Director of Operations, Communications and Marketing

Director of Operations, Communications and Marketing
The Director of Operations is a member of the Communications and Marketing division’s leadership team. The director is responsible for the systems, processes, and planning that connect the division’s strategic and creative work. The director assesses how work moves through the division today, then builds or rebuilds the intake, project management, and reporting systems that keep the division responsive, organized, and focused on institutional priorities. Working closely with the Vice President, the director leads production planning, anticipates upcoming needs, and ensures that work reflects the College’s standards for quality. The director also represents the division to campus partners and serves as a key operational leader as the division evolves.

Key responsibilities
Leadership

Serve as a member of the division’s leadership team, contributing to planning, priorities, and decision-making

Represent the Vice President in meetings with campus offices as delegated

Partner with the Vice President on division-wide initiatives and organizational development

Intake and workflow

Assess the division’s current intake process and build on or redesign it, including scoping conversations with campus partners before work begins

Set and communicate realistic timelines, formats, and deliverables for each request

Prioritize and route work to the strategic and creative teams, including web and digital, based on institutional priorities and team capacity

Close the loop with requesters and ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for campus partners

Project management and production

Assess the division’s project management systems, currently Smartsheet, and build on or redesign them to support consistent use across teams

Lead regular production meetings to track active work, resolve bottlenecks, and anticipate upcoming needs

Build and maintain the division’s editorial and production calendars in coordination with strategic and creative leads

Flag risks early and keep projects on schedule from start to finish

Crisis and rapid response operations

Support the Executive Director for Strategic Communications in crisis and rapid response situations by managing workflow, approvals, timelines, and distribution

Maintain the division’s crisis protocols, contact lists, approval chains, and message distribution procedures, and help coordinate response logistics across the division

Standards and quality

Understand and uphold the division’s brand, editorial, and creative standards throughout the production process

Work with the Creative Director, the Director of Web and Digital Experience, and strategic leads to ensure work meets expectations for quality before it is delivered

Budget and vendor management

Manage the division’s operating budget, including forecasting, tracking, and reporting

Administer agency and vendor contracts, statements of work, and invoicing, in partnership with the division leaders who direct each vendor’s work

Ensure vendor work is coordinated with in-house teams and delivered on scope and on budget

Reporting and measurement

Develop regular reporting on workload, turnaround times, project outcomes, and budget to inform staffing and investment decisions

Identify process improvements and document standards and workflows for the division

Partnership and service

Serve as the primary operational point of contact for campus partners on project requests

Build strong working relationships with offices across the College, including Advancement, Enrollment Management, and Athletics

Future team development

Assess the division’s operational needs and help define future operations roles, such as a project coordinator or traffic manager

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required

Seven or more years of progressive project management experience, preferably in communications, marketing, or higher education

Demonstrated experience assessing and improving intake, workflow, and project management processes for creative or communications teams

Experience managing budgets, vendor contracts, and agency relationships

Experience leading production or editorial planning, including calendars and regular production meetings

A strong appreciation for high-quality creative and editorial work

Proficiency with project management platforms; Smartsheet experience preferred

Excellent organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively with senior leaders

Experience in a college or university setting preferred

Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the College’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) initiatives, and Lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.

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