The College of Engineering seeks a creative and accomplished communications professional to join our team as an Assistant Director of Communications.

Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing and serving as a key member of the Advancement team, the Assistant Director plays a critical role in overseeing the college’s editorial content and processes; promoting broad reputational awareness of the college as well as its departments, programs, research, and faculty experts; and executing strategic communications plans in support of Advancement and student recruitment initiatives.

The Assistant Director supervises and/or directs the college’s Digital Communications Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, and Videographer, as well as freelance writers and content producers. This individual will also fill in for the Director as needed and must be comfortable interacting with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, effectively building relationships on behalf of the college that advance priorities, support increased collaboration, and lift the Virginia Tech Engineering brand.

In partnership with the Director, the Assistant Director leads and evaluates the college’s overall content strategy and workflow, ensuring alignment and coordination between written/visual storytelling and websites, social media, and other digital platforms and campaigns. This individual will serve as the primary editor of all college stories, associate editor of the college’s digital magazine, and help field editorial calls and campaigns across the college and university. The Assistant Director will regularly write stories and related content for the university’s news platform, VTnews, as well as college websites, and will track/report stories’ reach and effectiveness.

The Assistant Director will serve as a liaison, alongside the Director, to the Media Relations team in University Relations, collaborating frequently with this group and department communicators to position/pitch college stories, research, and faculty experts for media distribution. This position will prepare and coordinate tip sheets, media advisories, and responses to media inquiries.
The Assistant Director will also write and coordinate content that contributes to Advancement priorities and campaigns, such as alumni and stewardship stories that align with college and university priorities, as well as student-focused pieces that aid in the college’s broad recruitment and enrollment management tactics.