Description
Director of Communications and Marketing
Salary
$98,009.60 - $139,568.00 Annually
Location
Johnston - 50131 - Polk County, IA
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
26-03243
Agency
285 Iowa PBS
Opening Date
06/01/2026
Closing Date
6/28/2026 11:59 PM Central
LinkedIn Tag
#LI-DNP
Point of Contact
humanresources@iowapbs.org
To Apply
Applicants are encouraged to attach a resume and cover letter to their completed NeoGov application
Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Description
This is a non-merit position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.
Director of Communications and Marketing
Why Iowa PBS?
Iowa PBS is Iowa's statewide public broadcasting network. Approximately 100 full and part-time employees work at Iowa PBS serving our audiences with local programs, broadcast services, and education and outreach initiatives that contribute to our mission. Our organization is made strong by highly-qualified, diverse and talented staff members who are vital to Iowa PBS's future. Working at Iowa PBS will provide you the opportunity for robust career development. We consider the employees at Iowa PBS to be our most valuable resource.
Position Overview
Iowa PBS is seeking a visionary and accomplished Director of Communications and Marketing to lead the network's Communications Division. This position provides strategic leadership for statewide communications, marketing, public relations, audience engagement, community outreach, and brand management initiatives that advance Iowa PBS's mission to educate, inform, enrich, and inspire Iowans.
The Director of Communications and Marketing oversees communications, marketing, audience engagement, and brand strategy across broadcast, digital, streaming, social media, and emerging platforms. Working collaboratively with all divisions, the Director of Communications and Marketing develops and executes integrated communications and marketing initiatives that elevate local programming, expand audiences, strengthen community partnerships, and increase engagement with Iowa PBS.
The Director of Communications and Marketing plays a key role in expanding awareness, audience engagement, and public impact for Iowa PBS while strengthening the organization's position as Iowa's trusted statewide public television service.
Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the leadership team, the Director of Communications and Marketing leads a high-performing team of communications professionals, contributes to organizational strategic planning, and ensures Iowa PBS maintains a strong, trusted, and visible presence in communities throughout Iowa.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Communications, Marketing, and Brand Management
Direct the development and execution of Iowa PBS's statewide marketing, communications, audience development, and brand strategies across broadcast, digital, streaming, social media, and emerging platforms.
Lead audience development and marketing initiatives that increase awareness, viewership, streaming usage, event participation, and engagement while elevating the visibility and impact of Iowa PBS local programming, educational resources, public affairs content, cultural initiatives, and community storytelling.
Oversee Iowa PBS's brand identity, messaging, marketing campaigns, promotional initiatives, and audience communications to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment with organizational priorities.
Collaborate with internal divisions to develop coordinated communications and marketing strategies that support programming, education, development, outreach, and organizational initiatives.
Utilize audience research, market insights, and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategic decision-making.
Community Engagement and Public Events
Provide strategic leadership for Iowa PBS community engagement initiatives, ensuring meaningful connections with audiences, educators, families, community organizations, and stakeholders across Iowa.
Lead strategic partnerships and community engagement initiatives through public events, educational programs, and collaborations with schools, libraries, museums, cultural organizations, and community groups to expand Iowa PBS's statewide impact, visibility, and audience engagement.
Partner with the Friends of Iowa PBS Foundation to align brand strategy, external communications, promotions, marketing, public events, membership messaging, and audience engagement efforts in support of shared organizational goals.
Collaborate with programming, education, development, and production teams to identify opportunities for community engagement that support local content, educational initiatives, and public service goals.
Serve as a visible ambassador and spokesperson for Iowa PBS by cultivating relationships and representing the organization at community, industry, educational, and public events throughout the state.
Communications and Marketing Leadership
Provide leadership and supervision for Iowa PBS's Communications Division, including communications, marketing, audience engagement, graphic design, publications, media relations, viewer services, and digital communications functions.
Build and lead a high-performing communications and marketing team through coaching, professional development, performance management, and strategic alignment of team goals and organizational priorities.
Establish division priorities, workflows, and performance expectations to ensure effective execution of communications, marketing, and engagement initiatives.
Budget and Operational Management
Assist in the development and management of communications, marketing, outreach, and public event budgets.
Oversee paid media strategies, advertising investments, and promotional partnerships to support organizational goals, audience growth, and member engagement.
Evaluate communications and marketing initiatives to ensure effective use of resources and achievement of organizational objectives.
Editorial Standards and Content Oversight
Ensure editorial integrity across Iowa PBS communications and promotional content in accordance with network standards, FCC requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
Oversee content planning, review, and approval processes for promotional, marketing, public relations, and audience-facing communications.
Maintain content calendars and coordinate communications activities across broadcast, digital, social, and emerging media platforms.
Review and approve communications materials to ensure accuracy, quality, consistency, and adherence to Iowa PBS brand standards.
Preferred Qualifications
Strong commitment to journalistic standards, editorial integrity, and public service communications.
Demonstrated leadership experience managing communications, marketing, public relations, audience engagement, or community outreach functions.
Experience developing and implementing integrated communications, marketing, audience development, and engagement strategies across multiple platforms.
Proven ability to supervise creative and communications professionals and manage budgets, projects, and organizational priorities.
Experience building partnerships and collaborative relationships with educational, cultural, civic, community, media, or nonprofit organizations.
Demonstrated success planning, promoting, or overseeing public events, community outreach initiatives, audience engagement programs, or membership marketing activities.
Strong strategic planning, analytical, and data-informed decision-making skills.
Knowledge of public media, broadcasting, digital communications, audience development, community engagement, or membership marketing practices is beneficial.
Benefits:
As a full-time employee, you'll receive a comprehensive benefits package, including:
Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) participation
Retirement Investors Club (RIC)
Health, Dental, Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
Vacation, Sick Leave & 9 Paid Holidays
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Assistance Program
Opportunities for professional and career development
To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage.
E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.
Requirements
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:
1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university and experience equal to six years of full-time management-level work in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
2) Ten years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation.
3) All of the following (a and b):
a. Six years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and
b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
4) All of the following (a, b, and c):
a. Four years of full-time management-level work experience in finance, human resources, engineering, law, social work, regulation, data processing, or program research or evaluation; and
b. A combination of a total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and
c. A combination of a total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in a public-service-related area (e.g., public or business administration, social work, law, education, engineering) equals one year of full-time experience. Graduation from the Iowa Certified Public Manager Program is also equivalent to one year of full-time experience or education.
5) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen months of full-time work as a Public Service Manager 1 or comparable specific management-level position.
For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)
