Associate Director for Communications and Administration | Student Affairs

Job Summary

The Associate Director for Communications and Administration is a pivotal leadership role within the Student Affairs division at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). This position sits at the intersection of strategic storytelling, departmental operations, and student mentorship. You are responsible for architecting comprehensive communication plans and marketing collateral that amplify student services—with a specialized focus on well-being, advocacy, and basic needs assistance. Beyond creative strategy, you manage the daily administrative engine of the department, overseeing budgets, supervising staff, and ensuring that all initiatives align with UTSA’s trajectory as a premier Tier One research institution.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Communication & Design: Lead the development and implementation of divisional marketing strategies, including graphic design, storytelling, and digital processes.
Operational Oversight: Coordinate day-to-end administration for Communications and Student Affairs, ensuring workflows are efficient and initiatives meet organizational goals.
Advocacy & Well-being Liaison: Partner with campus departments to streamline communications regarding student services, specifically focusing on healthcare, mental health, and student advocacy.
Fiscal Management: Assist in departmental budget management, monitoring expenses, and preparing progress reports for senior university leadership.
Compliance & Branding: Ensure all creative outputs and administrative activities strictly adhere to UTSA branding guidelines and Academic Strategic Communications policies.
Student Employee Leadership: Lead projects aimed at departmental improvement, including a primary role in training and developing student employees across the division.
Emergency & Crisis Management: Act as the department leader in the Director’s absence, making critical decisions and managing high-stakes crisis communications.
Staff Supervision: Assist in the hiring, training, development, and performance evaluation of professional and student staff.

Required Qualifications & Skills

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.
Professional Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of professional work experience in communications or marketing.
Integrity: Proven ability to maintain the security and integrity of university infrastructure and sensitive student information.
Soft Skills: Demonstrated excellence in collaborative leadership, cross-departmental management, and persuasive communication.

Preferred Qualifications

Creative Tools: Strong proficiency in graphic design and photo editing software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva).
Domain Expertise: Prior experience in Health Communications or managing communications for student-centric services.

About the Institution: UT San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a nationally recognized, Carnegie R1-designated public research university. Serving approximately 42,000 students, UTSA is an engine of social mobility and biomedical discovery in South Texas. As a Forbes-recognized “Top Employer in Texas,” the university provides an environment where 17,000 faculty and staff drive excellence across 320 academic programs. UTSA Student Affairs is dedicated to creating a holistic environment where students are supported in their well-being, advocacy, and professional growth.

Market & Industry Context

In the modern higher education landscape, the “Student Experience” is a primary differentiator. The Associate Director role is vital because today’s students require clear, empathetic, and accessible communication regarding complex services like mental health support and financial advocacy. At a Tier One institution like UTSA, communications must balance professional academic standards with the high-energy, digital-first preferences of a diverse student body. This role is the “voice” that connects the university’s vast resources to the students who need them most.

Career Growth & Progression Path

Director of Communications: Transitioning into full oversight of divisional branding and high-level strategic partnerships.
Assistant/Associate Vice President for Student Affairs: Moving into executive leadership where you influence university-wide student success policies.
Higher Education Administration: Leveraging operational and fiscal experience to transition into broader university management or institutional advancement roles.

Interview Preparation Insights

The “Crisis” Scenarios: Be prepared to describe a time you had to manage a communication crisis or act in a leadership capacity during a director’s absence.
Portfolio Showcase: Come ready to present examples of communications plans you’ve built, specifically those that turned a “complex service” (like healthcare or advocacy) into an “accessible resource.”
Student Mentorship: Reflect on your philosophy for training student employees. UTSA emphasizes the development of their student workers; how do you balance their learning with professional output?
Alignment: Research UTSA’s current strategic plan. Be ready to explain how your communication strategies will support “social mobility” and “excellence” for a diverse population.

Estimated Salary Insight

Salary Range: Up to $61,000 annualized, commensurate with education, experience, and specific qualifications.
Total Rewards: As a UTSA employee, this salary is bolstered by a comprehensive benefits package, including state-matching retirement plans, health insurance, and professional development opportunities.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Environment: Primarily on-campus in a standard office setting.
Flexibility: Occasional evening and weekend hours are required to support university events or manage urgent communications.
Mobility: Ability to travel between campus buildings for meetings and training sessions.

Physical: Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects.

Category	Key Specifications & Data Points
Role & Location	Associate Director (Comms & Admin)
Salary Range	Up to $61,000 annualized (based on education/experience).
Application Deadline	March 24, 2026 (11:59 PM CDT).
Experience Req.	3 years of related work experience in communications.
Education Req.	Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
Core Function	Strategic comms, marketing collateral, and daily departmental operations.
Budgetary Role	Managing department budgets, monitoring expenses, and reporting.
Leadership	Supervising staff/student employees; acting as lead in Director’s absence.
Partnership Focus	Student well-being, advocacy, and basic needs assistance programs.
Required Skills	High-level Communication, Collaboration, and Project Management.
Preferred Skills	Graphic design/Photo editing proficiency; Health communications exp.
Work Environment	Primarily on-campus; occasional evening/weekend hours required.

Strategic & Institutional Context

University Scale: UTSA serves ~42,000 students and is recognized as a Carnegie R1 institution (Very High Research Activity), putting a premium on sophisticated, brand-aligned storytelling.
Student Workforce Development: A unique pillar of this role involves providing a leadership role in training student employees across the division to maximize team effectiveness.
Compliance & Branding: The role acts as a gatekeeper for university branding guidelines and internal policies, ensuring all Student Affairs collateral meets Academic Strategic Communications standards.
Crisis Management: The Associate Director must be prepared to make key decisions and manage crisis situations in the absence of the department head.

The San Antonio “Dirty Dozen” + 1: Comparative Landscape

With this 13th role, you have a perfect cross-section of the San Antonio economy. This UTSA role sits in the “Middle Management / Higher Ed” tier.

Role Type	Job Title	Key Differentiation
Higher Ed Lead	Assoc. Director (UTSA)	Combines creativity (design) with admin (budget/HR).
Gov/Contracting	Supplier Manager II	Focused on FAR regulations and ITAM.
Technical Lead	Welding Engineer (JCB)	Heavy industrial/automation focus.
Business Path	Management Trainee	Fast-track to P&L ownership (Branch Manager).
Technical Sales	B2B Account Exec (AT&T)	Highest monetary upside via commission.

To apply for this job please visit www.utsa.edu.