Communications Director

Full-time

Southern Virginia University seeks a skilled and results-oriented Communications Director to lead and execute a unified strategy that strengthens the University’s brand, drives enrollment growth, and supports advancement initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President of Brand, Enrollment, and Technology, the Director will oversee marketing and communications functions—including campaigns, messaging, digital engagement, and public relations—while working closely with Admissions and Advancement to achieve institutional priorities. The Director will also collaborate with the Creative Director to ensure messaging and creative assets align to tell our brand story. The ideal candidate combines proven marketing expertise with strong leadership and hands-on execution.

Responsibilities
  • Marketing & Campaigns
    • Develop and execute integrated campaigns that capture, nurture, and convert prospective student leads.
    • Support Advancement communications to engage donors, alumni, and friends.
    • Oversee email/SMS campaigns, SEO strategy, blogs, and other digital content.
    • Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance to inform improvements and demonstrate ROI.
  • Communications & PR
    • Define and maintain consistent brand messaging and voice.
    • Write and edit news releases, speeches, newsletters, blogs, and long-form stories.
    • Manage media relations and proactively seek opportunities to elevate the University’s reputation.
    • Support presidential and executive communications.
  • Leadership & Team Development
    • Manage marketing and communications team and student workers, fostering a collaborative, results-oriented environment.
    • Partner with the Creative Director on asset development and campaign alignment.
    • Provide input on budget priorities and manage departmental resources responsibly.
    • Perform other duties as assigned to support the University’s mission.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 5+ years of marketing/communications experience, including leadership
  • Proven expertise in inbound marketing, email/SMS campaigns, SEO, and digital content
  • Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills
  • Experience managing staff and mentoring student workers or interns
  • Analytical skills with the ability to use data for decision-making
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and project management skills
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s degree
  • Higher education experience, especially in enrollment or advancement marketing
  • Familiarity with Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Analytics, or similar platforms
  • Knowledge of paid advertising strategy
  • Familiarity with content management and digital publishing tools

Applications

To apply, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references to hr@svu.edu.

About Southern Virginia University

Southern Virginia University is a private, faith-based institution of higher education aligned with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a university, we gather faithful Latter-day Saints and those who share our values, lift intellectually, socially, and spiritually, and launch into successful lives and careers. Applicants are invited to learn more about the university at svu.edu/mission.