Director of Communications and Marketing

Goshen College is a Christian liberal arts institution that prepares students to thrive in life, leadership and service. We strive to model an inclusive community committed to transformative justice, peace, and sustainability. A respect and appreciation of the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith perspective and practices, and a commitment to the mission, vision, core values and  community standards of Goshen College, are important for teaching and administrative faculty members.  

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Position Description

Leading Goshen College’s Communications and Marketing Office, the Director of Communications and Marketing is responsible for developing, implementing and assessing an integrated marketing and communication strategy to promote Goshen College’s story, values, and outcomes for all of the college’s constituents, with a particular focus on supporting enrollment and advancement. The director will coordinate communications and marketing team efforts to prioritize activities for the greatest impact and return on investment to meet the short and long-term goals of the institution and campus clients. The director will understand the broad spectrum of college constituents, as well as ever-changing communication and marketing mediums, technology, strategy and related issues.

Essential Functions

1. Lead Strategic Communications:  Writing, Editing, Spokesperson
   • Strategic planning, prioritization, and oversight of Goshen College’s content. Actively identify content stories from GC students, faculty, staff, and alumni that promote the mission, vision, core values, goals of the institution.
   • Serve as the managing editor of Goshen College’s alumni magazine, The Bulletin, which is published twice a year.
   • Serve as the lead promotional materials writer and editor. Write high-end press releases and material for the alumni magazine, The Bulletin.
   • Edit and give final approval on all content produced and distributed out of the Communication and Marketing Office (news releases, advertisements, emails, etc.)
   • Serve as the college spokesperson to media during crises or high-profile media events – contributing to problem solving; demonstrating the ability to communicate honestly without compromising institutional interest. As needed, assist campus community members in relating to the media and public image development.
2. Lead Integrated Marketing:  Branding, Marketing and Advertising Plans
   • Develop and provide oversight of GC’s strategic marketing plan to include and consider timelines, appropriate input and engagement of campus stakeholders, plan implementation, annual cycle, multi-channel campaigns, diverse array of targeting audiences and brand. Include the creation and implementation of mechanisms to determine ROI and impact of marking, web and communication activities on college goals.
   • Develop and update the annual traditional undergraduate and adult/graduate admissions communication flow plans (email and print).
   • Identify potential marketing and public relations needs for new campus initiatives.
   • Act as a brand manager to ensure consistency and use of GC marks, messaging, tone and brand within established parameters.
     • Maintain graphic standards and branding guidelines.
     • Make sure the visual message is consistent with the written copy.
   • Be the lead strategist for all marketing projects e.g. branding campaigns, new programs, and new initiatives. Manage activity of in-house staff and external vendors for multi-channel initiatives including testing and rollout for referral campaigns, retention campaigns, targeted prospect list development, email marketing, advertising, direct marketing, PPC, SEO, social media, and content marketing. Oversee the production and development of marketing and promotional collateral, direct mail and e-mail marketing campaigns, landing pages, advertising and interactive media campaigns.
   • Build relationships with academic chairs, deans, and administrative directors and coordinators to learn how to best meet the marketing needs of the college, with particular focus on enrollment marketing.
   • Plan and implement appropriate intercultural communication and marketing  strategies, including translation.
3. Other Administrative Responsibilities
   • Serve as the primary liaison to the Enrollment and the Institutional Advancement Divisions to help plan with and meet their marketing and communication needs and goals. Develop a functional content calendar from across campus offices – especially those who interact with prospective students, alumni, and donor candidates.
   • Develop and manage office and institutional communications and marketing policies and procedures. Develop standards, systems, and best practices (both human and technological) for content creation, distribution, maintenance, content retrieval and repurposing.
   • Serve as the department’s primary project manager: intake person, initial contact and coordinator for communications and marketing projects, assigning tasks and tracking progress in order to meet deadlines and goals.
   • In consultation with the communications and marketing team a) establish
     workflow guidelines for the office and interpret these to campus; b) develop and maintain communication guidelines and “entry points” and introduce these to   faculty and staff; c) develop and maintain master departmental calendar activities; and d) work at new ways of supporting “service” needs of campus. Annually develop, propose, manage, and oversee department budget. Oversee all related purchasing and vendor relations activities.
   • Regularly learn and seek to implement best practices in higher education
     communications and marketing.
   • Serve as needed on various campus committees to support the communication and marketing needs across the institution.
   • Use data to inform decision making. Oversee ongoing usability tests to gauge
     content effectiveness via email, print, and web channels — making
     recommendations based upon those results.
   • Ensure quality of solutions in terms of both creative quality and strategic
     relevance.
   • Track results against goals, evaluate effectiveness of various strategies, and use results to improve or change strategies as necessary.
4. Supervisory Responsibility
   • Hire, train, supervise and nurture a team of content creators — Assistant Director of Web and Social Media Content, Communications and Marketing Manager, Graphic Designer, Photographer/Videographer — to help achieve Goshen’s strategic communication and marketing goals.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required with emphasis in marketing, communication, writing, journalism or related field preferred. Master’s degree in related field preferred.
• Required 5 years of relevant marketing or communications, leadership experience, including supervision.
• Experience working in a non-profit or higher education organization preferred.
• Experience with content marketing approaches preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of current and emerging technologies and their impact on communications and marketing required.
• An appreciation of the Anabaptist-Mennonite faith perspective and commitment to the mission, vision, core values and community standards of Goshen College required.

