Director of Marketing, Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Haslam College of Business - UTK

The Director of Marketing serves as the strategic lead for all marketing, communications, and brand initiatives. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies that elevate the visibility, reputation, and impact of ACEI within the university, across the state, and on the national and international stage.

This role oversees all aspects of the Center’s marketing efforts, including public relations, media outreach, digital and print communications, social media, event marketing, promotional campaigns, and brand management. The Director works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with the strategic priorities of ACEI, the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, the Haslam College of Business, and the University of Tennessee.

Success in this position requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership and project management skills, and a deep understanding of integrated marketing approaches. The ideal candidate is both creative and analytical, with the ability to develop high-impact campaigns, manage cross-functional initiatives, and position ACEI as a thought leader in entrepreneurship education and experiential learning. A secondary responsibility is supporting marketing and brand management for the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.

• Marketing and Content Strategy: This role requires a chief storyteller's mindset to create content audiences are looking for and then optimize the path to conversion. 
  • Collaborate with ACEI leadership to develop content strategy that supports marketing goals and plans that generate awareness of strategic priorities, impactful academic and applied research, educational programs, pitch competitions and other initiatives 
  • Develop and lead content marketing and public relations strategy utilizing both traditional and digital methods to position ACEI as the preeminent hub for entrepreneurship. 
  • Provide leadership in identifying, developing, and maintaining strong marketing and communication relationships with external community and potential corporate partners of ACEI to facilitate the broader strategy of advancing ACEI’s visibility and credibility 
  • Ensure that ACEI programs and projects are interwoven into the overall marketing strategy 
  • Responsible for distributing content marketing initiatives across all channels (social media, email, website, search, etc.) to drive traffic, increase engagement and expand reach.
• Content Creation: Function (and/or oversee) as a prolific and talented content creator to write and produce various types of content and blog regularly to expand ACEI’s digital footprint. 
  • Determine when and where to publish content for maximum impact and track results to continually improve effectiveness of marketing efforts. 
  • Utilize ACEI student ambassadors to assist in overall content creation, including the following: 
    • Build and deliver engaging and relevant content across multiple platforms (blog posts, social media, email, infographics, etc.)
    • Copywriter and editor duties for all print and digital communications and branded content. 
    • Develop on-brand varied content formats that can be shared across multiple platforms.
• Project and Platform Management 
  • Develop and manage editorial content calendar and organize workflows based on ACEI priorities. 
  • Utilize multiple platforms (SharePoint, Google Drive, etc.) to manage key project aspects, delegate tasks and ensure deadlines are met. 
  • Monitor and maintain data quality within the marketing database. 
  • Manage all creative resources including designers, writers, videographers, etc. 
  • Coordinate, proof, distribute, and measure impact of various student communications (e.g., social media, newsletters, text campaigns, etc.)
• Team Leadership and Relationship Management 
  • Lead and influence the ACEI team including peers, faculty, and direct reports (ACEI Student Ambassadors). 
  • Develop relationships with UTK faculty, staff, and stakeholders in order to support ACEI’s mission of being UT’s hub for entrepreneurship.
• Marketing Analytics 
  • Create and maintain metrics reports on marketing activities. 
  • Analyze marketing data to develop insights and make recommendations on areas for optimization and to inform strategic decisions by ACEI leadership.

Required Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience: 
  • Minimum of 7 years of experience required in professional marketing and communications settings. 
  • Strong understanding of best practices in marketing and communications.
  • Experience as a people leader in results-driven organizations.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Strong project management skills
  • Excellent news judgment, writing and editing skills, interviewing and storytelling.
  • Comfortable with day-to-day marketing activities, as well as long-term strategy, thriving with tight deadlines and changing needs.
  • In-depth knowledge of digital marketing channels and technologies and content distribution.
  • Experience with marketing automation and CRM tools and integrating those systems with other technologies
  • Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and skill areas, including creative, digital, and video partners
  • Strong analytical skills and experience with reporting and data analysis
  • Technically capable, excellent communicator, and a desire to improve processes
  • Ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and access goals of the university

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 visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: 
  • Master’s degree preferred
• Experience: 
  • 8-10 years of marketing, content and project management experience. 
  • Using digital marketing to drive visibility and engagement. 
  • Experience in a higher education setting and on teams that execute multiple complex events and programs.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Excellent interpersonal skills are strongly desired
  • Familiarity with the field of entrepreneurship
  • Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite 

Compensation and Benefits:

• UT market range: MR10
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions:

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. 

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division:

The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a university-based resource dedicated to building strong entrepreneurial ecosystems across Tennessee and the region. We coordinate across the University of Tennessee’s multiple campuses and partner with local and regional governments as well as corporate and non-profit organizations all over the state.

Our mission is to foster an entrepreneurial culture by developing student skills, providing experiential learning opportunities, conducting meaningful entrepreneurial research, and connecting students with mentors and resources that enable them to successfully start and grow new businesses.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.  

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.  

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.  

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!