Communication Partner

Title: Communication Partner

Application Review Date: July 16, 2026

Campus Location: Radford City - Main Campus

Job Description

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Projects and Client Support, the Communication Partner will support the communication needs of the university’s colleges and divisions. They will focus on increasing awareness and engagement of students, employees, alumni, donors and other key audiences in the events, activities and initiatives of colleges and divisions.

Each partner will work directly with several deans and vice presidents (clients) to help develop communication plans and meet their communication needs, such as formal emails to employees, important college/division announcements, event coverage with content and photos, and newsletters to key stakeholder audiences. In addition, they will help develop social media strategy and assist with content planning, posting and monitoring, as appropriate.

The partners will also serve to uphold the university brand guidelines within their assigned colleges and divisions and act as liaisons to the Marketing and Communication team for larger projects that require the assistance of centralized resources.

The Communication Partner is a communication generalist who will learn to work with a variety of digital platforms (related to project management, email marketing, photo management and graphic design) to support the needs of colleges and divisions, including helping them use a portfolio of communication templates to meet their own needs.

The partners will become trusted colleagues for the deans and VPs they support, helping them tap into the resources and tools they need to achieve their communication goals.

Required Qualifications

• Experience developing and executing communication plans (including goals, audiences, messages and success measures), delivering key messages across a variety of platforms, and measuring their effectiveness
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including collaborating with client leaders to understand their needs and set appropriate expectations
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects and assignments simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team player and independently to produce high-quality results
• Demonstrated experience establishing strong relationships with clients or organizational leaders
• Basic understanding of developing social media strategy and editorial content
• Education: Advanced degree in marketing, communication, advertising, business or a related field or a combination of education, training and work experience at a level equivalent to an advanced degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting communications within higher education or other academic environments
• Experience supporting communications for healthcare-related academic departments or programs
• Experience using project management software, such as Lytho, Asana, Hive, Basecamp, Kantata
• Experience taking event photos and working in digital photo libraries
• Experience using email marketing software
• Familiarity with graphic design software, such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite and InDesign
• 3 to 5 years of relevant work experience in higher education, journalism or in an advertising, public relations or marketing agency setting

Is this position Grant Funded: No

Is this position restricted: No

Is this position eligible for telework: No

Hours Per Week: 40, Nights and weekends as required.

Months per Year: 12

Statement of Economic Interest Required: No

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Classification: Administrative & Professional Faculty

Normal Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, some nights and weekends

Employee Classification: Professional - Lecturer

Department: Marketing and Communication

Salary: $47,500-$59,000 (Commensurate with experience and qualifications)

Department Contact Name: Gina Stike

Department Contact Phone: 5408315585

Department Contact Email: gstike@radford.edu

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Radford University does not discriminate with regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation in the administration of its educational programs, activities, admission or employment practices.

Clery Statement

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, Radford University publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes the university’s policies, procedures, and programs concerning safety and security, as well as three years’ of crime statistics for our campus. As a prospective employee, you are entitled to a copy of this report. The report and statistical data can be found online at Radford.edu/police. You may also request a paper copy of the report from the Radford University Police Department located at 810 East Main Street PO Box 6883, Radford, VA, 24142.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

If you are an individual with a disability and desire accommodation in the application process please contact the hiring department.

Criminal Background Check Statement

Radford University is committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all employees, students, volunteers, and stakeholders. As part of our hiring and screening process, we conduct criminal background checks in compliance with Virginia Code § 19.2-389 and other applicable state and federal laws. Successful candidates will be required to have a criminal background check.