Director - Marketing Communications - Education

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The Director Communications will lead institutional reputation management, communications strategy, and media relations for an University in AP. The role is critical in shaping the Universitys public narrative, academic positioning, and stakeholder confidence within Andhra Pradesh and at the national level.
This is a senior, strategic role requiring strong Andhra Pradesh regional context, fluency in Telugu and English, and high credibility with media and opinion leaders, working in close alignment with the Vice Chancellors academic and institutional priorities.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Communications & Institutional Positioning:
- Own and execute the integrated communications strategy for the University.
- Translate institutional priorities (academics, research, rankings, governance, global partnerships) into clear, credible public narratives.
- Position the University as a research-led, globally aligned university within Andhra Pradesh and in national discourse through credible media presence.
2. Media Relations & Public Affairs:
- Act as the primary media interface for the UniversityAP.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with:
1. Andhra Pradesh regional media (print, TV, digital)
2. National education and policy journalists
- Drive proactive and credible media coverage around admissions, research outputs, rankings, MoUs, collaborations, and flagship initiatives.
3. Leadership Communications:
- Support the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and Deans with:
1. Key institutional messages
2. Speeches, op-eds, interviews, and public statements
- Ensure consistency of tone, facts, and institutional positioning across all leadership communication.

4. Issues & Reputation Management:
- Lead crisis communication and sensitive issue handling.
- Monitor public discourse, policy signals, and media sentiment related to the University.
- Prepare and maintain rapid-response frameworks for reputational risks.
5. Internal & Stakeholder Communication:
- Strengthen communication with:
1. Faculty
2. Staff
3. Students
4. Alumni
- Ensure alignment between leadership intent and campus-level messaging, especially in a growing institutional ecosystem.
6. Communications Platform & Brand Governance (Scope of Oversight):
In addition to media and leadership communications, the Director will have strategic ownership and governance responsibility for the Universitys communications platforms, including:
Website Content Governance:
- Ensuring institutional websites reflect accurate, current, and credible narratives.
- Overseeing content quality, tone, and prioritization.
- Coordinating with internal teams and external vendors for updates.
Brand Identity & Design Stewardship:
- Custodianship of brand guidelines, logos, and visual identity.
- Ensuring consistency across academic units, events, and external communications.
- Approving major brand and design decisions (not designing personally).
Digital & Social Presence:
- Setting content direction aligned with institutional positioning.
- Reviewing performance at a strategic level (reach, engagement, sentiment).
- Ensuring digital output supports reputation, admissions, and institutional credibility.
- Owning digital marketing outcomes delivered through external agencies, including campaign direction, approvals, and performance review aligned to institutional reputation and admissions credibility.
Candidate Profile:
Must-Have:
- Strong Andhra Pradesh regional media or institutional network.
Proven senior experience in either:
1. Education sector communications, or
2. Media / corporate communications with readiness to transition into the education sector.
- Excellent command over Telugu and English (spoken and written).
- Strategic maturity to work closely with the Vice Chancellor / Registrar.
Preferred:
Experience with:
1. Universities, higher education institutions, or think tanks
2. Education rankings, accreditation narratives, or policy-facing communication
- Ability to handle high-visibility, high-stakes communication environments.