Skills and Competencies

• Be an arbiter of best practices in marketing, messaging, writing/editing.
• Must have highly developed organizational skills.
• Ability to write, edit and speak persuasively and effectively. Ability to copy edit complex writing and polish drafts into clear, accessible prose.
• Ability to review, approve and enforce new strategies and tactics for producing content and marketing.
• Ability to manage many ongoing projects at once and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to details, and accuracy in writing.
• Good judgment.
• Internet skills, including facility with online content and contact management tools. Basic HTML experience is preferred but not required. Up-to-date understanding of digital trends and metrics tools such as Google Analytics.
• Savvy understanding of social media and user engagement practices.
• Commitment to teamwork and mutual support of campus leadership and colleagues.
• Sensitivity to dynamics of the workplace and campus environment.
• Interest in higher education environment.
• Warm and personable personality and willingness to meet people.
• Values people from a various cultures and backgrounds and seeks to build relationships interculturally.

Benefits

• Health insurance (employee premium 100% covered)
• Dental, vision, life and LTD insurance
• Retirement plans
• Tuition discounts
• Free employee membership to Recreation/Fitness Center
• Flexible Spending Account
• Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave

See our website for additional benefits information.

About Goshen College

Goshen College is a nationally-ranked college and Hispanic-Serving Institution in Indiana renowned for its distinctive hands-on, real-world educational opportunities, and its commitment to creating positive change in the community and the world. The college offers over 65 undergraduate areas of study; as well as best-in-class graduate programs in nursing, business administration, social work and environmental education. This caring, safe and diverse campus prides itself on providing excellent academic programs that connect arts with sciences, and theory with practice — exposing students to multiple perspectives and encouraging them to think deeply, live creatively and lead purposefully.

The college is located in the City of Goshen in the heart of Elkhart County, within several hours of Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit, Residents of Goshen enjoy a culturally diverse small-town atmosphere with an active arts community, a vibrant and entrepreneurial downtown, the Maple City Greenway network of bicycle paths and affordable housing prices. Learn more at www.goodofgoshen.com.

How to Apply

Application materials may be attached to the Administrative Faculty Application Form or sent electronically to hr@goshen.edu.

Required:

• Complete the online Administrative Faculty Application Form
• Letter of Application
• Resume
• List of three professional references with contact information

E-Verify Statement of Participation

Goshen College participates in E-Verify. If you are hired, we will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Goshen College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Goshen College is an equal opportunity employer, committed to enhancing diversity across the institution. Goshen College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or any legally protected status. To protect the welfare and provide for the safety of the students, employees, visitors, and resources of Goshen College, background checks are conducted by the Office of Human Resources on all new and re-hired employees.

Human Resources
Goshen College
1700 S. Main Street
Goshen, IN 46526-4795

E-mail: hr@goshen.edu
Telephone: (574) 535-7111