Marketing Communications Strategist

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

The Duke Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) is seeking a creative, strategic, and collaborative Marketing Communications Strategist to join our growing team. In this role, you will help shape how Duke tells the story of teaching excellence, educational innovation, and lifelong learning. Working closely with faculty, academic leaders, communicators, and partners across the university, you will lead communications and marketing efforts that elevate CTL's education innovation profile and expand awareness of Duke's digital education offerings. The position reports to the marketing and communications team leader and partners with communicators across Duke University.  

You will have the opportunity to develop digital-first communications strategies, manage website content and social channels, create engaging multimedia content, build social media campaigns, and execute enrollment marketing initiatives that connect learners with Duke's online educational programs. Whether highlighting faculty innovation, promoting new programs, or supporting strategic initiatives, your work will directly contribute to Duke's mission of advancing teaching, learning, and educational excellence.  

This role is ideal for someone with a journalist’s eye for storytelling, strategic thinking, relationship building, and leveraging digital communications to engage diverse audiences. You'll work in a dynamic environment where creativity, curiosity, data-informed decision making, and collaboration are highly valued.  

Minimum Requirements

• Generally requires a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field.
• Four years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for a program, department, organization, or brand.
• Experience planning and executing digital marketing campaigns.
• Experience monitoring campaign performance metrics and using data to optimize results.
• Experience creating, managing, and publishing content through digital platforms and content management systems.
• Strong storytelling ability with experience developing content for multiple audiences and communication channels.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to evaluate communications effectiveness and make recommendations for improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success using digital media and social media to engage audiences and support organizational goals.
• Experience building collaborative relationships with faculty, leadership, media partners, and stakeholders.
• Experience working in higher education, academic institutions, or mission-driven organizations.
• Knowledge of trends in online learning, educational technology, and higher education.
• Experience with photography, graphic design, multimedia production, or video storytelling.
• Experience with web design and user-focused digital content strategies.

Other Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, customer service, inclusion, continuous learning, and creative problem-solving.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and professionalism in a highly collaborative environment.
• Ability to work effectively under deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Occasional attendance at evening or weekend events may be required.
• Supervision of student intern(s) as needed.

This position is remote eligible and must reside in a Duke University-approved state. The position follows a remote-first work model with occasional meetings scheduled on campus with faculty, administrators, and university partners.  

Be Bold.

Position Description:

• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive communications strategies that advance the Center for Teaching and Learning's mission, strategic priorities, programs, and services. Collaborate with leadership and internal teams to identify objectives, target audiences, key messages, tactics, and success measures for communications initiatives.  
• Manage and continuously enhance CTL's digital presence, including the CTL and Online Duke websites. Develop content strategies that ensure content is engaging, accessible, current, and aligned with organizational goals. Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to create compelling digital experiences and multimedia content that effectively communicate CTL's impact and services.  
• Monitor website performance and audience engagement using analytics and reporting tools. Evaluate trends, user behavior, and campaign performance to identify opportunities for optimization and recommend improvements that support operational and strategic goals.  
• Design and execute recruitment marketing campaigns for digital education programs using email marketing, paid advertising, social media, search marketing, and multimedia content. Collaborate with program leadership to support enrollment goals, track campaign effectiveness, and adjust targeting, messaging, and budget allocations based on performance outcomes.  
• Develop and manage social media strategies that increase awareness of Duke's educational innovation initiatives, faculty accomplishments, and learner success stories. Create written, visual, and multimedia content that engages internal and external audiences while measuring audience growth, engagement, and conversion metrics.  
• Build relationships with Duke faculty to strengthen CTL's faculty-facing brand and increase engagement with teaching and learning initiatives. Identify opportunities to spotlight innovative teaching practices, educational research, and faculty achievements through strategic communications and storytelling.  

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Choose Duke.

Great teaching changes lives. At the Duke Center for Teaching and Learning, you'll join a team dedicated to ensuring teaching is recognized, supported, and celebrated as a scholarly pursuit. CTL partners with educators across Duke to cultivate a thriving teaching culture, inspire innovation in teaching and learning, and expand Duke's educational reach and impact for learners both on campus and beyond. Through collaboration with faculty, schools, and university leaders, the Center helps shape transformative learning experiences and advance the future of higher education.

Join a university consistently recognized among the world's leading institutions for education, research, and innovation. Duke fosters a culture of excellence, inclusion, discovery, and continuous learning where employees are encouraged to contribute ideas and make a meaningful impact.

Job Code: 00001218 COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST

Job Level: 13

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $62,766.00 to USD $97,798.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions:

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).