Assistant Dean, Marketing and Communications
College of Applied Health Sciences
The College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a catalyst to prepare students to be change agents in the world through impact, innovation and inspiration. We are seeking an Assistant Dean, Marketing and Communications to serve as a member of the Dean’s leadership team. The Assistant Dean leads a marketing and communications team charged with interpreting and communicating the college's excellence, impact, vision, mission, and priorities to internal and external audiences, utilizing integrated marketing efforts to increase visibility and stature of the college. This position has full oversight of the marketing and communications activities required to support, recruit, and drive growth in the research enterprise, the educational mission, and the goal of expanding access and belonging.The College of Applied Health Sciences has a remarkable record of leadership in science, instruction and engagement that promotes health, well-being, and quality of life. The three academic units of the College, Kinesiology and Community Health; Recreation Sport and Tourism; and Speech and Hearing Science, are highly ranked in national surveys. The College is home to the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES), the unit that provides services for all UIUC students with disabilities and the Chez Veterans Center, the largest, most comprehensive facility of its kind in the United States, designed specifically as a one-stop-shop for veterans’ and military-connected services.
The college has a very successful, integrated academic advising program, serving over 2,000 undergraduate students, and a new Academic Enrichment and Leadership program for first generation students and students from underrepresented groups. The College also houses the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability which provides leadership in interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach efforts that promote health and wellness; healthy aging across the lifespan; healthy communities; and optimal participation of individuals with disabilities.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Work collaboratively across the college to develop and implement innovative and effective marketing approaches, and to evaluate the impact those strategies on the ongoing reputation and stature of the college and its departments/units.
Lead college-level communications and marketing team, providing strategic vision, and individualized professional guidance and development.
Advise and guide the Dean and other college leadership with respect to mission-critical communications, often including sensitive topics. Write, massage, and support messaging through strategic and efficient channels.
Supervise marketing and communications staff and interns, as appropriate, to ensure timely completion of marketing and communications projects.
Establish, foster, and grow strong networking and relationships throughout the college and across the campus and various media outlets
Develop and manage college-wide brand marketing and messaging strategy in alignment with campus-level strategies. Collaborate with departments, units, and advancement in the creation and delivery of on-brand marketing campaigns and communications materials. These materials include but are not limited to digital assets and advertising, print magazines and other pieces, impact reports, promotional videos, social media and all other media used by the college.
Represent the college in campus-wide communication, marketing, and branding efforts, as well as manage media relations.
Work closely with departments, units, and dean’s office units to set and meet marketing goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Position Requirements and Qualifications:
Required: Bachelor's degree
At least 7 years of relevant experience in academia or industry.
Demonstrated supervisory experience that includes leading staff and managing operations.
Preferred: Advanced degree in Business, Communications, Marketing or a closely related field.
At least 5 years of experience leading a marketing and communications team.
At least 3 years of experience within a large public university setting.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact with both internal and external constituents.
Ability to promote and demonstrate enthusiasm in support of professional and career development for a team of highly talented professionals.
Outstanding communication skills.
Proven organizational skills.
Thorough knowledge of current and emerging marketing trends and best practices, including new and emerging strategies and technologies.
Demonstrated ability to use data and analytics, including how to identify and frame critical questions, to develop marketing campaigns and measuring effectiveness of those campaigns, and to inform strategic visioning and planning initiatives .
Experience working collaboratively across multiple groups to identify critical questions and assess impact of actions taken.
Ability to communicate complicated matters in a simple, structured way to senior management and customers.
Experience in utilizing/experimenting with AI tools and search engines, including Copilot, Chat GPT, Perplexity, and others to assist in marketing campaign ideation, parse data, synthesize information, and more. Experience developing “rules of engagement” for using AI in creating communications, articles, etc.
Extensive experience with project management, including directing and supervising the work of others.
Experience with public relations including planning/directing multiplatform content creation.
Experience with or understanding of emerging platforms for storytelling- video and photography.
Salary and Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the close of the search. The salary range for this position is $110,000.00 to $140,000.00. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate experience and qualifications, collective bargaining agreements, and budget constraints. The final salary offer will be determined through a thorough assessment of these elements. Work authorization sponsorship is not available for this position.
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on September 1, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact AHS HR at [email protected]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing [email protected].
Requisition ID: 1032083
Job Category: Professional and Administrative
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
