Executive Director, Marketing Strategy

Reporting to the AVP of Marketing Strategy, the Executive Director of Marketing Strategy (ED) serves as a lead marketing strategist for priority initiatives that advance enterprise-wide business goals. This role calls for an effective communicator and collaborator who can bring channel teams together to co-create and execute integrated marketing strategies.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker who connects the dots between big-picture marketing vision and practical, implementable plans – someone who understands how marketing and communications can work in tandem to build the brand and advance institutional goals. As a modern marketer, the ED approaches campaigns holistically, bringing creative producers and communicators together to develop and execute effective marketing initiatives, while empowering channel owners to contribute their expertise to shared strategies.

The ED partners closely with university units to understand their business goals and objectives, translating those needs into targeted marketing strategies. Leading a team that works directly with designated schools, colleges, and academic/business units, the ED guides campaigns from concept through completion – leveraging research insights to drive measurable, results-driven outcomes.

Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years in marketing strategy development.
• Three or more years of higher education experience, with a focus on enrollment/recruitment marketing and communications is preferred.
• A minimum of five years leading and managing diverse marketing teams.
• A track record of implementing major national omnichannel marketing campaigns which meet or exceeded stated measurable goals.

Skills and Knowledge

• Big-picture thinker with the ability to connect dots across multiple campaigns and drive an enterprise-level approach to strategic marketing
• Deep understanding of and experience with brand expression, including how to bring a brand to life
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of people, including senior executive and administrative staff, deans, faculty, and students
• Ability to manage stressful situations in a solution-oriented way, with a positive attitude
• Comfortable working irregular hours as needed
• Demonstrated ability managing staff and teams
• Ability to oversee and execute multiple projects simultaneously and effectively, even under last-minute deadlines and shifting priorities
• Proactive, with a strong sense of initiative
• Functions effectively both independently and as part of a team, with a willingness to assist with routine or last-minute projects
• Excellent ability to collaborate with marketing channel experts to co-create integrated marketing plans from concept through completion
• Ability to partner with schools/colleges and the Digital team to strategize and help drive implementation of targeted digital advertising campaigns that support overall school/college recruitment goals
• Close visual acuity to perform tasks related to content production
• Ability to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels, with or without correction

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Prioritization

• Directs and stewards the overarching marketing priorities strategic plan supporting schools/colleges and business/academic units
• Works closely with schools/colleges, business/academic units, and other marketing teams to ensure effective prioritization and planning on an annual basis
• Ensures resources are in place to partner with other units in building marketing plans that help advance their strategic priorities
• Ensures teams effectively translate strategy into operations

Marketing Strategy & Campaign Development

• Partners with Marketing and Communications channel teams to co-create impactful marketing strategies that advance targeted goals
• Directs the development of marketing plans and related materials in partnership with channel teams
• Applies a solid understanding of contemporary approaches to brand stewardship
• Serves as lead marketer on special projects as needed

Partner Relationship Management

• Maintains a deep understanding of partners’ business goals to ensure integrated marketing solutions advance key partner objectives
• Develops strong, trusting relationships with partners and ensures a coordinated approach to marketing and advertising efforts
• Attends partner meetings
• Applies a high degree of emotional intelligence to ensure teams are positioned as strategic marketing partners for their assigned business/academic unit

Team Leadership

• Reviews, directs, guides, and mentors team members
• Helps team members troubleshoot challenges as they arise

Project & Budget Management

• Works with other leaders to ensure marketing programs roll out on time and on budget
• Acts as a problem-solver, keeping dozens of projects on-time and on-budget
• Spots and mitigates potential issues, while building relationships and mobilizing resources to meet goals

Organizational Leadership

• Provides counsel to the AVP or CMCO and collaborates on building a best-in-class marketing operation
• Stays up-to-date on industry trends
• Performs other duties as assigned