Marketing and Communications Manager - IPS

About the job

The Marketing and Communications Manager provides organization-wide leadership and strategic direction for MTAS marketing and communications. The position leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated marketing and communications strategy that supports MTAS strategic priorities and encompasses branding, messaging, digital communications, publications, outreach, customer engagement, and other communications activities across MTAS programs and service areas. Reporting to the Executive Director, the position serves as MTAS's lead marketing and communications professional and provides strategic counsel to agency leadership. The position establishes organization-wide marketing and communications priorities, strategies, standards, and practices and provides functional leadership for communications activities across the organization. The position also serves as MTAS's strategic communications and marketing partner with TML and PEP, leading the development of coordinated statewide strategies for communicating with and engaging Tennessee municipalities. Through these partnerships, the position provides leadership in identifying communication priorities, audiences, messaging, and outreach approaches to strengthen the reach and effectiveness of communications with municipal customers across Tennessee.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of organization-wide marketing and communications strategy. •    Establish organization-wide marketing and communications priorities aligned with MTAS strategic goals and customer needs. •    Develop and lead integrated strategies for communicating MTAS services, resources, expertise, initiatives, and priorities to municipal customers and stakeholders. •    Provide strategic direction for marketing, branding, messaging, digital communications, publications, outreach, and customer engagement across MTAS programs and service areas. •    Identify emerging communications opportunities and needs and develop appropriate organization-wide strategies and responses. •    Provide strategic marketing and communications counsel to the Executive Director and MTAS leadership team. •    Establish measures for evaluating the effectiveness and reach of MTAS marketing and communications efforts and use results to inform future strategy.

Lead statewide strategic marketing, communications, and outreach partnerships serving Tennessee municipalities. •    Serve as MTAS's strategic communications and marketing partner with TML and PEP, leading the development of coordinated statewide strategies for communicating with and engaging Tennessee municipalities. •    Lead collaborative strategic planning with TML and PEP to identify statewide communication priorities, audiences, key messages, outreach approaches, and opportunities for coordinated customer engagement. •    Develop strategies that leverage the communication channels, resources, expertise, and reach of MTAS and its partners to strengthen communications with municipal customers across Tennessee. •    Identify opportunities for coordinated statewide marketing and communications initiatives that increase awareness of and access to services, training, resources, and expertise available to Tennessee municipalities. •    Represent MTAS in strategic marketing and communications planning with TML, PEP, and other organizations serving Tennessee municipalities. •    Evaluate statewide communication and outreach opportunities and recommend strategies for strengthening engagement with municipal customers throughout Tennessee.

Provide functional leadership and strategic direction for marketing and communications across MTAS programs and service areas. •    Establish and maintain organization-wide communications standards, messaging, practices, and processes. •    Provide strategic direction for the development and coordination of communications across MTAS programs and service areas to ensure consistency with organizational priorities. •    Lead the development of integrated content strategies across digital platforms, publications, reports, presentations, newsletters, social media, and other communication channels. •    Provide strategic communications counsel and guidance to MTAS leadership and staff on significant organizational initiatives and communications needs. •    Lead communications planning for agency-wide initiatives, programs, and strategic priorities. •    Establish and maintain MTAS brand and messaging standards consistent with applicable IPS and University standards. •    Provide functional direction for marketing and communications activities performed on behalf of MTAS.

Use communication and customer data to improve outreach effectiveness and customer engagement. •    Monitor website analytics, email engagement, social media performance, and customer feedback. •    Coordinate surveys and other assessment tools that measure awareness and satisfaction. •    Develop reports and dashboards that help leadership evaluate communication effectiveness. •    Identify trends, opportunities, and gaps in customer engagement. •    Recommend improvements based on communication and marketing performance data. •    Support continuous improvement of MTAS digital presence and online visibility.

Maintain supporting documentation and coordinate related administrative responsibilities. •    Maintain communication plans, marketing calendars, and performance reports. •    Coordinate vendors, contractors, and external service providers as assigned. •    Participate in professional development activities. •    Perform other duties as assigned.

Commitment to ongoing professional development and maintaining current knowledge of marketing, communications, digital engagement, analytics, municipal outreach, and emerging technologies is expected. Support for obtaining and maintaining relevant certifications may be considered as part of the employee's professional development plan.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, outreach, public relations, digital communications, stakeholder engagement, or related fields. Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be considered.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Strategic marketing, outreach, and brand management principles.

• Communications and public relations practices.

• Content development and storytelling techniques.

• Website content management systems and digital communication tools.

• Survey platforms, analytics tools, and communication measurement methods.

• Social media management and digital engagement strategies.

• Local government, public service, higher education, or nonprofit environments preferred.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strategic planning and marketing campaign development.

• Data analysis and communication performance evaluation.

• Relationship-building and stakeholder engagement.

• Project management and collaboration across multiple departments.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Ability to develop and implement agency-wide marketing strategies.

• Ability to evaluate awareness, engagement, and outreach effectiveness.

• Ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to work across multiple programs without direct supervisory authority.

• Ability to translate data into communication and marketing recommendations.

• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, Public Administration, or a related field.

• Experience:

• Marketing professional services, government services, higher education programs, public-sector organizations, membership organizations, or mission-driven organizations.

• Experience developing strategic marketing and outreach campaigns.

• Experience using customer analytics, survey results, and communication metrics to support decision-making.

• Experience working with organizations such as municipal leagues, governmental associations, risk management organizations, higher education institutions, or public-sector partners.

• Experience working with strategic partnerships and collaborative outreach initiatives.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Knowledge of local government environment.

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville or Nashville, TN

The Institute for Public Service (IPS) supports a formal Alternative Work Arrangement program currently in place and more information can be provided if candidate progresses through the recruitment process.

Benefits

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before November 30, 2026.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division

The UT Institute for Public Service provides outreach and assistance to all of Tennessee. Through our agencies and initiatives, we offer technical assistance, training, and consulting on a wide variety of services, including government operations, language services, law enforcement excellence, leadership training, manufacturing excellence, opioid abatement and much more.

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 10594
• Job Category: Communication & Mktg
• Posting Date: 2026-10-29
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Locations: 1610 University Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37996, US ()