Assistant Director Of Marketing

Assistant Director of Marketing

The Assistant Director of Marketing manages the daily marketing operations of the Career Center. This role is responsible for the development and execution of marketing strategies that promote Career Center services and programs to students, alumni, faculty, employers, and the broader university community. The individual collaborates with internal departments and external partners to strengthen the Career Center's visibility, enhance engagement, and support departmental goals. The Assistant Director of Marketing plays a vital role in brand communication, strategic marketing, and digital engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Marketing & Communications Strategy:

Develop, implement, and manage marketing strategies to enhance awareness of Career Center resources, programs, and events.

Create, edit, and manage diverse marketing, publicity, and digital media initiatives to build audience and expand impact.

Oversee all Career Center branding, messaging, and communications to ensure clarity and consistency across platforms.

Coordinate the production of marketing materials, including flyers, brochures, graphics, and digital content to support events such as career fairs, Career Fest, Trojan Network, and First-Destination Survey campaigns.

Develop annual and long-range marketing plans to reach targeted audiences, including students, alumni, families, faculty, and employer partners.

Administer the department's marketing calendar and ensure deadlines are met for promotional efforts and deliverables.

Closely collaborate with Student Life Senior Communications Specialist to ensure alignment on communication strategy, design, and messaging.

Digital Content & Web Management:

Oversee the Career Center's website and content portal (uConnect), ensuring up-to-date information, visual consistency, and functional optimization.

Regularly collaborate with Career Center departments to update, archive, and maintain high-quality web content.

Monitor SEO performance and track analytics to drive site improvements and user engagement.

Work closely with Events and Employer Engagement staff to promote career programming, internship opportunities, and employer engagement activities.

Social Media & Audience Engagement:

Develop and execute a strategic social media plan with daily content to boost Career Center visibility and stakeholder engagement.

Manage content across all social platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Track user engagement, troubleshoot issues, and adapt strategy based on audience behavior and feedback.

Attend events to curate original content for marketing campaigns and real-time updates.

Generate monthly analytics reports to evaluate performance and guide decision-making.

Public Relations & Media Coordination:

Serve as liaison with USC University Communications and Public Relations teams to promote Career Center achievements and events.

Draft and submit press releases, internal news stories, and external media content.

Coordinate the appropriate use of university logos, emblems, and trademarks in all promotional materials.

Collaborate with colleagues across Student Life, school-based career services, and faculty to unify messaging and outreach efforts.

Market Research & Strategy:

Develop and deploy surveys, polls, and feedback tools to better understand audience needs and preferences.

Analyze market trends, audience behavior, and engagement metrics to shape outreach strategies.

Prepare regular reports, presentations, and proposals based on marketing performance data.

Budget & Vendor Management:

Research, prepare, and administer marketing budgets.

Coordinate vendor relationships for graphic design, printing, photography, and promotional materials.

Negotiate contracts, licenses, and service agreements as needed to support marketing efforts.

Maintain a network of marketing and media professionals, vendors, and university contacts.

Team Collaboration & Supervision:

Guide and supervise marketing interns and student workers to support campaigns and content creation.

Partner with the Career Center team to ensure coordinated promotion of services, events, and resources across platforms.

Manage CRM tools for building campaigns, maintaining contact lists, and segmenting communications for targeted outreach.

Qualifications:

Master's degree preferred. Minimum a Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, public relations, or related field.

5 years of experience in a marketing or communications role, preferably in a higher education or nonprofit environment. Minimum 3 years.

Proficiency with digital tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Hootsuite, Mailchimp, uConnect, Google Analytics, and social media management platforms.

Experience with CRM systems and email campaign tools.

Strong project management, writing, editing, and creative skills.

Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

The annual base salary range for this position is $78,989-$90,000. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.