Executive Director, Marketing and Engagement

At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we Make it Real through learning, research, creativity, service and discovery — the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees work flexibility, a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and-academic-professional-benefits/.

As the architect for our Marketing and Engagement office, the Executive Director (ED) develops strategic efforts to increase involvement, retention and philanthropic results. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Engagement, this is a new role developed to expand and optimize VCU’s relationships with its multiple constituencies using state-of-the-art approaches and technologies. High priority for the ED is the enhancement of marketing solutions for VCU Medical Philanthropy, including community constituencies and patients, as well as for alumni and friends. This leader will direct experienced teams of solicitation, stewardship and digital engagement professionals who execute multichannel strategies in a variety of marketing platforms. As VCU embarks on its most ambitious campaign in its history, this position will work closely with VCU’s consultant BWF in developing innovative marketing and engagement solutions.

In this role, you will:
- Collaborate with key stakeholders throughout the university to design data-driven marketing campaign strategies
- Implement systems and procedures that allow for robust, constituent-tailored messaging and automated experiences across multiple channels, resulting in increased engagement, retention and philanthropic participation
- Collaborate with Advancement Solutions to drive the strategic adoption of new marketing systems and constituent-tailored delivery strategies
- Collaborate with senior leaders, foundations, university marketing teams, DAR Communications and campus partners to develop goals, timelines, budgets and content requirements for strategic marketing campaigns
- Lead the formulation, execution and evaluation of strategies and tactics for email, digital, mobile and direct mail, including solicitation and retention, campaign engagement and donor lifecycle
- Research and analyze national university and grateful patient trends and recommend new marketing initiatives and changes in tactical campaigns to increase results
- Design complex journeys to enhance engagement efforts and to guide the constituent experience with mindfulness toward lifetime donor relationships
- Lead a team of experienced professionals, recognizing and acknowledging their skills and activating their strengths to achieve organizational and personal goals
- Establish policies and procedures associated with strategic marketing and donor stewardship
- Work closely with DAR and Medical Philanthropy communications teams and campus partners to present differentiating content in its most compelling form to drive emotional engagement and philanthropic commitment
- Work with the AVP to create and oversee consulting partnerships to implement specific campaigns or fundraising initiatives, as needed

As a team member, you will:
- Encourage transparent and respectful relationships within the team, DAR, VCU schools and units, VCU University Relations, VCU Health Marketing and VCU’s institutionally related foundations
- Lead and support change in strategy and systems
- Work in a fast-paced, performance-based professional environment
- Establish relationships with VCU’s national peers to add to DAR’s collective innovative thinking
- Align with DAR’s core purpose and values

Required qualifications/skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business or related field
- Ten to 15 years of professional experience in building and executing marketing campaigns resulting in increased engagement, retention and philanthropic participation
- Creative problem-solver and “What if?” thinker who enjoys collaboration with diverse stakeholders throughout a matrixed organization
- Knowledge of best practices for digital campaigns, email marketing, annual giving and donor stewardship in alumni, constituent and patient populations
- Demonstrated success in developing and engaging individual staff members, while inspiring team pride and momentum
- Ability to articulate, propose and convince stakeholders on how to best engage targeted constituencies
- Results-oriented and data-driven with an innate ability to tell the story behind the numbers
- Deep knowledge of the digital landscape, including emerging trends across social and fundraising platforms, with an understanding of utilization, benchmarks and evaluation
- Intrinsic commitment to the importance of analytics in fueling all decision-making
- Proven ability to conceive, execute and manage philanthropic processes
- Commitment to evaluate and change internal business processes
- Confident and capable of juggling multiple priorities and projects while working strategically, collaboratively and inventively; members of the team embrace a hands-on mentality and do what it takes culture
- Ability to build small collaborative groups, delegate and prioritize for direct and indirect reports, and lead discussions of strategy with campus partners
- Previous success working with large data sets and segmentation strategies
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a university professional at VCU

Preferred qualifications:
- Master’s degree in marketing, communications, business or related field
- Deep familiarity and power user of marketing automation platforms
- Proven track record managing partnerships with marketing firms or consultants


Position Details:
Department: Office of Development and Alumni Relations
VCU Job Title: Senior Director CM 3 (13416), Communications
Salary Range: Final salary and title commensurate with experience up to $150,000
Employment Type: University and Academic Professional
Restricted Status: Not Restricted
Exemption Status: Exempt
Hybrid Work Available: Yes
FTE: 1.0
ORP Eligible: Yes

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Carolyn Lee
Contact Email: clee23@vcu.edu