Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Department: Costello College of Business

Classification: Public Relations & Mktg Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa

sponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and

experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department

The Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason

University is one of the largest business schools in Virginia, and

is located near Washington, D.C., in Arlington and Fairfax, and at

George Mason’s global campus in Incheon, South Korea. The college’s

AACSB-accredited business and accounting curricula prepare

undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and across the

globe for career success in business and government. Its

research-based faculty and focus on multi-disciplinary academic

programs, inclusive entrepreneurship, modular education,

experiential learning, and corporate and community partner

engagement are transforming the landscape of business education and

workforce development. Learn more at business.gmu.edu .

About the Position

Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications,

George Mason University Costello College of Business, the Assistant

Director of Marketing and Communications helps to oversee the

management of marketing and communications strategies aligned with

the Costello and George Mason University brands to help promote

awareness of the college and its unique value proposition while

driving increased levels of engagement among targeted audiences.

The Assistant Director also directly supervises several members of

the Marketing and Communications team. The Assistant Director of

Marketing and Communications works work collaboratively with senior

leaders from Costello, including the Senior Director of Marketing

and Communications, and the university to develop and execute the

marketing and communications strategy for the academic unit. The

Assistant Director is also responsible for managing the college’s

budget and procurement process. This is a hybrid role, where

frequent in-person attendance is essential to understanding,

collaborating with, and serving a diverse group of stakeholders

that includes prospective students and their parents, current

students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, sponsors, corporate

and community partners, the business community, members of the

media, earned and paid media agency personnel, and representatives

from other academic and administrative units across George Mason

University.

Responsibilities

• Supervision and development of up to three full-time hybrid

marketing and communication team members which includes selection,

hiring, motivation, and evaluation to assist in their professional

development and effectiveness;

• Proactively providing opportunities for them to develop and

showcase their abilities and accomplishments. Includes the

delegation and execution of work assignments to team members,

regular and periodic face-to-face check-ins, mid-year and annual

performance evaluations, and other coaching and development as

needed;

• Create compelling and engaging content that raises the profile

of the business college and supports enrollment and fundraising

objectives, including: stories, articles, newsletter columns,

social media content and engagement, email, and other pieces

related to students, faculty, alumni, corporate and community

partners, sponsors, and other relevant stakeholders. Includes the

concepting, development, and preparation of written correspondence

and slide presentations for the dean and his core team;

• Manage the production lifecycle for large projects (e.g.,

Impact magazine), including

• The concepting and development of issue themes, story budgets,

production and publication schedules, and vendor-provided printing,

production, and mailing activities while coordinating with content

developers, editors, photographers, videographers, graphic

designers, and other relevant stakeholders;

• On a periodic and regular basis, track, analyze data and

content, and report on key metrics to evaluate and report on the

effectiveness of campaigns, measure ROI, and make data-driven

adjustments for optimizing performance;

• Participate in the development and execution of the marketing

and communications strategy to help promote awareness of the

college and its unique value proposition while driving increased

levels of engagement among targeted audiences. This includes local,

regional, national, and global strategies and tactics;

• Assist in the development and management of the Marketing and

Communications operating budget;

• Monitor and report on budget status for multimedia content

creation and production, including creative development and

printing, and ensuring financial reconciliation between expenses

incurred and annual budget amounts; and

• Provide photography support on an as-needed basis (e.g.,

imagery to support specific narratives related to Costello

branding, student experience, career-readiness, research, faculty

profiles, centers, naming gift announcements, and promotional

efforts).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent

combination of education and experience;

• Intermediate marketing skills and experience;
• Participation in strategic communications campaigns and

measuring the results of such campaigns;

• Expertise with regional and national media outlets; including

writing news stories and issuing press releases through an earned

media agency or online distribution network;

• Strong knowledge of marketing and branding best practices,

including marketing communications, marketing research, digital

marketing, social media marketing, and business storytelling;

• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, problem-solving,

organizational, and time management skills;

• Advanced writing and editing skills, attention to detail and

editorial style;

• Possesses strong conceptual skills, a broad thinker who is able

to offer a vision for moving forward;

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel,

PowerPoint, Teams, etc.);

• Ability to create and present robust, strategic, and

intentional marketing and communications strategies and tactics

based on organizational goals and branding guidelines;

• Ability to work and make decisions in a leadership capacity,

independently and as part of a team, to provide developmental

guidance that ensures alignment with organizational goals and brand

guidelines, among a diverse group of stakeholders that includes

prospective students and their parents, current students, faculty

and staff, alumni, donors, sponsors, corporate and community

partners, the business community, members of the media, earned and

paid media agency personnel, and representatives from other

academic and administrative units across George Mason

University;

• Ability to independently set and manage project objectives and

timelines to ensure completion through contacts with faculty,

staff, copy writers, editors, vendors, agency resources,

contractors, student workers, volunteers, designers, architects,

and exhibit fabricators;

• Strong ability to analyze data and content, interpret results

and provide relevant insights, develop actionable recommendations

for optimizing for engagement and ROI, and to summarize in an

executive-level reporting format;

• Creativity, organization, deadline-driven enthusiasm, and an

ability to articulate the vision, mission, and values of the

Costello College of Business through content created for various

digital and traditional platforms; and

• Ability to work virtually (2 days) and on-site (3 days), and

other days as the needs of the business college require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Marketing, advertising experience;
• Professional work experience in higher education strongly

preferred;

• Proficiency in multimedia editing software (e.g., Canva and

Adobe Creative Suite software including InDesign, Photoshop,

Illustrator, Premiere), photography, and videography; and

• Fine art, drawing, or other specialized skills.

Instructions to Applicants

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Assistant

Director of Marketing and Communications at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online

application to include three professional references with contact

information, and provide a cover letter and resume. Also include

the following for review

• Marketing Strategies (i.e., one or more plans created by the

applicant that grew an audience or drove an increase in sales or

student enrollments);

• Writing Samples (e.g., news story, email, ad copy, etc. written

by the applicant);

• Campaign Results (i.e., data showing success in achieving

desired outcomes, including metrics and goals met); and

• Design or Creative Direction (e.g., social media posts, flyers,

or videos overseen or made by the applicant).

Posting Open Date: September 17, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: October 2, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research

university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous

world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest

and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering

degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,

along with certificates and credentials.

George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for

students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We

believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing

our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and

we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of

origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action

employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its

community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for

employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual

orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or

veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at

http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/