatives, and accomplishments of the School to constituents such as alumni, current students, and prospective students. They serve as a representative of the Dean, a significant contributor to the Dean’s senior staff, and spokesperson for media outlets.
Essential Functions
Provides oversight and direction for materials representing the School.
Creates and oversees School branding.
Develops and produces multimedia marketing and communications materials (print, email, website, social media) for distribution to constituents.
Writes feature stories, news items, press releases, etc.
Develops, writes, designs, edits, and produces documents, posters, pamphlets, special event publications, and other material.
Supports and coordinates written communication efforts in School units.
Prepares annual budget recommendations for communications materials and website and participates in determination.
Develops printed and digital recruitment materials and other collateral.
Creates multimedia assets, including videos and photos.
Supervises a team of student communications assistants.
Evaluates and procures off‑campus vendors and services.
Maintains the School website, constructs new pages, ensures visual and navigational consistency.
Oversees content and distribution of weekly e-newsletter for students.
Manages the School’s customer relations management system account.
Partners with the school’s IT unit to meet communications objectives.
Creates and maintains dynamic and SEO-optimized webpages, news, student profiles, blogs, and media sections.
Develops and oversees social media strategy and content.
Provides strategic planning and project management expertise to units, the School, and campus-wide committees.
Takes a leadership role in website redesign.
Provides strategic direction to units for their communications goals, including website content.
Consults with other units about website creation and development.
Liaises with University Relations colleagues around campus-wide communications.
Develops collateral for School events and activities.
Creates communications and collateral for annual recruitment and new student events.
Participates in all aspects of event planning including conceptualization, logistics, publicity, communication, budget, volunteer recruitment, etc.
Supervises Graduate assistants and student workers; coordinates event coverage.
Secures venues, ensures appropriate setup/breakdown, IT needs, and accessibility; troubleshoots and resolves venue problems.
Manages contractors/vendors, including catering, furnishings, and venue access.
Other Functions
Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.
Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery, and other compliance requirements.
Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of the Graduate School.
Provides workshop materials and workshop evaluations, both print and electronic.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree.
Three to five years of communications experience, including print and digital media production, graphic design, publication development, writing, working with vendors and editorial services.
Demonstrated strong creative, communication, organizational, and excellent writing/editing skills.
Speech writing and talking points for Graduate School events.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex tasks, advanced planning and project management skills.
Knowledge of current media technology.
Experience in large and small event planning.
High degree of independent initiative, ability to establish and adjust priorities as needed, successful in collaboration with units across campus.
Capable of working successfully with diverse populations.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
Demonstrated ability to set work priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
Capacity for a high degree of independent action and initiative.
Demonstrated ability to take on new challenges and tasks as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree.
Knowledge and experience in the design and maintenance of websites and media collateral.
Superior ability to communicate verbally and in writing and to target materials for general and more specialized audiences.
Understanding of current technology and software relevant to marketing and communications, such as Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, or similar.
Understanding of the potential of new technologies to advance goals of the position and School.
Work Schedule Monday through Friday, 8:30 – 5:00, with occasional nights, weekends, and outside traditional hours, as needed.
Salary Information Salary Level 27 – PSU Salary Ranges.
Special Instructions to Applicants Upload your cover letter, resume, and a written sample, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.
EEO Statement The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
Applications close Jan 25 2026 Eastern Standard Time
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Essential Functions
Provides oversight and direction for materials representing the School.
Creates and oversees School branding.
Develops and produces multimedia marketing and communications materials (print, email, website, social media) for distribution to constituents.
Writes feature stories, news items, press releases, etc.
Develops, writes, designs, edits, and produces documents, posters, pamphlets, special event publications, and other material.
Supports and coordinates written communication efforts in School units.
Prepares annual budget recommendations for communications materials and website and participates in determination.
Develops printed and digital recruitment materials and other collateral.
Creates multimedia assets, including videos and photos.
Supervises a team of student communications assistants.
Evaluates and procures off‑campus vendors and services.
Maintains the School website, constructs new pages, ensures visual and navigational consistency.
Oversees content and distribution of weekly e-newsletter for students.
Manages the School’s customer relations management system account.
Partners with the school’s IT unit to meet communications objectives.
Creates and maintains dynamic and SEO-optimized webpages, news, student profiles, blogs, and media sections.
Develops and oversees social media strategy and content.
Provides strategic planning and project management expertise to units, the School, and campus-wide committees.
Takes a leadership role in website redesign.
Provides strategic direction to units for their communications goals, including website content.
Consults with other units about website creation and development.
Liaises with University Relations colleagues around campus-wide communications.
Develops collateral for School events and activities.
Creates communications and collateral for annual recruitment and new student events.
Participates in all aspects of event planning including conceptualization, logistics, publicity, communication, budget, volunteer recruitment, etc.
Supervises Graduate assistants and student workers; coordinates event coverage.
Secures venues, ensures appropriate setup/breakdown, IT needs, and accessibility; troubleshoots and resolves venue problems.
Manages contractors/vendors, including catering, furnishings, and venue access.
Other Functions
Performs related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, Executive Area/Division, and University goals and objectives.
Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, Clery, and other compliance requirements.
Demonstrates capacity, skill, and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of the Graduate School.
Provides workshop materials and workshop evaluations, both print and electronic.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree.
Three to five years of communications experience, including print and digital media production, graphic design, publication development, writing, working with vendors and editorial services.
Demonstrated strong creative, communication, organizational, and excellent writing/editing skills.
Speech writing and talking points for Graduate School events.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex tasks, advanced planning and project management skills.
Knowledge of current media technology.
Experience in large and small event planning.
High degree of independent initiative, ability to establish and adjust priorities as needed, successful in collaboration with units across campus.
Capable of working successfully with diverse populations.
Strong interpersonal and customer service skills.
Demonstrated ability to set work priorities, coordinate multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
Capacity for a high degree of independent action and initiative.
Demonstrated ability to take on new challenges and tasks as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree.
Knowledge and experience in the design and maintenance of websites and media collateral.
Superior ability to communicate verbally and in writing and to target materials for general and more specialized audiences.
Understanding of current technology and software relevant to marketing and communications, such as Salesforce, Marketing Cloud, or similar.
Understanding of the potential of new technologies to advance goals of the position and School.
Work Schedule Monday through Friday, 8:30 – 5:00, with occasional nights, weekends, and outside traditional hours, as needed.
Salary Information Salary Level 27 – PSU Salary Ranges.
Special Instructions to Applicants Upload your cover letter, resume, and a written sample, along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.
EEO Statement The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
Applications close Jan 25 2026 Eastern Standard Time
#J-18808-Ljbffr