Assistant Director, Marketing Strategist - Penn State University Park

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: · CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. · CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed p ...

Job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

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POSITION SPECIFICS​

Student Affairs Communications and Marketing is seeking a strategic, collaborative professional to join the team as the Assistant Director. This position plays a critical role in overseeing and coordinating marketing support for Student Affairs units, ensuring projects are planned, prioritized, and delivered in alignment with divisional goals, available resources, and institutional priorities. 

The assistant director serves as a central project management and advisory resource for the division, providing structure, transparency, and guidance for marketing initiatives across more than 25 unique units. Working closely with the director and communications and marketing team, this role supports division-wide campaigns and initiatives, oversees project management systems and processes, and helps units make informed, high-value decisions about their marketing needs. 

Student Affairs Communications and Marketing works to elevate the work of colleagues across the division and to inform students of critical resources, opportunities, and experiences. This role requires strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and the ability to balance competing needs while maintaining a clear focus on strategy, equity, and impact. 

Student Affairs is a dynamic division comprised of more than 25 units focused on student health and wellness, involvement and student life, community and belonging, leadership and success, and support and safety. Staff across the division provide essential programs and services that enable students to thrive at Penn State. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Project Management and Oversight 

• Lead and coordinate project management for divisional marketing requests, ensuring clear intake, scoping, prioritization, tracking, and follow-through. Maintain oversight of timelines, deliverables, dependencies, and capacity to support both unit needs and divisional priorities. 

• Strategic Prioritization and Decision Support 

• Partner with the director, team members, and unit stakeholders to support informed decision-making around marketing initiatives. Balance unit requests with available resources, strategic goals, and workload data to guide project sequencing and scope. 

• Unit Liaison, Advising, and Coaching 

• Serve as a primary liaison to Student Affairs units seeking marketing support. Advise and coach unit partners through planning and decision-making to shape requests that are reasonable, strategic, and high-value for the division as a whole. Support shared understanding of marketing processes, constraints, and tradeoffs. 

• Division-Wide Campaigns and Strategic Initiatives 

• Coordinate and help shape marketing campaigns and initiatives with a division-wide lens that support key strategic priorities. Use data, performance metrics, and institutional goals to inform planning, alignment, and evaluation of marketing efforts. 

• Project Management Systems and Process Improvement 

• Oversee and continuously improve project management tools, workflows, and standards used by the team. Establish consistent practices that improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability across marketing efforts. 

• Digital, Web, and Social Strategy Oversight 

• Provide strategic oversight for digital platforms, including web and social media, in collaboration with the director and team. Support consistency, alignment, and effective use of analytics to guide decisions, while providing guidance and support to unit-based contributors as appropriate. 

Preferred Skills: 

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deadlines 

• Ability to guide, coach, and advise stakeholders toward strategic and realistic decisions 

• Comfort working across diverse units with varying needs, perspectives, and levels of readiness 

• Adaptability and willingness to navigate change in a complex organizational environment 

• Commitment to inclusive, accessible, and equity-centered marketing practices 

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree
3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $61, $89,600.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

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