Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications/Chief Marketing Officer

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.

Position Details

The Office of Communications shines a spotlight on the people and programs of Wesleyan University to enhance its reputation as a leader in liberal education. In so doing, it serves as a partner with units across campus, providing expertise in brand management, strategic communication, media relations, digital and social media strategy, website development, content training and strategy, print and online publications and videography and photography.

Reporting to the Vice President for Communications, the Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications will develop and implement integrated marketing plans – articulating clear strategic objectives – and develop a test and learn culture based in analytics and measurement.

The position will lead strategic communications and creative, and digital marketing functional areas to leverage tools and strategies to inform and guide impactful communications. In the absence of the Vice President for Communications, the AVP will lead the division in its daily operations.

The position must gain alignment and support across the University for marketing initiatives, demonstrating the benefit they bring. They will expertly guide reactive and tactical storytelling in the direction of strategic, brand and data-driven marketing. They will understand and convey the unique culture and values of Wesleyan University.

Responsibilities include:

Provide innovation in strategy, marketing, planning derived from consumer/marketing centric research; apply analytics as well as creative thinking in order to further University brand.

Function as the guardian of the brand—clarifying and articulating the distinctive qualities that define Wesleyan in the form of brand architecture to external as well as internal constituencies, across all communication touch points.

Lead marketing research and analytics to make informed and strategic decisions.

Build marketing best practices, defining and strengthening the role of marketing across the University and bringing out-of-the-box thinking to identify new integrated marketing direction that brings brand vision to life.

Form and strengthen a cross-university consortium of those with marketing and communication skills to achieve brand and marketing objectives.

Lead a strong marketing and communications team, providing the inspirational leadership necessary to develop, mentor and motivate a high performing team.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in management, marketing, communications or a related field and a minimum of 10 or more years of experience in marketing communications or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Demonstrated record of accomplishment of building and leading high performing teams.
Demonstrated proficiency in executing marketing strategies to influence strategic communications.
Promotion strategy skills and demonstrated experience in integrated marketing with significant experience in advertising, promotion management, direct marketing, digital marketing, and CRM .
Demonstrated ability to conceive new research-based marketing strategies and successfully lead implementation.
Record of accomplishment in highly complex environment with multiple constituents.
Ability to integrate thinking across divergent points of view.
Financial analysis skills and experience in data driven decision-making.
Sophisticated, writing, editing, and presentation skills.
Demonstrated creative and conceptual thinker.
Demonstrated commitment to working within a diverse environment and interacting collegially with individuals of different backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in management, marketing, or related field.
Proven record of accomplishment of success with 15 years of marketing communications, creative services in higher education or related field
Understanding of the best marketing approaches in use by customer-oriented organizations and institutions of higher education

Special Instructions to Applicants

Review of applications will begin on May 19, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.

Along with the requested cover letter and resume please use the requested “other document” to submit work samples of integrated marketing campaigns. Please provide details on the role you played in the campaign. For. e.g., did you lead the effort, hire a consultant or partner with an internal department/division.

Additional Information

Any and all offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504, or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to: Alison Williams, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion/ Title IX Officer, 860-685-3927, awilliams@wesleyan.edu.