Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Chief of Staff and serving as a key member of Dean Neel Sukhatme's senior leadership team, the Executive Director of Marketing and Communications will provide strategic vision and leadership for the Law School's marketing and communications efforts. The Executive Director will develop and implement a marketing and integrated communications strategy that advances the Law School's mission, strategic priorities, reputation, and visibility among internal and external audiences. The Executive Director will help establish institutional communications priorities, identify opportunities where marketing and communications can have the greatest impact, and ensure that the team's work and resources are aligned with the Law School's broader goals. The Executive Director will manage a budget of $600,000 and lead a talented team of 10 responsible for a broad portfolio that includes strategic communications, media relations, editorial and content development, social media, digital and web strategy, marketing, creative services, and internal communications. The Marketing and Communications team produces and manages a wide range of communications across platforms and audiences. These include Michigan Law's digital and web presence; Law Quadrangle, the Law School's twice-annual alumni magazine and its online counterpart; Amicus, an electronic newsletter featuring news and stories from across the Michigan Law community; social media channels; publications and materials supporting admissions, development and alumni relations; and communications supporting Law School events, programs, and initiatives. Importantly, the Executive Director will also serve as a trusted advisor to the Dean, other senior leaders, and faculty, providing thoughtful and candid counsel on institutional messaging, reputation, and sensitive and emerging issues. The Executive Director will bring sound judgment and organizational savvy, with an ability to navigate complex institutional dynamics and build trust across a wide range of stakeholders. They will understand not only how best to communicate, but when, why, and to whom, while ensuring a coordinated approach to messaging with University counterparts.

Requirements

• Significant, progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, or a related field. Experience in a law school, the legal industry, or higher education would be especially valuable, though candidates with relevant experience in other complex organizations are encouraged to apply.
• Significant supervisory and management experience, with a demonstrated track record of leading, developing, and supporting high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing marketing and integrated communications strategies that build awareness, strengthen institutional positioning, engage priority audiences, and advance organizational goals and priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish strategic priorities, manage competing demands, and focus communications resources on efforts with the greatest institutional impact.
• Sophisticated knowledge of digital marketing, social media, audience engagement, analytics, and evolving communications technologies, with a demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm for adopting new tools and approaches (e.g., A/B testing or other causal inference methods).
• Demonstrated experience using artificial intelligence tools and thoughtfully integrating AI into marketing and communications strategies, workflows, or team practices.
• Strong fluency in web strategy, content management, user experience, accessibility, and analytics, with experience overseeing complex institutional websites and digital platforms.
• Experience using data and audience insights to shape strategy, assess effectiveness, and improve results.
• Experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, anticipating communications opportunities, risks, and implications and providing thoughtful counsel on institutional messaging, reputation management, and sensitive or complex issues, including in moments of crisis.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas and priorities into clear, compelling communications for varied audiences.