Assistant Director, Marketing for Research and Innovation

Job Title

Assistant Director, Marketing for Research and Innovation

Agency

Texas A&M University System Offices

Department

Marketing and Communications

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M – Fort Worth and the Texas A&M - RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); if applicable, a defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor: additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options; tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Assistant Director of Marketing, Research and Innovation for the Texas A&M University System is responsible for translating complex research, innovation, and strategic priorities into clear, compelling, audience-centered marketing and communications strategies. The role supports a portfolio-based marketing model in which major System priorities are advanced through stakeholder engagement and coordinated marketing efforts. The Assistant Director oversees a marketing specialist and works directly with System leadership, universities, agencies, and institutions to identify proof points, stories, and outcomes that shape messaging, prioritize audiences, develop content and campaign plans, coordinate execution, and assess performance. This position is vital in showcasing the scale, capabilities, and real-world impact of the Texas A&M University System to target audiences.

Responsibilities:
30% Research and Innovation Portfolio Marketing Strategy

- Serve as the primary marketing portfolio strategist for the System's Research and Innovation pillar, translating pillar-level objectives into coordinated marketing and communications strategies.

- Work with System leadership, including research and strategic initiative stakeholders, to translate complex subject matter into clear, compelling, and audience-relevant narratives.

- Develop portfolio-level marketing strategies that align Research and Innovation priorities (e.g., commercialization, nuclear security and energy, Al applications, and key partnerships) with the System Strategic Plan and Marketing and Communications Strategy.

- Identify opportunities to strengthen the System's reputation as a major research and innovation enterprise with statewide, national, and real-world impact.

25% Stakeholder Engagement, Requirements Definition, and Strategic Planning

- Serve as the primary liaison and strategic marketing advisor for assigned Research and Innovation stakeholders.

- Conduct ongoing stakeholder engagement to understand priorities, initiatives, deadlines, audience needs, communications gaps, and opportunities for marketing support.

- Coordinate with vice chancellors, executive leaders, universities, agencies, institutions, researchers, communicators, and other partners to surface high-value stories, proof points, initiatives, and outcomes.

- Help prioritize marketing and communications support based on strategic importance, audience relevance, available proof, and alignment to System objectives.

- Develop annual and quarterly portfolio marketing plans that connect stakeholder priorities to content, campaigns, web, media, social, creative, executive communications, and measurement activities.

- Support leadership briefings, presentations, strategy documents, one-pagers, talking points, and other materials needed to advance Research and Innovation marketing priorities.

20% Integrated Campaign, Content, and Channel Coordination

- Coordinate execution of Research and Innovation marketing priorities across department functions, including writing, media relations, social media, creative, video, web, digital, analytics, and executive communications.

- Develop integrated content and campaign plans that align message, audience, channel, timing, and measurement.

- Personally draft and edit select high-priority content (e.g., key narratives, executive talking points, presentations, one-pagers, copy, and campaign briefs) to ensure clarity, consistency, and strategic alignment.

- Guide the creation of research profiles, issue briefs, web content, executive messaging, presentations, partner materials, innovation stories, social content, earned media opportunities, and other communications products.

- Coordinate with website and digital staff to ensure Research and Innovation content is discoverable, current, accessible, and aligned to target audiences.

- Support selective amplification of member university, agency, and institution stories that demonstrate System-level research capability, collaboration, innovation, and impact.

15% Team Coordination, Supervision, and Vendor Support

- Provide direction, coordination, and support to marketing staff, specialists, vendors, interns, or project contributors assigned to Research and Innovation portfolio work.

- Support alignment between the Assistant Director role and any dedicated marketing support for nuclear security initiatives or related strategic priorities.

- Assign, prioritize, review, and coordinate work across portfolio-related projects and deliverables.

- Provide coaching, guidance, and subject matter leadership to staff or contributors involved in portfolio marketing execution.

5% Measurement, Optimization, and Portfolio Reporting

- Establish success measures for Research and Innovation marketing initiatives, campaigns, content, and stakeholder support activities.

- Work with analytics and digital staff to track relevant performance indicators, including audience engagement, content performance, web traffic, earned media activity, campaign results, stakeholder feedback, and narrative visibility.

- Develop portfolio-level reporting that helps leadership understand marketing activity, progress, results, opportunities, and resource needs.

- Support the development of dashboards, reporting cadences, and performance summaries tied to Research and Innovation marketing priorities.

- Translate marketing performance and research data into actionable insights to guide marketing strategy, channel optimization, and brand initiatives.

5% Other Duties as Assigned

Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Seven years of professional experience in marketing and/or communications required.

- Experience developing marketing or communications strategies for complex organizations, initiatives, programs, or stakeholder groups required.

- Experience translating complex subject matter into clear, audience-centered marketing and communications content, including writing and editing materials such as copy, talking points, presentations, one-pagers, and campaign materials, required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of marketing strategy, brand positioning, audience segmentation, message architecture, content strategy, campaign planning, and integrated communications required.

- Knowledge of research, innovation, commercialization, public-private partnerships, higher education, government, economic development, or related strategic subject matter required.

- Skilled in translating complex subject matter into clear, audience-centered marketing and communications content, including writing and editing materials such as copy, talking points, presentations, one-pagers, and campaign materials, required.

- Ability to develop strategic plans, content plans, campaign briefs, message frameworks, talking points, presentations, one-pagers, and stakeholder materials required.

- Ability to work directly with senior leaders, vice chancellors, researchers, agency leaders, communicators, vendors, and other internal and external stakeholders required.

- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and ability to work independently required.

- Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations required.

- Ability to maintain professionalism and discretion when working with sensitive initiatives, executive priorities, research partnerships, and strategic communications issues required.

- Ability to travel occasionally, as needed, to support stakeholder engagement, content development, events, meetings, or System initiatives.

- Ability to multi-task and collaboratively work with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business or a related field preferred.

- Experience coordinating cross-functional marketing or communications work across multiple teams, stakeholders, or channels is preferred. 
- Experience working in higher education, the public sector, research and innovation, economic development, technology, federal programs, legislative affairs, industry partnerships, or other related strategic environments is preferred. 
- Experience supervising staff, leading project teams, or coordinating vendor work is preferred. 
- Familiarity with paid, owned, earned, and shared channel planning preferred. 
- Familiarity with marketing and communications analytics, including interpreting performance data and preparing reports, preferred. 

Other Requirements:

This is a security-sensitive position and is restricted to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents only. Only complete applications will be considered for employment at The Texas A&M System Offices. Incomplete job application data could result in your application being rejected without an option to reapply. A cover letter and resume may be required in addition to a completed employment application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.