Assistant Vice President Of Communication & Marketing - Augustana College

Job Description:

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Strategy, Innovation and Enrollment, the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management will oversee the planning, development and execution of the college's marketing and brand initiatives with primary responsibility to shape the college's brand and promotion strategy, which is shaped by the college's strategic plan, Bold & Boundless. In partnership with the senior leadership team, the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management will work to advance communication and marketing strategies that will increase regional, national and international awareness of Augustana College.

Characteristic duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Partners with the Office of Admissions to ensure the brand is incorporated into new strategies and tactics developed to support admission and institutional goals.

• Partners with the Office of College Advancement to ensure brand is incorporated into new strategies and tactics to support college advancement and institutional goals.

• Develops a compelling and impactful brand platform that positions the college to accomplish its strategic goals.

• Directs the college's efforts to enhance reputation and awareness with opinion and educational leaders nationally; works with the president, provost and deans and other senior officers on enhancing rankings and increasing outreach, through marketing, events and public and media relations.

• Acts as publisher for the college website, overseeing design, function and content; integrating brand principles; and ensuring best practices in organizational structure, search engine optimization, accessibility and interactivity are maintained.

• Oversees a centralized team of 12 marketing, creative services, public relations and conferencing services professionals, to include setting objectives, managing budgets, monitoring performance and assessing outcomes.

• Works closely with internal and external partners engaged to advance communication, brand, fundraising, student recruitment and marketing strategies and tactics.

• Provides leadership for the development, implementation and analysis of social media strategies with a direct impact on the college brand, perception, marketing, recruitment and engagement goals. Executes campaigns that empower constituents to spread brand messages virally and increase the quality of fans, followers, champions, donors and ambassadors.

• Contributes to, reviews, edits, and approves the college's most visible and strategic marketing plans, marketing content, and marketing assets (including web, print, digital, video, etc.), and ensures quality control, content appropriateness, tone, mission integration, brand platform alignment, and consideration of target objectives.

• Develops, implements and manages a strategic media relations program targeted at enhancing the brand and reputation of the college, faculty and individual academic/athletic/arts programs.

• Understands and analyzes marketplace trends, data and models to develop strategy, including overall communications planning, marketing research, academic program development, public and outreach efforts.

• Coordinates crisis communication as needed.

• Coordinates relationships with a variety of outside partners.

Requirements:

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree

• Minimum of 7 to 10 years of related experience with brand management, marketing and communication experience in positions of increasing responsibility

• Minimum of 3 years' experience in a leadership role with a hands-on collaborative style and a proven ability to supervise creative, communications and technical personnel, and manage complex projects with deadlines, budgets and outside resources

• Prior experience working within higher education or similarly complex organization preferred

Skills and Abilities:

• Proven ability to develop a project from concept to completion, review the effectiveness of processes to ensure professional standards and high quality as well as the ability to implement brand and marketing strategies in the execution of video, social media and other interactive media projects

• Excellent skills as a writer and storyteller with a collaborative style that demonstrates relationship- and consensus-building

• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills and compelling and impactful presentation abilities

• Ability to motivate and inspire creative, communications and marketing teams as well as colleagues, constituents, leaders and outside partners

• Experience brainstorming ideas and concepts for brand marketing campaigns and recommending solutions within the context of an institutional brand, communication and marketing strategy

• Ability to work across the college, to assess the needs of internal clients and suggest appropriate programs and ideas to meet needs

Travel: This position is located on the Augustana campus (Rock Island, Illinois) involves limited travel.

Work Environment: This position has potential for hybrid-remote work in accordance with institutional policy.

Physical Requirements: This position is located on campus and works in a traditional office environment. Must be able to lift 15 pounds on a frequent basis. Also required is the ability to listen, hear, speak, read, write, climb stairs, bend, stoop, and stand for intermittently long periods of time. Must be able to use a computer to accomplish a variety of job tasks.

Special Requirements: As key personnel representing the College to students, this position requires excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to a diverse student body, and the ability and willingness to model the mission and high standard of behavior of Augustana College. This position has work obligations that involve evening and weekend work. All potential employees must pass a criminal background check.

Additional Information:

Note: This job description is subject to change and is not designed to be a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by the employee.

Additional Information: Augustana is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Augustana College provides equal opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

College Commitment to Diversity: As part of the Augustana 2020 Strategic Plan, the campus has committed to growing as a community who welcomes and includes those historically underrepresented groups on our campus. Information on these initiatives and future plans can be found at: http://www.augustana.edu/about-us/president/diversity

Application Instructions:

Application Instructions: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume for consideration along with contact information for three professional references. For full consideration, applications should be submitted by July 1, 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately and the position will remain open until filled. Expected start date is no later than August 15.

Questions may be directed to W. Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President of External Relations at wkentbarnds@augustana.edu.