Director, Marketing & Press Strategy

Inspire Columbia’s Directorship is an executive student leadership role that places experienced upperclassmen and advanced students in charge of a core functional department for the academic year.

As the Director of Marketing & Communications, you will serve as the chief brand strategist and promotional lead for Inspire Columbia, driving public awareness, audience acquisition, and community engagement across the Midlands. You will oversee multi-brand digital channels—including Inspire Columbia, ScrewUp Nights, and TEDxCongaree Vista—while directing high-visibility promotional campaigns and leading a dedicated cohort of student Associates.

The Directorship serves as the senior operational engine of Inspire Columbia. Directors gain executive management experience, hands-on brand stewardship, and close collaboration with C-Suite officers, positioning them for immediate consideration for elevated leadership positions within the organization.

Responsibilities

Lead the Marketing & Communications department, consisting of the Director and several Associates. Responsibilities of the department include:

• Marketing Strategy & Audience Targeting: Plan and execute comprehensive marketing strategies to position Inspire Columbia in front of key target demographics including university students, young professionals, civic leaders, and local creatives across the greater Columbia area.

• Collateral & Creative Asset Production: Oversee the production of all promotional and operational marketing collateral across digital and physical mediums:

  • Social Media Content: Static graphics, video reels, stories, and carousel campaigns across all platforms.

  • Event Collateral: Banners, posters, signage, printed programs, name badges, and venue handouts.

  • Recruitment Assets: Promotional flyers, digital graphics, and job opening notices to drive competitive candidate pools for student leadership and volunteer roles.

  • Digital Brand Assets: Official logo suites, website graphics, presentation templates, and digital display assets.

• Social Media Operations: Direct end-to-end social media management across all active channels for Inspire Columbia, ScrewUp Nights, and TEDxCongaree Vista, curating unified content calendars and maintaining distinct, professional brand voices.

• Multi-Channel Campaign Execution: Coordinate integrated promotional pushes across social, email, web, and grassroots flyering/tabling to drive:

  • Speaker Applications: Targeted outreach to discover diverse, high-caliber thought leaders and storytellers across the region.

  • Ticket Sales: Phased, high-conversion campaigns (early bird, tier launches, and final calls) to achieve sell-out event attendance.

  • Sponsorship Awareness: General public-facing promotion highlighting the impact of our corporate and community partners.

• Sponsorship Fulfillment & Deliverables: Coordinate directly with the Finance & Legal department to review partner contracts and execute all marketing-related sponsorship terms, including featured sponsor social media posts, stage/digital acknowledgments, and logo placements on event collateral.

• Newsletter Design & Editorial: Write, design, and distribute periodic email newsletters to subscribers, alumni, and community stakeholders featuring organizational milestones, speaker reveals, and event updates.

• Media & PR Relations: Cultivate relationships with local Columbia news outlets, campus publications, radio stations, and regional media to pitch stories, secure press coverage, and promote upcoming events.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Direct and mentor departmental Associates, delegating creative projects, overseeing quality control on brand guidelines, and supporting their professional growth through hands-on campaign execution.

Qualifications

Applicants must be currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students in their third year of study or beyond (including Master’s, JD, or PhD candidates) at one of the following eligible institutions:

• University of South Carolina, Columbia
• Allen University
• Benedict College
• Columbia College
• Columbia International University
• Midlands Technical College
• Newberry College

Additionally, candidates must live in or near Columbia, SC with the ability to attend in-person meetings, executive planning sessions, and live events. Applicants must be authorized to work for a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a volunteer basis. No prior experience in design is required, though any background experience paired with a desire to learn from our existing team is beneficial.