Associate Vice Chancellor, Marketing and Brand Strategy

The Division of University Relations (UR) builds public awareness, understanding and support for the university's mission and goals. The division includes the marketing, communications, and public affairs units and embraces an integrated approach to executing best-in-class work that achieves strategic outcomes. Among other responsibilities, University Relations:

• Elevates awareness and support of DU’s brand and reputation and advances a sense of pride in the DU experience.
• Establishes and strengthens relationships with key constituencies, inside and outside the university, facilitating their support for DU.
• Advances the strategic interests of the university by promoting its ideas, people, unique strengths and tremendous impact.
• Inspires belief in the power of the DU experience through integrated delivery of brand, communications, marketing, community engagement and government relations strategies that bring our university’s mission and vision to life.

Through our “Lead and Empower” focus, University Relations provides the campus community with expert leadership, partnership, strategy, tools and support to advance successful, on-brand, collaborative marketing communications and public affairs strategies that help achieve the strategic goals of the University, its colleges and units.

University Relations strengthens DU’s strategic position locally, regionally, nationally and internationally through data-driven and authentic marketing, communications and public affairs strategies across multiple channels with focused support for priority areas including academics and research, enrollment and admissions, athletics and advancement. Whether through marketing, web and digital strategies, social media, public relations, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, legislative affairs, community relations or thought leadership and training, UR drives results that empower DU to excel.

University Relations highly values and strives to advance an inclusive and supportive team where all members are valued and their input is appreciated. UR’s collective achievements are enhanced by its team members diverse perspectives and experiences, and the open exchange of ideas. The division continually assesses and works to improve organizational excellence to support a positive, creative and highly successful work environment.

Position Summary

The Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Marketing and Brand Strategy champions the University of Denver brand as the driver of strategic marketing communications at the university. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice Chancellor (SVC) for University Relations, and serving as the University’s senior marketing strategist, the AVC has overall responsibility for ensuring consistent and clear marketing strategies for DU and directs the brand, marketing, digital and creative direction for University Relations. The AVC works to promote a positive public image of the university through a variety of internal and external strategic marketing communications vehicles and programs designed to empower the university to achieve its strategic goals.

The Associate Vice Chancellor provides proactive leadership, coaching, support and vision to implement the university’s brand and marketing strategies across multiple platforms and leads collaborations and priority projects with colleges and primary units including Admissions and Advancement. The AVC takes an active leadership role in strategic planning, budget oversight and establishing effective marketing communications teamwork with campus constituents. Working under broad guidance from SVC, the AVC manages production of the university’s principal promotions and oversees a staff of writers/editors, designers, digital strategists and interactive content producers.

The position sits on University Relations’ senior leadership team and works collaboratively with the SVC, the AVC for University Communications and Issues Management, and the SVC for Government Relations and Community Affairs. The AVC leads the creation and implementation of a cohesive marketing and positioning strategy for the University to build and cultivate a connected, engaged, empowered, and inspired University community while advancing the University’s reputation and augmenting recruitment and revenue-generation activities.

The Associate Vice Chancellor is a proven leader, exceptional higher education communicator and an effective motivator for University Relations and campus-wide marketing communications staff. The position provides leadership across channels and the opportunity to partner with senior leadership to drive DU’s brand communications.

Essential Functions

• As a motivated, enthusiastic, hands-on executive-level marketing and creative leader, leads University Relations’ marketing, digital and creative teams in design, production, publications, photography and video ensuring effective, on-brand, high profile marketing communications for DU.
• Supports Senior Vice Chancellor in providing leadership and guidance in critical areas of strategic positioning, brand development and marketing efforts. In coordination with the SVC sets overarching strategy for marketing, brand and reputation efforts for the university as well as advises colleges and units on best practices.
• Sits on University Relations’ senior leadership team, collaboratively creating, implementing and assessing effective marketing, communications and public affairs goals, strategies and outcomes for DU.
• Partners closely with the AVC for Communications and Issues Management, and the AVC for Government Relations and Community Affairs, to create, guide, and measure fully integrated marketing communications strategies and campaigns.
• Develops and maintains effective branding and marketing communications strategies in support of DU’s strategic plan and assures successful implementation of those strategies. Implements and oversees key strategic marketing-related performance measurements.
• Leads, mentors and empowers University Relations creative teams to think strategically, articulate brand strategy and represent overall university strategy. Mentors and develops director and manager level leaders. Provides on-site, day-to-day management of marketing communications staff.
• As UR’s senior marketing strategist, serves point on implementing the university’s brand through collaborations and priority projects with key campus partners. With SVC, leads development of marketing communications plans with colleges and key university units, ensuring collaboration and brand consistency.
• Implements and manages annual and long-range university-wide integrated marketing plans and advertising programs to support brand positioning and university goals.
• Leverages research, analytics, and external market perspectives to measure and strengthen the University’s marketing and branding efforts. Develops a marketing dashboard to measure ROI and maximize informed decision making regarding future marketing spend.
• Engages with communications and marketing professionals across campus to ensure accountability for compliance with brand guidelines, graphic standards, web standards and marketing communications policies.
• Develops and manages accountable processes, procedures and production systems that efficiently create effective marketing communications vehicles for DU. Oversees continual refinement and improvement of in-house production systems.
• Provides leadership and support to staff associated with marketing and reputational efforts within at DU, ensuring alignment and collaboration between University Relations and colleges, schools and key units.
• Manages the marketing and brand budget and resources, and supports the preparation of budget narratives, requests, and updates as needed.
• Develops innovative marketing communications plans that best reflect the University of Denver experience and reinforces the University’s strategic priorities and 4D experience.
• Sets clear team goals and strategies, motivate staff, monitor team performance and report on metrics.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to make clear, concise decisions that guide creative work and creative teams, and to communicate creative vision in a way that improves process and drives quality.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus inside and outside of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, manage and inspire teams.
• Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Proven track record in building collaboration to achieve measurable goals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or related field; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 8-10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in marketing communications or directly relevant experience in increasingly responsible positions.
• 5 years of managerial/supervisory experience.
• Brand development/management experience in complex organizations.
• Experience leading/managing marketing, web and digital, and creative teams.
• Experience developing and overseeing budgets.
• Demonstrated expertise in market research and analysis and in development and implementation of integrated marketing plans.
• Demonstrated experience in developing highly effective strategic marketing communications strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education experience.
• Admissions marketing/recruitment experience.
• Demonstrated web and digital marketing success.
• Master’s degree in marketing or related area.
• Experience working with flexible, non-hierarchical teams and managing non-traditional personnel, such as student employees or contractors.
• Experience managing marketing agencies and other third-party vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate, manage and inspire creative teams with a variety of creative personalities.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) January 10, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 17.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $150,000-$190,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.