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USD School of Law is one of the 84 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school's faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks in the top 20% (36th out of 204) among U.S. law schools in scholarly impact according to a 2018 study. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.

The University of San Diego, a contemporary and engaged Roman Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

This recruitment is open to current University of San Diego employees only. Only current USD employees are eligible to apply and be considered for this position.

The Senior Director, School of Law Marketing and Communications’ primary responsibility will be establishing, integrating, and implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy for the School of Law. Working collaboratively with faculty, administrators, alumni, and the university's public affairs personnel and creative services department, the position will enhance the reputation, promotion, and visibility of the School of Law to local, national, and international audiences through a variety of communication projects, admissions materials, and electronic media. As a key member of the Dean’s administrative leadership team, this position will develop, implement, and manage marketing processes and policies for the School of Law, providing direct marketing expertise to the Offices of the Dean, JD Admissions and Financial Aid, Law Graduate and International Programs, Law Student Affairs, Law Careers, Law Development & Alumni Relations, Law Event Services, and Law Centers, Institutes and Clinics. The Senior Director will also assist the Dean with managing all branded print and digital marketing collateral, content creation, and other specific marketing efforts such as speech writing, email marketing campaigns, and public relations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Enhancing the Reputation and Visibility of the School of Law:

Develop and implement a strategic plan to enhance marketing appeal (locally, nationally and internationally) through the production and distribution of law school communications, including the US News and World Report promotional strategy (rankings) and annual USD School of Law magazine, The Advocate; promote School of Law events participation; expand outreach for high caliber student recruitment for JD and LLM programs in addition to alumni and donor engagement; highlight development initiatives and fundraising campaigns; and reinforce institutional messaging.

• Oversee, measure, evaluate, and revise strategies, tactics, and processes for print, digital, social media, and video communications tools to continuously improve overall effectiveness.
• As a member of the School of Law senior leadership team, serve as the liaison between the Dean’s Office, faculty, University Public Relations, and University Marketing and Communications for the purpose of promoting the School of Law to both internal and external audiences
• Research, write, edit, and distribute the Dean’s initiatives including, but not limited to speech writing, special events, holiday messages, press releases, media advisories, campus announcements, crisis communications, and other public relations and community engagement efforts.
• Build a strong working relationship with the administration, faculty and students at USD School of Law to curate articles, stories and alike to enhance the reputation of USD School of Law and its professional faculty.
• Develop campaign materials in collaboration with the University Advancement Office to support the law school’s involvement and engagement with campus-wide fundraising campaigns.
• Work directly with faculty on direct marketing and communication strategy associated with faculty scholarships, centers and institutes, and rankings for articles and publications.

Writing and Design:

Recommend and implement the law school’s editorial and communications priorities to develop relevant and compelling content. This includes the following:

• Manage targeted executive communications for internal and external audiences, including media relations, short-and-long form written communications, presentations, video scripts, and social posts.
• Develop and direct the law school’s collateral pieces (includes bulletins, brochures, invitations, direct mail postcards).
• Strategize and oversee the production of digital and printed marketing and communications collaterals and four law journals.
• Supervise staff in the creation of press releases and media alerts, including those that highlight the work of faculty, alumni, students, programs, events, and initiatives at USD School of Law for review and approval by the Dean, Vice Dean, or Central Communications.

Law School Website and Social Media Strategist:

Strategize and oversee the law school’s social media strategy across websites, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and other social media channels that reach the law school’s audience.

• Develop and oversee execution of social media strategy and website campaigns with consistent branding, compelling content, relevant information, and regular updates to achieve improved analytics and engagement.
• Source and publish content for faculty, programs, institutes, Centers, Clinics, events and initiatives for the law school’s target audiences on all appropriate communication channels.
• Oversee the coordination of photo and video shoots with subjects, photographer, videographer, producer, and art director.
• Manage the maintenance and development of the law school website with outside/IT resources.

Media Relations:

• Oversee the law school’s media relations efforts, with responsibilities including but not limited to:
  • Develop and maintain relationships with news media and serve as contact handling a variety of requests.
  • Create, update, and maintain media lists.
  • Assist media with identifying faculty experts.
  • Respond to reporter requests in a timely fashion.
  • Monitor media coverage of the law school, provide monthly media reports and analyze reporting trends.
  • Work with USD’s Central Communications office as requested and needed.

Photography/Videography:

• Develop and maintain a media gallery of video and still assets.
• Supervise necessary photography/videographers for the law school and its personnel; plan out photo/video shoots.

Finances:

• Responsible for the development and management of the marketing and communications budget.
• Review the budget annually for consistency with law school priorities.
• Prepare and approve purchase requisitions: codes and processes invoices.
• Reconcile departmental records with monthly statements and resolve discrepancies.

Special Conditions of Employment:

Effective June 1, 2023, based on CDC guidance, the University strongly encourages all campus members to stay up to date with Influenza and COVID-19 vaccination recommendations. For more regarding information USD's COVID-19 protocols, please visit sandiego.edu/onward.

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Seven or more years of experience at the Director level or above in marketing and/or communications for a non-profit organization or related industry and/or fields: journalism, publications, external relations. University experience a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree preferred. Emphasis in English, communications, journalism, marketing, business or related fields preferred.

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have the ability to work independently and creatively to develop marketing plans, supervise team efforts, initiate story ideas and research subjects. Develop background information into high-quality journalistic prose.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, including tact, diplomacy and flexibility, as well as the ability to work with all levels of individuals and groups including faculty, staff, students, alumni and outside vendors.
• Ability to examine projects for consistency in design and layout.
• Demonstrated ability to write, proofread and edit copy for news and feature articles, profiles, and interviews, brochures, bulletins, news releases and internet.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully execute all phases of the publications process, including design, layout, typesetting and printing.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively use Excel to analyze and communicate financial data.
• Ability to prioritize, plan and schedule a variety of different projects.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
• Must be highly flexible and have solid problem-solving skills.
• Must have strong initiative and the ability to complete assignments independently and without close supervision.
• Must be able to execute projects from concept through completion.
• Must demonstrate a high level of accuracy to ensure that all projects and products are produced and disseminated correctly.
• Knowledge of current marketing communication techniques, including social media.
• Knowledge of various software applications used in the development of print and digital communications/productions.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional networking skills
• Extensive collaboration skills with internal and external constituencies
• Demonstrated ability to balance multiple deadlines and projects in a professional and timely manner
• Ability to navigate and manage data collection, entry, and analysis
• Customer/Student Focus
• Initiative/Self-Motivated
• Results Driven
• Organizational Skills

$8,583.33 - $9,166.67 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer. USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers’ review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Closing date: December 7, 2023

Note: External job postings will be up for at least five days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the campus community.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit www.sandiego.edu/smokefree.