Jobs

Position Summary

The Communications & Marketing Director leads communications and marketing for Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC) and The Maker City (TMC). This role manages email marketing, program campaigns, websites, public relations, storytelling, and communications coordination across the organization, as well as event support, and maintaining a welcoming presence in the KEC office. This role reports to the Chief Operating Office and works closely with The Director of Maker Initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Communications and Campaigns

• Manage KEC and TMC’s communication calendars and coordinate campaign timing across email, social media, websites, press, and partner channels.

• Along with COO and Director of Maker Initiatives, develop communication plans for KEC and TMC programs, events, applications, and announcements.

• Gather information, assets, and approvals from staff while keeping projects on schedule.

• Meet quarterly with KEC and TMC teams to map upcoming programs, events, applications, and campaigns. Prioritize competing communications needs and prevent overlapping campaigns.

Email and Digital Content

• Plan, write, build, and send KEC’s weekly newsletter, The Maker City’s biweekly newsletter, and the weekly Mentor Network email.

• Create targeted email campaigns for programs, events, applications, and announcements.

• Maintain email audiences, lists, and segments.

• Update KEC and TMC websites with current program, event, blog, registration, and organizational information.

• Update Mentor Network webpage as new information becomes available and new mentors are added to the program.

Social Media, Content, and PR

• Coordinate with the Social Media Manager to align social content with programs, events, campaigns, and email marketing.

• Provide messaging, dates, links, priorities, and assets.

• Identify opportunities for founder, program, mentor, partner, and community storytelling.

• Develop stories featuring entrepreneurs, makers, mentors, alumni, partners, and program participants.

• Write blogs, event recaps, and press releases and coordinate media requests as needed.

• Maintain brand consistency and organized marketing assets.

Events and Community Support

• Support event promotion, registration, attendee communications, presentations, content capture, and post-event recaps.

• Provide occasional on-site, audiovisual, evening, and weekend support for major events.

• Participate in KEC office hours and connect entrepreneurs with relevant programs, mentors, staff, and community resources.

• Maintain consistent communication with mentors and mentees within the Mentor Network with regular touchpoints determined with the KEC team.

Reporting

• Monitor email, website, campaign, and social media performance in collaboration with relevant team members.

• Use audience and performance data to improve future communications.

• Work with KEC & TMC Teams to create and share relevant surveys. To include post-event, impact, and others as needed.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field.

• Excellent writing, editing, organization, and project-management skills.

• Experience with email marketing, website content management, social media coordination, and digital campaigns.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate with staff, partners, vendors, and community members.

• Familiarity with tools such as WordPress, Canva, Google Workspace, email marketing platforms, and basic analytics.

• Experience with entrepreneurs, makers, nonprofits, events, or community organizations is preferred.

Work Expectations

• Full-time Position

• Regular in-office presence of three-four days per week.

• Attendance at KEC and TMC events throughout the year.

• Occasional evening, weekend, and local off-site work.

• Salary commensurate with experience.