Assistant Director for Marketing and Engagement

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $22.13 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

With limited supervision, the Assistant Director for Marketing and Engagement provides strategic leadership for marketing, communications, and selected engagement initiatives for the Spartan Connections Hub, under the direction of the Executive Director of the spartan connections hub, with a particular emphasis on hub-wide marketing oversight and special projects. The spartan connections hub includes Student Activities and Leadership, Greek Life, Office of Multicultural Affairs, International Student Resources and Engagement, LGBT, and Graduate Student Life.

The assistant director serves as a key collaborator in developing and implementing integrated marketing and communication strategies that elevate the visibility, impact, and accessibility of hub programs, services, events, and student opportunities. This position provides consultation and execution support for hub-wide branding, social media, website content, storytelling, promotional planning, and communications alignment, while ensuring Case Western Reserve University marketing policies and divisional priorities are followed.

In addition, this position manages various departmental operations within student activities and leadership, including support for student organization risk management education, departmental assessment projects, CampusGroups administration and training, advising the Class Officer Collective (COC), and chairing university-wide spirit initiatives. This role also serves as project manager or support lead for selected annual events and special projects within student activities and leadership and across the spartan connections hub, as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Provide strategic marketing and communications oversight for the spartan connections hub and support special projects as requested by the executive director. Lead and coordinate marketing and communications efforts for the spartan connections hub, including student activities and leadership, Greek life, office of multicultural affairs, international student resources and engagement, and graduate student life. In collaboration with University Marketing and Communications, the executive director of the spartan connections hub and hub unit leaders, develop and implement integrated marketing strategies that promote hub programs, services, initiatives, events, student leadership opportunities, and community-building efforts. Serve as a hub-wide resource and consultant on communications planning, content strategy, campaign development, branding consistency, messaging, storytelling, social media presence, website content, email promotion, and print/digital marketing collateral. Ensure all marketing and communications efforts align with university brand standards, divisional priorities, accessibility expectations, and representative communication practices. Coordinate and/or oversee the writing, editing, scheduling, and dissemination of communications and promotional content across multiple platforms. Provide technical assistance and strategic direction to professional staff and student staff across the hub to ensure consistency in voice, visual identity, writing quality, and marketing effectiveness. Analyze engagement and campaign performance data to inform future outreach and promotional decisions. Supervise student marketing and/or social media staff in support of hub communications priorities, as assigned. Recruit, hire, train, and supervise graduate or undergraduate student staff supporting hub marketing initiatives, as needed. Assist the executive director of the spartan connections hub with special projects, strategic initiatives, cross-functional planning efforts, divisional presentations, signature events, and other assignments that support the goals and visibility of the hub. (45%)
2. Provide advice and administrative support to the Class Officer Collective and related class traditions. Provide guidance and support to the class officer collective, composed of elected undergraduate class representatives, in the development of class-specific programming and implementation of campus traditions such as Hudson Relays, Snowball Dance, and Orientation Week activities. Support students in navigating university processes related to requisitions, disbursements, internal charges, deposits, contracts, technical riders, budgeting, purchasing, marketing, risk management, and assessment. Attend key programs and provide administrative oversight as needed. Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student support staff, as appropriate, to assist with COC-related responsibilities and other engagement initiatives. The class officer collective's allocated budget is approximately $120,000. (15%)
3. Chair the University Wide Spirit Committee and lead initiatives that enhance school spirit, pride, and campus traditions. Provide leadership for university-wide spirit-building efforts designed to increase student engagement, school pride, and community connection. Coordinate with campus partners, student leaders, and relevant departments to develop and implement spirit initiatives such as Blue CWRU Fridays and to bring added spirit elements to major campus events and traditions including, but not limited to, Homecoming, Candy Crawl, Throwback Weekend, Spirit Week, and other signature programs. Guide planning discussions, develop promotional and engagement strategies, coordinate logistics with campus partners, and assess the impact of spirit initiatives on student participation and campus culture. Ensure spirit efforts complement broader institutional priorities and contribute positively to the student experience. (15%)
4. Coordinate and facilitate selected Student Activities and Leadership programs, traditions, and engagement initiatives. Responsible for facilitating selected Student Activities and Leadership traditional and annual programs including, but not limited to, Student Activities and Leadership SWAG Stop, Sippin' with Spartie, Open Houses for student organizations, Spartie's Birthday, CWRU Family Thanksgiving, Student Activities Fairs, Legacy Weekend, Spirit Week, and Clap-Out. Supervise graduate student interns and/or student staff in the development and implementation of designated programs, including the Spring Student Activities Fair and other engagement opportunities. Develop additional programs and initiatives that respond to student interests and support the mission of Student Activities and Leadership and the broader Spartan Connections Hub. (10%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Oversee the use of CampusGroups as a primary student engagement, communication, and organizational management platform. Serve as the departmental ¿super-user¿ of CampusGroups and promote and support departmental and student organization use of the platform for event management, membership tracking, communication, online forms, surveys, and related functions. Provide training and guidance to student organizations, advisers, and staff in effective platform use. Liaison with CampusGroups support staff in Student Affairs Operations to report and resolve platform issues, consult on best practices, and stay ahead of new and improved functionality within the system. Use CampusGroups data and functionality to support student outreach, communication, and engagement goals. (5%) 
2. Initiate, implement, and provide direction regarding core assessment projects in response to departmental and divisional strategic goals. Assess utilization of services, student satisfaction, student learning, student engagement, personal development, and the campus environment. Collect, analyze, and report on data regarding student engagement activities obtained through departmental and student organization use of CampusGroups and other assessment tools, including Qualtrics. Serve on the divisional assessment committee and contribute to assessment efforts that support the divisional strategic plan. Make recommendations for program and service improvements in response to assessment findings, including strategies to better serve underserved populations, improve student success, and inform prioritization of ongoing and future initiatives. Provide guidance to student groups and advisers in support of student survey design, data collection, analysis, and reporting. (4%)
3. Serve as an expert consultant in student organization risk management and support the development of a strong culture of student leadership accountability. In order to protect the university from potential risk incurred through student organizations, serve as an expert consultant in risk management. This includes the development of training programs for approximately 260 student organization risk managers. Responsible for creating opportunities for engagement and learning with these student leaders through workshops, email communication, meetings, and other outreach. In collaboration with departmental leadership, support the training of new student activities and leadership professional staff in risk management practices. Work closely with the Offices of General Counsel and Compliance to remain current on university expectations, processes, and best practices. Conduct meetings to review alcohol use reports, travel waivers, and other high-risk events in order to help organizations create sound risk-management plans. (4%)
4. Develop collaborative working relationships with various university departments and governing student groups. Create strong collaborations across the university, including but not limited to the Office of Housing, Undergraduate Student Government, Graduate Student Council, Tinkham Veale University Center, Thwing Student Center, Facilities/Plant Services, and academic departments to provide program consultation for university-wide programs, risk management, marketing support, and CampusGroups assistance. (2%)

