Assistant Director, Marketing Communications
Posting Number : req25088
Department : RII Research Communications
Department Website Link
Location : Tucson Campus
Address : Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights
The Marketing and Communications team of the Office of Research and Partnerships (ORP) at the University of Arizona is seeking a highly skilled Marketing Manager II. This role is dedicated to elevating the university's profile in key strategic research focus areas. The successful candidate will lead a professional team to define, direct and produce compelling, audience-focused content that communicates the urgency and significance of U of A research, facilities and faculty excellence. Reporting to the Sr. Director, Marketing Communications, ORP, this position ensures that all research-focused marketing and branding efforts are clear, high-impact and strictly aligned with the university's mission and goals and with ORP priorities.
Benefits
Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!
Duties & Responsibilities
- Develop and execute holistic, integrated marketing and communications plans for specific strategic research focus areas.
- Manage day-to-day editing, writing and marketing to highlight U of A research achievements for internal and external audiences.
- Assign, write and edit high-quality content marketing pieces, including web news stories and digital narratives that translate complex scientific discovery into clear, persuasive narratives for both broad and focused audiences.
- Regularly review processes and procedures to refine and streamline team workflow, ensuring rigorous quality control and operational efficiency.
- Ensure all ORP communications efforts are strictly on-brand and aligned with the larger University of Arizona brand and goals and ORP priorities.
- Lead marketing research and campaigns promoting faculty, research breakthroughs and world-class facilities. This includes directing the creation of high-level presentations and printed marketing materials and coordinating with the creative team.
- Propose and develop creative marketing concepts and strategies for national-level events and high-profile research showcases.
- Serve as the primary liaison with central University Marketing and Communications to ensure cross-campus synergy.
- Collaborate closely with the Executive Comms Sr. Director, Social Media Manager, Creative Manager and Events team to ensure strategic narratives are visually and digitally optimized across all platforms.
- Successfully manage multiple competing priorities, managing the workflow for various research focus areas simultaneously to meet tight deadlines.
- Supervise and evaluate a professional multi-disciplinary team, providing direction, setting performance standards and conducting performance evaluations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to define the "story" that will best resonate with a specific target audience.
- Mastery of writing and editing with a focus on clarity, compelling hooks and technical accuracy.
- Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale projects and pivot between different research focus areas while managing competing deadlines.
- Demonstrated ability to improve workflows and maintain high standards of quality control in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong interpersonal skills to supervise staff and influence stakeholders.
- Detail oriented
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience.
- Minimum of 5 years of related work experience, including 2 years of managerial experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Expertise in content marketing.
- Experience in high-level communications and content marketing within a research-intensive or higher education environment.
- Experience coordinating, organizing and producing executive-level deliverables, including magazines, reports and booklets, and identifying and coordinating advertising/paid media opportunities.
- Experience translating scientific or technical information for a general audience.
- Experience in managing professional creative or communications staff.
- Evidence of using project management tools to streamline team workflows.
FLSA
Exempt
Full Time/Part Time
Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week
40
Job FTE
FTE
Work Calendar
Fiscal
Job Category
Communication and Marketing
Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay
$75,540 - $98,201
Compensation Type
salary at full-time equivalency (FTE)
Grade
10
Career Stream and Level
M2
Job Family
Marketing
Job Function
Communications & Marketing
Type of criminal background check required
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies
1
Contact Information for Candidates
Stephanie Doster
Open Date
2/5/2026
Open Until Filled
Yes
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