Director of Marketing

Location :

Demorest (Main) Campus
Job Type:

Full-Time Staff
Job Number:

202600159
Division:

President's Office
Department:

Marketing
Opening Date:

05/13/2026

Founded in 1897, Piedmont University is a private, comprehensive liberal arts university with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students at campuses in Demorest and Athens, Georgia.
Description

The Director of Marketing serves as the strategic leader of Piedmont University's marketing and brand efforts, responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, data-informed marketing strategy that advances the institution's visibility, reputation, and enrollment goals. This role provides vision, direction, and oversight for integrated marketing initiatives, ensuring alignment across academic and administrative units while delivering a cohesive, compelling, and differentiated brand presence.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Strategy & Leadership
Lead and collaborate with members of the marketing and communications team and other internal partners to develop content based on the school's strategic communications priorities and provide the overall strategic direction of marketing campaigns.
Lead brand positioning and messaging to enhance institutional visibility and reputation. Develop and manage marketing budgets and oversee various marketing projects.
Supervise marketing staff and content creators; provide direction, feedback, and performance management.
Collaborate with Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement, and Student Affairs to align messaging and campaigns.
Use data and analytics to inform strategy, assess performance, and refine campaigns.
Serve on institutional committees as assigned by the AVP of Public Affairs, contributing marketing expertise to support cross-functional initiatives and advance university priorities.
Creative & Content Development

Develop and oversee the production of engaging content, including video, photography, written stories, and social media campaigns that drive engagement, supports recruitment, and builds brand awareness.
Plan, research, produce, edit and curate compelling content for multiple digital platforms. Implement SEO and user experience best practices to lead web content development and optimized web page layout designs. Create digital content for the school's website and that can be amplified on social media channels.
Develop marketing materials that are visually compelling, strategically aligned with brand guidelines, and tailored to the needs, behaviors, and expectations of target audiences across all channels.
Deploy a platform that empowers users across campus to create content using university-approved templates and branding elements, ensuring consistency and alignment with institutional standards.
Enrollment Marketing

Drive enrollment marketing efforts through compelling storytelling, lead generation, and digital engagement.
Support the enrollment funnel by developing clear, consistent communications for prospective students.
Conceptualize, execute, and continuously optimize integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns that strategically nurture prospective students through every stage of the enrollment funnel-from initial awareness and inquiry to application, acceptance, and matriculation-leveraging data-driven insights, compelling storytelling, and targeted communications to increase engagement, conversion rates, and overall enrollment outcomes.

Brand Management & Communications

Lead the continued development of Piedmont University's brand strategy, ensuring clear differentiation, competitive positioning, and alignment with institutional mission and priorities through advertising, storytelling, and other promotional activities as outlined in the strategic plan.
Establish, maintain, and enforce comprehensive brand standards across all channels, ensuring consistency, integrity, and quality in all internal and external communications.
Partner with academic and administrative units to develop program-specific marketing strategies and materials that align with overarching brand positioning while addressing distinct audience needs.
Direct integrated communications planning to ensure cohesive, audience-centered messaging across recruitment, advancement, and institutional initiatives.
Lead internal communications strategy to enhance transparency, alignment, and engagement among faculty, staff, and campus stakeholders.
Monitor brand performance and perception through research, analytics, and market insights, using findings to refine messaging, strengthen reputation, and identify opportunities for growth and differentiation as outlined in the strategic plan.
Ensure compliance with licensing, trademark, and brand usage policies, protecting the integrity and legal standing of the institution's identity.
Engagement & Outreach

Partner with other campus units to coordinate external engagement efforts and cultivate effective partnerships with community organizations, local governments, and civic groups.
Other relevant duties as assigned.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.
On-site work is required.
Incumbents must remain relevant in the area of employment and flexible to changes in work related to institutional needs.

Typical Qualifications
Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or another relevant field, with a Master's degree is highly desirable.

5+ years of experience in marketing, communications, advertising, and/or digital content management with 7+ preferred. Previous experience working in the higher education or non-profit environment required.

Experience managing paid marketing campaigns, ad spending, and optimized resource allocations with a demonstrated return on investment are highly desirable.
Previous experience in graphic design highly preferred.
Licenses and Certification

Valid Georgia Driver's License (or obtained within 30 days of hire date) and satisfactory MVR.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of digital advertising platforms and tools, including Google Ads, Meta Ads Manager, and other programmatic and social media advertising products, with the ability to plan, execute, and optimize paid campaigns for performance and return on investment.
Knowledge of visual media best practices, including graphic design, video production, and photography.
Knowledge and commitment to the mission of Piedmont University and the students it serves.
Knowledge of website best practices, including SEO, user experience, and site structure.
Knowledge of social media best practices for numerous relevant social media channels.
Knowledge of the higher education market.
Knowledge and understanding of traditional and digital marketing channels, audience engagement, content marketing, graphic design and website best practices, and campaign management.
Skilled in working with numerous stakeholders to meet complex needs of the university.
Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite, WordPress, and Google ad products.
Skilled in short- and long-form writing techniques.
Skilled in reasoning, negotiating, instructing, persuading, or speaking with others: and respond appropriately to constructive feedback from management.
Skill in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to take and give constructive feedback.
Ability to manage multiple complex priorities within demanding timeframes.
Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
Ability to be problem-solver and strategic planner.
Ability to relate to others beyond giving and receiving instructions: must partner with colleagues without exhibiting behavioral extremes.
Ability to judge the quality of visual and auditory media.
Ability to collaboratively and effectively work in a diverse and inclusive environment.
Supplemental Information

Environmental, Physical, and Visual Acuity Factors
Essential functions and responsibilities of this position are performed in an inside environmental condition, where there is protection from weather conditions but not necessarily temperature changes. Essential functions and responsibilities require light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Essential functions and responsibilities require incumbents to: climb or ascend and descend stairs or ramps using feet and legs; stoop by bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist; kneel by bending legs to come to rest on knee or knees; crouch by bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine; reach or extend hands and arms in any direction; stand by remaining upright on the feet; walk or move about on foot to accomplish tasks; lift by raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position; finger, grasp, or feel objects; talk to exchange and express ideas; and to hear to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels.

Incumbents must have close visual acuity to perform activities such as extensive reading and operate computers and other office equipment.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Piedmont University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity within its faculty, staff, and students.

It is the policy of Piedmont University not to discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Piedmont University not to discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, race, age, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Inquiries or complaints from students or employees concerning the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex in this statement should be directed to:

Coordinator for Title IX, Mia Borgstrom
Daniel Hall 213
Demorest, GA 30535
(706) 778-8500 x1504
Inquiries or complaints from students, other than on the basis of sex, concerning any of the prohibitions of discrimination in the statement should be directed to:

504 Coordinator, Letitia Roller
Daniel Hall, - Room 208
1021 Central Avenue
P.O. BOX 10
Demorest, GA 30535
(706) 778-8500
oars@piedmont.edu

Inquiries or complaints from employees concerning any of the prohibitions of discrimination in this statement should be directed to:

Letitia Roller
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance
Daniel Hall - Room 208
1021 Central Avenue
P.O. BOX 10
Demorest, GA 30535
(706) 778-8500 x 2858
We offer a complete benefits package to full-time 12-month employees, including:

Health Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
TIAA 403(b) Retirement - with up to 4% employer matching
Life Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Holidays
Vacation
Medical Leave (Sick Leave)
Educational Assistance Program (Employees and their dependents)
On-campus Fitness Center and access to Habersham County's Ruby Fulbright Aquatic Center