CONTACTS

Department: Continuous contact with full-time professional staff to ensure the marketing needs of the department are met. Continuous contact with graduate and undergraduate student staff as their supervisor to ensure job responsibilities are being met and high standards of customer service are maintained.

University: Regular contact with Tinkham Veale University Center staff (shared space within the building) and Director of Compliance, Office of General Counsel (risk management program) to exchange information.

External: Continuous contact with contractors (i.e., university food service, agents) and other partners through advising of the various student organizations and various traditions (via the Class Officer Collective, Legacy Week and Thwing Study Over).

Students: Continuous contact with all student organizations at Case Western Reserve University to ensure proper risk management procedures are being followed; Frequent contact for marketing, assessment projects, and campus groups; Occasional contact for Thwing Study Over.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Direct supervision of 2 graduate student assistants for marketing, assessment and social media and one for campus engagement, advising assistance for the Class Officer Collective and other traditional programs and one undergraduate intern for graphic design. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience/Education: Master's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Leadership, Executive Management, or Organizational Behavior and 1 year of demonstrated experience in student activities, advising, assessment, webpage and social media platforms, OR Bachelor's degree and 3 years of related experience is required. Experience with programming, working with college-age students and risk management is a plus. 

REQUIRED SKILLS

1. Demonstrate the ability to work effectively with students and staff from the full range of differences reflected on college campuses.
2. Ability to work effectively with varied populations and maintain a work environment that is marked by respect for others.
3. Excellent organizational, interpersonal, administrative and conflict management skills.
4. Must demonstrate a high level of customer service and the ability to collaborate with students, faculty, staff, and outside vendors in the planning and execution of small and large-scale events.
5. Ability to facilitate training events.
6. Must be able to handle multiple tasks.
7. Experience in Microsoft Office Suite applications is required; experience with PeopleSoft, Event Management Systems (EMS), CampusGroups, data collection and analysis a plus.
8. Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest. 
9. Ability to meet consistent attendance. 
10. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors, and customers face to face. 
11. Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

WORKING CONDITIONS

High concentrations of student traffic and working with students' needs and interests. The employee will perform repetitive motion using computer mouse and keyboard to type and will need to be able to climb stairs, push/pull/lift 25 lbs.

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of  Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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