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Chief Marketing and Communications Strategist

Employer
Salem Academy and College
Location
North Carolina, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Date posted
Jan 12, 2021

Salem Academy and College, the oldest continuously operating educational institution for girls and women in the country by its founding date of 1772, invites applications for a Chief Marketing and Communications Strategist position. The Chief Communications and Marketing Officer will work as a part of Salem’s executive team, reporting directly to the President.  The experienced and passionate leader in this role will oversee the strategic design, development and flawless execution of a comprehensive integrated communications and marketing plan in support of Salem Academy and College. As Salem prepares to celebrate 250 years of educating women, the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer will play a critical role in positioning the institution for the future.

 Responsibilities include the development and oversight of a new strategic communications and marketing plan, including messaging strategy, positioning, branding, advertising and promotions, with economy and efficiency toward various constituents, including administration, faculty, alumnae, current and prospective students, and the surrounding community. The role will oversee ongoing environmental and competitive analyses, market research, strategic direction and priorities, budget management, and measurement/analysis. He/she will also oversee the ongoing execution and optimization of a tactical marketing plan that includes earned, owned and paid media strategies. This plan must convey the institution’s mission as well as the institution’s strategic priorities to multiple key audiences, internal and external, while defining and leveraging Salem’s distinctiveness, achievements, and key initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include but are Not Limited to the Following

  • Embrace, support, and advance the stated mission and strategic priorities of Salem Academy and College;
  • Create, advance, and manage a marketing and communications vision that is in accord with the institution’s mission and strategic priorities, articulating who we are and what our brand promise is to external and internal constituents;
  • Serve as the institution’s chief communications officer and spokesperson;
  • Develop the institution’s branding, marketing and communications programs for all constituents, internal and external;
  • Conduct regular audits of the institution’s branding, marketing and communications programs;
  • Lead with a customer-first mindset, developing a data informed position on who current and target audiences are and implementing strategies and tactics that help acquire and retain valuable audiences;
  • Lead market research to help identify and define strategies for key audience segments/targets;
  • Manage the development of Salem’s data and customer relationship management strategies;
  • Work to identify strategic strengths and weaknesses of the institution’s marketing and communications programs and optimize accordingly;
  • Set key performance indicators to measure and report on the impact of marketing efforts;
  • Partner closely with enrollment and admissions leadership, sharing current marketing best practices and implementing test and learn initiatives to identify breakthrough programs that drive engagement, grow enrollment, as well as ensure brand relevance and foster a positive brand impact;
  • Partner closely with institutional advancement leadership to ensure consistent branding, identify possible supporters, create impactful language and programs to drive support, and foster positive brand impact.
  • Gather, analyze, and disseminate market intelligence that assesses the needs, perceptions, expectations, and satisfaction of students, faculty, staff, alumnae, and other stakeholders;
  • Develop and advance successful and competitive strategic positioning of new academic programs and the successful repositioning of existing academic programs, support enrollment growth and student retention, and highlight the talent and activities of the faculty;
  • Manage the financial responsibilities for the marketing function to include managing the marketing budget and allocating dollars appropriately across content creation, paid advertising, influencer marketing, partnerships, public relations, agency/institution fees, etc. with a goal to maximize spending effectiveness;
  • Direct institutional brand identity, image standards, and consistent voice;
  • Manage all external communications and marketing partners and agencies;
  • Define an institutional risk communications strategy;
  • Manage the development of communications and speech writing for senior leaders;
  • Define and manage the tactical elements of key messaging and marketing mix choices;
  • Develop and manage an ongoing comprehensive integrated marketing communications plan;
  • Advise campus executives and leadership on innovative and evolving marketing and communications strategies and status of integrated marketing communications plan;
  • Work to foster a spirit of teamwork and collaboration among the Salem community; and
  • Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a closely related field. Master’s degree in a related field is preferred;
  • 10+ years of related work experience in marketing strategy, product/service development/launch, brand management, and marketing communications;
  • Significant executive-level marketing and communications strategy development and management experience. Prior experience in higher education a plus;
  • Significant brand development, brand management, and messaging strategy experience;
  • Demonstrated success working with creative strategy and resources in the areas of content marketing, communications/public relations, social media and mobile marketing, direct marketing, websites, broadcast, and print media;
  • Significant cross-functional project management experience;
  • Ability to create integrated marketing communications plans, to develop product/service positioning, provide market and competitive analysis, and develop and manage metrics;
  • Ability to drive consensus among diverse and disparate groups;
  • Ability to communicate persuasively and work collaboratively;
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships fostering an environment of mutual respect, understanding, and trust;
  • Willingness to challenge the status quo and move quickly to test and learn new strategies and tactics;
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills, written and oral, demonstrated at the senior leadership level; and
  • Strong research and analytical skills.

Application Process

To apply, please please send a letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position along with a resume or curriculum vitae to Emily Young, Director of Human Resources and Benefits, at emily.young@salem.edu. The letter of interest may be addressed to the “Search Committee.” The review of applications will begin immediately and will be ongoing until the position is filled.

Salem Academy and College is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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