Summary
Description
About the University of Colorado – Denver
The University of Colorado Denver is the state’s premier public urban research university and equity-serving institution. Globally connected and locally invested, CU Denver partners with future-focused learners and communities to design accessible, relevant, transformative educational experiences for every stage of life and career. Across seven schools and colleges in the heart of downtown Denver, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges through break-through innovations and impactful research, and creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. For more information, visit ucdenver.edu.
Job Description
* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *
The Division of University Marketing and Communications (MarComm) advances the university's mission and reputation as a leading academic and research institution. Through strategic communications planning, media relations, branding, marketing, executive communications, and a wide range of digital media, the office tells the stories of the university and its people.
The division is organized into five units that report to the vice chancellor:
- Marketing and Digital Strategy
- Creative Design and Content
- Engagement & Events
- Strategic Communications
- School/College level Marketing & Communications Teams
At the direction of the chancellor, the vice chancellor is responsible for leading a team of roughly 30 marketing and communications professionals charged with creating the overarching strategy, goals, metrics, and tools to promote and raise the visibility of CU Denver. This includes engaging key internal and external audiences while protecting and elevating the reputation of the university.
The vice chancellor supports the Chancellor's Office in all communications needs and manages the internal communications for the institution, ensuring that the campus has timely and effective communications around critical issues, key developments, and emergencies. The new vice chancellor also oversees a robust marketing plan across traditional, social, digital, and emerging media, and assumes a leadership role in integrating and coordinating the efforts of communications and marketing professionals across the university, including enrollment marketing and communications, to ensure the university's goals and priorities are achieved.
Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications
What you will do:
Marketing and Brand
- Lead the creation and implementation of a marketing strategy that aligns with the university’s brand, enrollment management strategy, and market research. Work closely with the chancellor, senior leaders, and key stakeholders to ensure the strategy supports the university’s strategic goals and aspirations.
- Ensure consistent messaging, brand integration, and institutional priorities are properly reflected across all platforms, including print and digital content.
- Engage key constituents across campus, including but not limited to school and college-level MarComm teams, enrollment management leaders, deans and other academic leaders to ensure interdepartmental coordination and collaboration in marketing efforts.
- Partner with the University of Colorado System to support and integrate the system brand and marketing strategy with the campus approach.
Strategic Communications and Media Relations
- Lead the development of a strategic communication plan that promotes the university’s strategic priorities by sharing engaging storytelling and effective messaging through creative services and digital communications to both internal and external audiences.
- Oversee the execution of a comprehensive communications plan that includes strategic messaging, brand development, best practices, print and digital content creation, event marketing, and coordination of digital communications (email, website, and social media).
- Guide a team of skilled communications professionals and others across the institution on creating unified communications materials.
- Provide vision and guidance on implementing new ways to communicate that encompass the latest communications formats, tools, and delivery methods.
- Oversee the university's media relations strategy, including key relationships with on-campus, regional, and national media. Develop programs that prepare key university administrators to interact effectively with the media.
Management and Coordination of the Marketing and Communications Effort Across the Institution
- Oversee the resources and personnel within MarComm to ensure the delivery of excellent and strategic services. Provide leadership and mentorship to staff that advance both their professional growth and the department's strategic priorities.
- Work with the deans and the school/college-level MarComm teams to ensure their marketing and communication needs are met and their goals aligned with the university’s overarching strategy. Guide and inspire an integrated and unified approach to marketing and communications across the campus.
- Offer ideas and support to academic and administrative unit communications professionals, to inform and inspire an integrated approach to marketing and communications across the campus.
- Gather key voices from across the institution to clarify goals and unify messages, enhancing overall engagement.
- Collaborate with the CU System, President's Office, Auraria Higher Education Campus (AHEC), and other University of Colorado campuses to develop and deliver cohesive and effective communications strategies that serve the best interests of both CU Denver and the CU System as a whole.
Advisor to the Chancellor and Senior Leadership Team
- Advise the chancellor and the senior leadership team on all aspects of marketing and communications.
- Serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the chancellor as the chancellor considers various initiatives and their implications.
- Partner with the Office of the Chancellor to develop and implement a media engagement plan for the chancellor.
- Serve as a member of the university's senior leadership team.
Crisis Communications
- Serve as the primary advisor on all major communications issues. Handle communications for challenging and sensitive university matters, including crisis and emergency situations, while ensuring complete confidentiality.
- Act as the university spokesperson in times of institutional crisis.
- Collaborate with Auraria Higher Education Center and its associated team to manage communications that have tri-institutional impacts.
- Work with university leadership and other key constituents to provide communication for internal and external audiences.
- Ensure the accuracy of information across various platforms, focusing on official communications, social media, and institutional websites.
- Strengthen the trust of the CU Denver community and the public by ensuring accurate, timely, and transparent communications during crisis situations.
Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)
- Master’s Degree
Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)
- A master's degree in a relevant field(s).
- Significant experience in a senior leadership role or progressively responsible senior positions overseeing related work at a multifaceted organization or university.
- Experience with strategic planning implementation, public-private partnerships, and leading complex negotiations in politically charged environments.
- Strong, demonstrated commitment and accomplishment in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Proven success in promoting diversity, equity and inclusive excellence
- Deep understanding of faculty roles shared governance
- An eagerness to collaborate with the university's academic and intellectual pursuits
- The ability to maintain principled stances during challenge and crisis.
- Skill in navigating complex political environments.
- The ability to inspire and provide collaborative, visionary, leadership to a key team of communicators within the unit and across the university, CU Denver leadership, and the broader community.
- Demonstrate a track record of fostering collaboration, innovation, and team motivation.
- Capable of resolving complex issues and utilizing facts and data in decision-making, crisis management, and other sensitive matters.
- Demonstrated success in leading branding, marketing, media relations, and communications planning for a complex organization with diverse audiences (preferably in a higher education setting of similar size and complexity).
- Ability to develop integrated marketing and communications strategies that support advancement and enrollment management goals using data and analysis to guide decision making.
- Skill in responding strategically to public scrutiny, sensitive issues, and information requests for a high-profile institution while maintaining professionalism and calm during crises.
- The ability to inspire, coach, mentor, develop trust, provide direction, and set expectations for a dedicated and professional team.
- The skills to manage and develop programs and operations effectively and to assess and make necessary changes to the organization and infrastructure to achieve objectives.
- Ability to promote a culture of teamwork, high performance, and continuous improvement;
- Exemplary communication skills, ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from internal and external audiences with grace and finesse.
- Strong oral and written communication as well as listening skills, including the ability to accurately interpret what others are saying and convey messages, information, concepts, and details accurately and clearly.
- The capacity to formulate, articulate, and influence a wide range of audiences around a shared vision, and a record of working with others collaboratively to reach critical decisions, and the ability to communicate effectively about issues, decisions, and developments large and small.
- A demonstrated confidence and ability as a senior leader with the humility to be an effective part of a collaborative and collegial senior team
- lack of ego and self-promotion, together with the desire to partner with others in service of the strongest possible effort and outcomes
- Ability to listen and hear ideas and thoughts from a variety of interested parties and partners and to integrate the thinking and views of others into one's own; integrity and trustworthiness; flexibility, adaptiveness, and resilience
As of 7/1/2023, The University of Colorado recommends employees be fully vaccinated from the COVID-19, but is not required. COVID recommendations and information can be found at: https://www.ucdenver.edu/coronavirus
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $250,000-275,000
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits
Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125
Application Deadline
- Witt Kieffer is assisting the University of Colorado Denver in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by February 17, 2025.
Application materials, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to:
- Robin Mamlet, Jeff Compher, and Natalie Song at CUDenver-VCMarComm@wittkieffer.com
Background Check Policy
The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.
Diversity and Equity
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at workplaceengagement@ucdenver.edu.
The University of Colorado Denver is committed to recruiting, retaining, and promoting diverse faculty and staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and people of color, women, persons with disabilities, persons within the LGBTQ+ community, and veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equity in education and employment.
