Associate Dean for Communications and External Relations

Position Summary

The School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University seeks an energetic, creative, and talented marketing and communications professional with an interest in global affairs and a commitment to excellence to serve as the School’s Associate Dean for Communications and External Relations. As the chief marketing and communications professional for the School, the Associate Dean is a member of SIPA’s senior leadership team, reports to the Chief Operations Officer, and works closely with the Dean, executive staff, and admissions teams to further develop and enhance SIPA’s global reputation and visibility and support strong student enrollment.

At SIPA—the world’s leading school of global policy—we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We work to cultivate these values in our practices, programs, and policies. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates the unique lived experiences of all our staff, students, and faculty. We are particularly interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the School. Applicants are encouraged to include information in their cover letter about how they will further this goal.

Responsibilities

• The Associate Dean has responsibility for a comprehensive marketing, communications, branding, and constituency-engagement strategy, including program marketing, branding, paid and earned media, crisis communications, public relations, content development/publications, and events management.
• Leads strategic communications and messaging to an array of constituents, including prospective students, employers, alumni, current and future donors, policy and business leaders, major national and international media, and stakeholders internal to SIPA and Columbia University.
• As part of the overall marketing and communications plan, the Associate Dean manages the development, execution, and measurement of digital marketing campaigns to build awareness of SIPA’s brand and to generate program leads and applications to SIPA’s Masters Degree and executive education programs. This activity includes market analysis and target segmentation strategies for each program, media plans for paid and earned media, and the development and tracking of key performance indicators for each marketing campaign.
• Supervises a team of 11 full-time and two part-time employees, manages the departmental budget, and coordinates individual marketing budgets for the School’s Masters Degree programs and key lecture series.
• Collaborates with the University's communications staff to identify opportunities to increase SIPA’s visibility, including through coverage of major events and the positioning of SIPA and its faculty as one of the world’s leading resources for an informed perspective on international and public affairs.

Priorities include:

• Providing leadership in fostering a team approach to delivering consistently high-quality communications, marketing, and engagement strategies and plans.
• Developing and managing SIPA identity standards for all print and digital communications and overseeing brand compliance across the School.
• Coordinating with SIPA’s admissions team to identify key markets, utilize research and data metrics, and develop targeted messaging and creative content to drive student recruitment and enrollment.
• Managing SIPA’s digital assets, including the School’s website and all social media platforms.
• Developing and designing publications such as SIPA Magazine, newsletters and brochures.
• Managing the marketing and execution of major School events such as graduation, key lectures and programs, and milestone celebrations.
• Assessing the effectiveness and impact of communications initiatives through metrics to enable the ongoing optimization of resources, programs, and investments.

Performs related duties as requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s degree and at least 10 years of relevant professional experience required, including 4 years in a leadership/management position.
• A breadth of communications and marketing expertise, including knowledge of media and public relations, crisis communications, data analytics, digital marketing, social media, video production, event management, and print publication development.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, coordinate, and direct multiple projects and activities with varied deadlines, be a strategic thinker, and be both savvy and discreet in all matters.
• An in-depth understanding of marketing analytics and digital advertising platforms and campaigns.
• Excellent writing and editing skills in a range of applications from formal statements to editorial articles, to marketing copy.
• Excellent presentation skills, including crafting attractive and effective decks and delivering presentations.
• Experience developing and supervising staff with an orientation to outcomes and a commitment to excellence, teamwork, and professional growth.
• Evidence of successful leadership of and/or participation in programs, initiatives, and actions that have improved organizational diversity, enhanced inclusivity, and supported equity as a shared organizational value.
• Ability to drive and manage change while leading in a collaborative and inclusive way.
• Experience exercising sound judgment and offering executive guidance on a wide range of issues.
• Commitment to mission, excellence, and integrity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in marketing and communications in an academic environment.
• Knowledge of and contacts among national and international press preferred.
• Branding and Graphic Design experience a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.