The Office of Communications and Marketing at theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville, seeks applications and nominations for theposition of assistant director of news and information.
The assistant director of news and information serves as asenior leader on the news and information team to promote the brand of theuniversity with impactful storytelling. This integral position works inpartnership with senior leadership in the Office of Communications andMarketing, the director of news and information, PR specialists, and key campuspartners to support the mission of the division and the overall mission of theuniversity.
The assistant director is a strategic communicator whopromotes the university's image and manages its reputation.
This position is responsible for developing contentstrategy, planning, and tactics for execution related to telling UT's story.The position helps set content strategy not only for the news and information teambut collaborates with marketing and other OCM teams on both strategy andexecution.
Manages content collaboration across campus, includingcontent discovery and strategy, story mining, and national pitchingopportunities and planning. Functions as lead copy editor and on occasionproduces high profile content for executive level administration. Generatesawareness around strategic priorities, academic successes, impactful research,and campus-wide initiatives. Ensures messages are on brand and advance theuniversity's strategic goals.
Values professionalism, teamwork, creativity, diversity,and leadership. Effective leader coach and mentor to direct reports, news andinformation team members, and colleagues across OCM.
Job Functions and Responsibilities
STRATEGYAND PLANNING
Sets content strategy for the news and information team andcollaborates with marketing and other OCM teams on both strategy and execution
Develops editorial calendar for news and feature storiesthat advance the university's strategic goals
Manages content collaboration across campus, includingcontent discovery and strategy, story mining and national pitchingopportunities and planning
Generates awareness around strategic priorities, academicsuccesses, impactful research, and campus-wide initiatives
Generates storytelling ideas in coordination with marketingdepartment; ensures messages are on brand and advance the university'sstrategic goals
Expertly utilizes content management software for editorialdecision-making and planning, collaboration with other departments andoffice-wide communication
Leads content generation strategy and development toenhance industry-expert thought leadership
Participates in weekly content strategy meetings
Researches key topics and trends in higher education
TACTICSAND EXECUTION
Works in partnership with other OCM departments (creative,marketing, digital, video and events) to execute integrated marketing andcommunications plans
Lead copy editor for news releases, feature stories andonline copy
Edits submitted content from key campus communicators andpartners
Manages UT News page content and news release distributionprocess
Editor of twice-weekly faculty/staff enewsletter andtwice-weekly student enewsletter
Distills complex content to create engaging content
Fields media inquiries and oversees expert request process
Manages experts guide and submission process
Oversees local, statewide and national pitching strategy totargeted outlets, reporters and niche publications
Integrates higher education knowledge in strategiccommunications planning, media relations work and goals
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
Manages three news and information team members (directreports)
Manages work of direct reports
Works with direct reports to create meaningful job plans
Meets regularly with direct reports for formal and informalcheck-ins to ensure goals are being met
Leader coach and mentor for news and information teammembers and colleagues across the office
Serves as writing coach for the team
Manages writing projects as assigned
Reviews and ensures accuracy of facts, statistics, andclaims about the university
Participates in faculty/expert and/or administrative mediatrainings as needed
Manages and moderate Campus Communicators listserv
Manages vendor subscription services
Serves as member of the campus-wide Communicator's Council
Serves as member of the Office of Communications andMarketing's senior leadership team
Assists with crisis communications and issues management asneeded
About the Office
The Office of Communications and Marketing is the centralized officeresponsible for promoting, protecting, and managing the reputation of theUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville. We advocate for the university's interestsby sharing its accomplishments and being stewards of the brand. We are a groupof individuals with diverse backgrounds and interests who share a sense ofcreativity and a commitment to the university.
