POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Communications Officer
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1456
GRADE 49
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Vice President for Marketing and Communications
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications and Chief Communications Officer serves as the principal deputy and second-in-command to the Vice President for Marketing and Communications. This position provides executive leadership for institutional marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, social media, branding, crisis communications, executive communications, and licensing activities. The Associate Vice President translates institutional priorities and strategic objectives into integrated marketing and communications strategies that enhance the University's visibility, reputation, recruitment, enrollment, student persistence, faculty and staff recruitment, alumni engagement, donor relations, and community partnerships.
The Associate Vice President supervises directors within the Division of Marketing and Communications, coordinates division-wide operations and resources, provides strategic communications counsel to University leadership, and serves as the University's Emergency Management Public Information Officer.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
A Master's degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business Administration, Higher Education, Public Administration, or a related field is required.
An equivalent combination of years of experience and education that demonstrates advanced leadership and expertise in marketing, communications, public affairs, or related disciplines may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: Substantial and progressively responsible leadership experience in marketing, communications, public affairs, strategic communications, brand management, or a related discipline is required. Candidates must demonstrate success in developing and implementing integrated marketing and communications strategies, managing institutional reputation and brand identity, leading executive, media, and crisis communications efforts, and advising senior leaders on complex and sensitive issues. Experience leading professional staff, managing significant budgets and resources, and directing large-scale branding, visibility, and stakeholder engagement initiatives is required. Experience with marketing technologies, CRM systems, analytics, and audience engagement tools is required. Experience in higher education or other complex mission-driven organizations, including advancement, fundraising, alumni engagement, constituent relations, public broadcasting, journalism, or related enterprises, and knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing public research universities is preferred.
Skills:
Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Thorough knowledge of marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, branding, and digital communications principles and practices. Knowledge of audience research, analytics, marketing technologies, customer relationship management platforms, audience segmentation, content strategy, artificial intelligence applications, and emerging communication technologies. Ability to analyze complex issues, exercise sound judgment, and make strategic decisions. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with University administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, media representatives, government officials, and community stakeholders. Ability to lead multiple large-scale projects and coordinate activities across organizational units.
Other:
Demonstrated commitment to the mission and value of public higher education. Knowledge of trends, issues, opportunities, and challenges affecting higher education marketing and communications. Ability to provide effective leadership and sound counsel during emergencies, crises, and other sensitive situations.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Serves as the principal deputy and second-in-command to the Vice President for Marketing and Communications and acts on behalf of the Vice President as assigned or delegated.2. Translates institutional priorities and strategic direction into integrated marketing and communications strategies, plans, initiatives, goals, and measurable outcomes.
3. Provides leadership for division-wide planning, operations, resource coordination, workflow management, assessment, and continuous improvement efforts.
4. Directly supervises directors within the Division of Marketing and Communications and ensures effective collaboration, prioritization, and execution of division initiatives.
5. Leads the development and implementation of strategic marketing and communications plans that support recruitment, enrollment growth, student persistence, employee recruitment, fundraising, alumni engagement, and institutional advancement.
6. Collaborates with academic and administrative leaders to ensure communications and marketing initiatives are aligned with University priorities and strategic objectives.
7. Provides leadership for public relations, media relations, social media, executive communications, issues management, and strategic storytelling initiatives.
8. Directs the development and dissemination of institutional messaging that communicates the University's mission, achievements, impact, and value to internal and external audiences.
9. Leads stewardship and implementation of the University's brand strategy and identity standards to ensure consistency and effectiveness across all communications and marketing efforts.
10. Oversees University licensing activities, including brand protection, trademark usage, licensing relationships, and compliance with applicable policies and agreements.
11. Serves as the University's Emergency Management Public Information Officer and leads crisis communications, issues management, and reputation protection activities.
12. Provides strategic communications counsel and support to senior University leadership regarding internal and external communications initiatives.
13. Develops and implements communications strategies that strengthen the University's visibility, influence, and reputation among prospective students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, governmental entities, and community stakeholders.
14. Utilizes data, research, analytics, and audience insights to inform decision-making and evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and communications initiatives.
15. Assists in the development, administration, and oversight of divisional budgets, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
16. Represents the University and Division of Marketing and Communications on institutional committees, professional organizations, and external partnerships as assigned.
17. Performs other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION
Provides direct supervision to directors and other assigned professional staff within the Division of Marketing and Communications.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
OCTOBER 2026