Director, Marketing and Communications

Agency

Department

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.

The Texas A&M University System conducts more than $1.5 billion in annual research across 12 universities and 8 state agencies, with strengths in agriculture, engineering, energy, national security, health, and advanced materials. 
Texas A&M Innovation helps translate research into real-world products, services, and ventures that create impact for Texas and beyond. Success depends not only on strong research, but also on strong visibility, clear messaging, and effective engagement with faculty, students, industry, investors, policymakers, and the broader public. 
The Director of Marketing & Communications plays a central role in building awareness, shaping the external narrative, and supporting commercialization outcomes across The Texas A&M University System

Salary:

Commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Director of Marketing is the senior marketing and communications leader for Texas A&M Innovation. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this role leads brand strategy, messaging, demand generation, and communications efforts that support inventor outreach, technology marketing, industry partnership development, startup formation, ecosystem building, and impact storytelling.

The Director of Marketing & Communications must be fluent in both scientific and industry-facing communications, with the ability to translate complex research and technologies into compelling narratives for external partners, internal stakeholders, and the public.

The successful candidate will bring strategic marketing leadership, strong execution skills, and a builder's mindset. This person will be expected to develop a modern, metrics-driven marketing function within a complex public university system and ensure that marketing efforts contribute meaningfully to innovation and commercialization outcomes.

Responsibilities:
Brand and Marketing Leadership

- Develop and execute a multi-year marketing and communications strategy that advances the mission of Texas A&M Innovation and aligns with the broader Texas A&M University System brand.

- Define and manage brand architecture, messaging frameworks, visual identity, and voice for Texas A&M Innovation.

- Establish marketing goals, key performance indicators, dashboards, and regular performance reviews.

- Build and lead a modern marketing function, including internal staff, agency partners, freelancers, vendors, and an integrated events team.

- Manage the marketing budget, external partners, and marketing technology stack, including website, CRM, automation, analytics, and content tools.

Faculty Engagement and Awareness

- Design and execute system-wide awareness campaigns that increase understanding of Texas A&M Innovation and its services among faculty, researchers, and students.

- Develop roadshows, presentations, workshops, and outreach programs in partnership with colleges, departments, and research offices across the system.

- Produce faculty-facing content such as inventor profiles, process guides, FAQs, and educational materials that explain commercialization pathways clearly and accessibly.

- Support recognition programs, internal campaigns, and storytelling efforts that promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

- Partner with research leadership and campus stakeholders to integrate office visibility into onboarding, faculty development, and other institutional touchpoints.

Industry Marketing and Demand Generation

- Build the digital and content infrastructure - including the Innovation website and related platforms - that positions Texas A&M Innovation as a clear and accessible entry point for companies, investors, strategic partners, and other external stakeholders.

- Partner with licensing, business development, and venture teams to create marketing plans for priority technologies, sectors, and partnership opportunities.

- Establish attribution and measurement approaches that connect marketing activity to industry engagement, deal flow, sponsored research opportunities, and other downstream outcomes.

Events Leadership and Management

- Lead and supervise the events team responsible for designing, planning, and delivering office events, including industry-facing events, major showcases, conferences, workshops, and strategic convenings.

- Align event strategy, calendars, and formats with broader marketing and commercialization priorities, ensuring events reinforce key messages and support measurable outcomes.

- Oversee event budgeting, timelines, stakeholder coordination, and post-event evaluation, including metrics on attendance, engagement, follow-up activity, and relationship-building.

- Ensure consistent brand experience, visual identity, and messaging across events, integrating event outputs into ongoing marketing and communications campaigns.

Communications and Impact Storytelling

- Translate innovation outcomes into clear, compelling stories for media, donors, policymakers, alumni, industry, and the public.

- Build and manage a content engine across web, email, video, social media, publications, presentations, and earned media.

- Develop recurring reports and communications materials that highlight the impact of Texas A&M Innovation and the broader innovation ecosystem.

- Manage media relations and coordinate external communications in collaboration with A&M System Communications and other relevant partners.

- Support executive communications for the Chief Innovation Officer, including presentations, speeches, talking points, op-eds, and briefing materials.

Startup and Ecosystem Marketing

- Develop marketing programs that support translational funding programs, startup support initiatives, mentor networks, innovation spaces, and related ecosystem efforts.

- Drive participation in startup programs, competitions, showcase events, and innovation-focused initiatives.

- Coordinate with internal and external partners to present a cohesive and consistent innovation narrative across the Texas A&M ecosystem.

Marketing Operations and Compliance

- Ensure all marketing activity complies with A&M System brand standards, accessibility requirements, privacy obligations, and institutional policies.

- Maintain strong governance of marketing systems, content workflows, data practices, and vendor relationships.

- Partner with IT and other operational teams to support data integration, reporting, and platform effectiveness.

Education and Experience:
-Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Journalism, Science Communication or related field.
-Ten years of progressive marketing or communications experience, including at least 4 years in a leadership role managing staff, budgets, and external agencies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

- Demonstrated experience marketing technical, scientific, or 828 products or services to sophisticated audiences such as corporate R&D teams, investors, government stakeholders, or entrepreneurs.

- Expertise in modern digital marketing, including CMS, SEO/SEM, email and marketing automation, CRM-driven campaigns, social media, paid media, and analytics.

- Strong track record building and managing teams, budgets, and vendor relationships.

- Excellent writing, editing, and visual storytelling skills, with a strong portfolio of relevant work.

- Experience building, leading, or substantially modernizing a marketing function.

- Proven ability to translate complex technical content into compelling, accessible narratives across multiple channels.

- Familiarity with technology marketing and CRM platforms commonly used in commercialization and business development settings.

- Knowledge of the Texas innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

- Active involvement in relevant professional associations related to marketing, innovation, licensing, or university research commercialization.

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

Preferred Qualifications:

- Master's degree or MBA; advanced training in science communication or a STEM discipline.

- Direct experience in a university technology transfer office, innovation office, research park, national lab, or similar research commercialization environment.

- Working knowledge of intellectual property, licensing, and the university commercialization lifecycle.

- Experience producing video, podcast, and other multimedia content at scale.

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.