Manager Communications and Marketing

Department: Student Wellness Center

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Salary range begins at $53,000 and is commensurate with experience

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

As the Manager of Communications and Marketing for Mental Health Programs & Careers, this role serves as a strategic driver of prevention and wellness focused messaging that elevates campus wellness initiatives, community mental health efforts, and behavioral health career pathways in collaboration with the Kansas Behavioral Health Center of Excellence. The manager leads and mentors a team of communications and design students, fostering professional growth while ensuring high-quality, mission aligned creative work. Working collaboratively across Student Wellness Departments, this role upholds brand standards and establishes best practices for engaging external audiences through cohesive, impactful communications. The position provides expertise to Student Wellness Center staff and partner departments including Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Physician associates, and nursing in the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns, content, and events that enhance the customer experience and increase awareness of mental wellness resources. It leads the creation of compelling branding, messaging, and design materials across print, audio, and digital platforms, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and visual standards. Through data-informed metrics, this role evaluates campaign effectiveness, supports long range strategic planning, and continuously refines communications to strengthen outreach, engagement, and program impact.

Job Summary

Manages daily operations including the design and implementation of communication content and marketing materials.

Essential Functions

Collaborates with others to maintain the brand standards and establish best practices for communication with external stakeholders and audiences. Provides direction to University staff and related departments in the development and implementation of communications content and marketing campaigns and events that engage and enhance the customer experience. Develops metrics to determine successful communications and marketing campaigns and projects, and assists with developing long-range goals and strategies. Leads and develops branding, communications messaging and marketing design materials in print, audio, and/or online publications. Oversees compliance with visual standards and ensures messaging aligns with goals and objectives.

Job Duties

Develop and implement strategic communications and marketing plans that raise awareness of campus wellness programs, community mental health initiatives, and behavioral health career opportunities.

May supervise and support a team of communications and design students, providing coaching and product review to ensure strong performance and creative output.

Partner with Student Wellness Center departments that include Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, HOPE Services, and the Business Operations Team as well as Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Physician associates, and nursing plus external stakeholders to ensure consistent brand presentation and effective messaging across all channels.

Coordinate Behavioral Health career promotion activities in collaboration with the Kansas Behavior Health Center of Excellence.

Promote Suspenders4Hope on campus, future biomedical campus and in the community. Suspenders4Hope is a program developed at Wichita State University, and housed in HOPE Services, which is a comprehensive, strategic approach to promoting mental health wellness, preventing suicide, substance misuse, and sexual violence.

Guide internal and external partners in overseeing and producing marketing materials, campaigns, and digital/print communication that enhance engagement and improve awareness of services and programs.

Oversee the creation of creative assets, including print, audio, and digital content, ensuring they align with messaging goals and audience needs. This includes managing department social media and webpages.

Monitor adherence to visual identity and brand standards, ensuring all communications reflect institutional priorities and objectives.

Establish and track performance indicators to evaluate the success of marketing and communications efforts, using data to refine strategies and improve outcomes.

Contribute to long term planning by helping shape future communications goals, outreach strategies, and program promotion priorities.

Required Education and Experience

• 60 hours college coursework in business administration, communications, or journalism. Every 30 hours of college coursework beyond 60 hours can be substituted for one (1) year of experience.
• 6 years of experience in marketing, communications or related field, with one (1) year of experience in a supervisory role.

Required License/Certifications/Training

• None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent collaboration and relationship building abilities, enabling effective partnerships with Student Wellness Center and behavioral health academic departments, community stakeholders, and external audiences.
• Supervisory skills, including the ability to manage, mentor, and develop student employees or early career professionals
• Creative direction and brand management skills, with experience overseeing visual identity, messaging consistency, and multi platform content development.
• Project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and coordinate multiple campaigns or initiatives simultaneously.
• Data informed decision making skills, with the ability to assess outcomes, interpret performance data, and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with attention to clarity, tone, and audience engagement.
• Adaptability and problem solving skills in a fast paced, collaborative environment.
• Strong strategic communication and marketing expertise, with the ability to translate complex mental health and wellness concepts into clear, engaging messages for diverse audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related field
• Experience with health related marketing and communication systems.
• One (1) year in supervising or mentoring role.
• Experience working with project management software.
• Experience working with Adobe products and Canva.
• Experience with prevention, public health, and/or wellness promotion or campaigns.

Physical Requirements

Ability to remain in a stationary position. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information.