Assistant Director - Marketing & Communications

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

The Duke University Initiative for Science & Society (S&S) is seeking a strategic, creative, and results-oriented marketing and communications professional to help expand our visibility, strengthen student recruitment efforts, and build meaningful relationships with external partners.

S&S advances the responsible use of science and technology through interdisciplinary research, education, communication, and policy engagement. We bring together faculty, students, and external partners to examine the ethical, legal, and social implications of scientific discovery and technological innovation, strengthen public understanding, and inform policy and governance.

In this role, you will lead marketing and communications efforts that support recruitment for the Master of Arts in Applied Ethics & Policy (MA-AEP) program, strengthen the S&S brand, and increase engagement with undergraduate students, alumni, partners, and external audiences. You will develop and execute strategic campaigns across digital, print, video, web, and social media channels to position S&S as a global leader in responsible innovation research and education.

Minimum Requirements

• Generally requires a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum of four years of experience in marketing and communications or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience planning and implementing digital marketing and communications strategies.
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills across a variety of audiences and communication channels.
• Experience managing multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Marketing strategy experience within higher education, graduate student recruitment, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success developing and evaluating recruitment marketing campaigns and measuring ROI.
• Experience managing websites, social media platforms, newsletters, and email marketing campaigns.
• Experience working with external vendors, agencies, freelancers, and creative partners.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate performance metrics and recommend improvements.
• Professional presentation and relationship-building skills.

Other Requirements

• Proficiency with HTML/CSS and web content management systems, preferably Drupal.
• Experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, or equivalent creative software.
• Experience with email marketing platforms, preferably Mailchimp.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams and Planner.
• Experience using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
• Strong attention to detail, proofreading, and editorial skills.

Work Arrangement

This position is onsite. The work is performed on-site in Durham, North Carolina.

Be Bold.

Key responsibilities include:

Lead Strategic Marketing for the MA in Applied Ethics & Policy

• Lead, execute, and evaluate the overall recruitment marketing strategy for the MA-AEP program to attract high-performing students from across the United States and internationally.
• Develop annual recruitment marketing plans, establish campaign goals, track performance metrics, and manage the marketing and recruitment budget.
• Increase awareness of the MA-AEP program through targeted digital marketing initiatives, search engine optimization (SEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), paid search campaigns, video advertising, display advertising, contests, educational programs, and other awareness-building activities.
• Direct and manage external vendors, freelancers, and agency partners supporting online marketing initiatives.
• Develop targeted outreach campaigns for pre-law students, pre-med students, military-affiliated individuals, regional audiences, and other identified recruitment populations.
• Strengthen the Duke MA-AEP brand through content marketing, faculty speaking engagements, media outreach, publications, competitions, conferences, and sponsored events.

Manage Science & Society Communications

• Develop and implement annual communications plans supporting Science & Society's mission and strategic priorities.
• Maintain and optimize the Science & Society website as a key brand-building platform, including content strategy, SEO, GEO, and user engagement.
• Serve as the primary liaison with Duke Web Services regarding website functionality and technical support.
• Lead social media strategy and execution across platforms such as LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
• Oversee development and publication of newsletters, annual reports, brochures, flyers, and other communication materials.
• Create and maintain a consistent voice, visual identity, and editorial standards across all communications channels.
• Develop content and style guidelines and provide oversight of graphic and editorial standards across programs and events.

Oversee Multimedia Production

• Direct production of videos and photography supporting program promotion, recruitment, events, and communications efforts.
• Manage and organize multimedia assets for use across digital, print, social media, and website platforms.

Support Event Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement

• Oversee event promotion strategies to increase attendance and engagement for Science & Society programs and events.
• Direct preparation of promotional materials, agendas, programs, and co-sponsor communications.
• Manage event listings across Duke calendars and digital promotion platforms.
• Support media relations, alumni engagement, corporate outreach, and strategic partnership initiatives that advance Science & Society's visibility and impact.

Choose Duke.

The Duke University Initiative for Science & Society is a nationally recognized leader at the intersection of science, technology, ethics, and public policy. Through innovative research, education, and public engagement, the Initiative explores how scientific and technological advances can be developed and applied responsibly to benefit society.

As a member of the S&S team, you will collaborate with faculty, students, alumni, and external partners while helping grow highly visible academic programs, including the Master of Arts in Applied Ethics & Policy. This is an opportunity to shape the voice and reputation of a dynamic interdisciplinary initiative while contributing to Duke University's mission of knowledge in service to society.