Responsibilities

• Lead a unified content strategy that aligns storytelling with institutional priorities and audience needs.
• Advance NC State’s digital presence through AI and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies.
• Create cohesive, audience-focused content across web, social, email, and print platforms.
• Foster trust, transparency, and connection through strategic internal communications.
• Strengthen employee engagement and cultivate faculty, staff, and students as brand advocates.
• Guide executive and organizational messaging that supports an informed and connected campus community.
• Oversee enterprise social media strategy focused on engagement, community growth, and relevance.
• Lead teams in adapting to emerging digital trends and evolving audience behaviors.
• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for NC State Magazine, editorial, and social media teams.
• Establish editorial standards that reinforce brand identity, consistency, and quality.

Requirements

• Post-baccalaureate degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field; or a Bachelor’s degree with equivalent broad-based independent experience in executive-level strategic communications. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in communications, marketing or related field, with at least 5 years in leadership role(s).
• Demonstrated mastery in designing complex content ecosystems that span web, social, email, and multimedia, ensuring narrative consistency across all touchpoints.
• Proven ability to use communication as a tool for culture building; specifically, the skill to craft internal narratives that drive employee engagement, trust, and organizational pride.
• Advanced understanding of the evolving search landscape, including experience optimizing content strategies for AI-driven discovery and large language models (LLMs).
• Expert-level storytelling and editing skills, with the ability to identify compelling narratives that align with institutional business goals (enrollment, fundraising, reputation).
• The ability to interpret content analytics (engagement, time on page, conversion) and translate data into actionable editorial adjustments.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting organizational change in complex environments, including aligning teams, communicating transitions clearly, and sustaining performance during periods of strategic or operational shift.

Preferred

• Understanding of the unique internal and external audiences within a university environment (tenured faculty, staff, undergraduate/graduate students, alumni, etc.).
• Ability to lead teams through the shift from traditional print/web models to mobile-first and AI-ready content models.
• Familiarity with modern employee engagement platforms or intranets.
• Fluency in AP Style and editorial standards.
• Five or more years of progressive experience leading social media strategy, ideally across multiple platforms and audience segments.