Director, Marketing Communications I

College of Optics & Photonics (CREOL):

The College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), one of 12 colleges at the University of Central Florida (UCF), offers a B.S. degree in Photonic Science and Engineering and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Optics and Photonics. Faculty engages in a broad spectrum of research covering all areas of optics and photonics, ranging from fundamental physics to device and systems research. The college has 35 core faculty members and over 19 faculty members with joint appointments, about 60 research scientists and postdoctoral fellows, and over 170 undergraduate and 130 graduate students.

UCF and its 12 colleges provide opportunities to almost 72,000 students, offering 194 bachelor's and master's degrees and 34 doctoral programs. Students come from all 50 states and over 147 countries. As one of the largest universities in the country, UCF is committed to innovative community partnerships, world-class research with local and global impact, and the integration of technology and learning.

Additional information is available at https://www.creol.ucf.edu.

The Opportunity:

CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida seeks an experienced Director, Marketing Communications I to lead the coordination and dissemination of all college communications, marketing efforts, news stories, publicity materials, annual report, and social media presence. This role is responsible for managing external partnerships and serving as a central hub for storytelling that amplifies the college's research, academic programs, and industry engagement. Working closely with college leadership, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders, the Director ensures consistent, strategic messaging that enhances visibility, strengthens relationships, and advances the college's mission and reputation.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate, write, and disseminate news stories about college and university research and other activities for local, state, and national media outlets and the college website. Serve as a liaison to the university community in gathering, evaluating, and editing information related to university news.

• Supervise marketing staff and student assistants and coordinate events, social media, and the website.

• Manage the CREOL Industrial Affiliates program, builds and maintains relationships with industrial affiliate program members, serve as liaison for members by coordinating their activities within CREOL and promoting them to our stakeholders.

• Serve as liaison with Dean's External Advisory Board. Works with the Dean on strategic planning and assessment.

• Manage college events to include, but are not limited to: Industrial Affiliate Symposium, Career Fairs, Lunch & Learn Series, Summer Camps, Graduate Recruiting, and STEM Outreach.

• Oversee college events schedule (academics, events, visits, lectures, etc.). Maintain situational awareness of the internal and external activities to keep the faculty and staff informed, coordinated, and on task, and to support the Dean in making the most informed decisions possible.

• Oversee special projects, including but not limited to interior design, production of college showcase materials, creation of promotional collateral, and contact system segmentation and maintenance.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 8+ years of relevant experience, including 3+ years of leadership experience oran equivalent combination of education and experiencepursuant toFla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience leading strategic communications for a complex organization, preferably within a research university, STEM-focused college, or academic research environment.

• Hands-on experience overseeing digital communications, including websites, social media platforms, email campaigns, and analytics-driven content strategy.

• Exceptional writing and editing skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate, and polished content for a variety of audiences and purposes.

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Experience supervising professional staff and student employees, with the ability to mentor, set priorities, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong background in media relations and storytelling, including pitching stories to local, state, and national outlets and translating complex technical or scientific content for broad audiences.

• Experience producing high-profile materials such as annual reports, college showcases, promotional collateral, and executive communications.

• Event management experience supporting academic, industry, recruiting, and outreach initiatives, including symposiums, career fairs, and public-facing programs.

• Familiarity with brand management in a higher education or public-sector environment, ensuring consistent messaging and visual identity.

• Experience working with CRM/contact management systems, segmentation strategies, and constituent communications.

• Master's degree in communications, Marketing, Journalism, or a related field.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

Minor travel required each year for conference attendance in support of college and university initiatives.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $75,809 - $90,000. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Department

Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

Job Posting End Date

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.