Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Appalachian State University•Boone, NC

About The Position

The Chief Marketing and Communications Officer serves as the university’s most senior strategic communications leader and creative visionary. We seek an innovative, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as the next Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO). Reporting directly to the Chancellor and serving as a member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, the CMCO will provide university-wide leadership for marketing and communications and serve as a trusted advisor on matters affecting App State’s reputation, visibility, and engagement with key audiences. The next CMCO will join Appalachian State University at an exciting time of growth and opportunity and will play a central role in how the university tells its story and connects with its communities. The position offers the opportunity to bring together strategy, creativity, technology, and audience insight to strengthen App State’s communications and marketing efforts. Working across academic and administrative areas, the CMCO will foster collaboration, strengthen the university’s communications infrastructure, and position the division to respond to an evolving higher education and media environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, public affairs, or a related field; advanced degree (Master’s or MBA) strongly preferred.
Minimum 12–15 years of progressively senior marketing and communications experience, with demonstrable leadership at the executive or near-executive level.
Proven cross-sector experience: substantial track record in both commercial/corporate environments AND public, government, or mission-driven institutional settings.
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop large, multi-disciplinary teams of creative and strategic professionals.
Significant experience bridging creative and strategy functions.
Proven crisis communications experience with demonstrable judgement under pressure.
Fluency in digital marketing tools, analytics platforms, and content management systems at a strategic and supervisory level.
Meaningful, hands-on experience with AI tools in a professional communications or marketing context, including generative AI for content, image, or workflow applications, and the ability to set strategic direction and policy for their use.
Outstanding written, verbal, and visual communication skills; persuasive presenter to diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience in higher education, healthcare, government, or other publicly accountable institutional environments.
Experience managing communications through political or legislative scrutiny, including testimony, FOIA /open-records, or public accountability processes.
Familiarity with enrollment marketing, alumni engagement, and development/fundraising communications.
Track record of successful brand repositioning, institutional reputation management, or multi-year strategic communications campaigns.
Experience with marketing technology stack assessment and procurement.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic communications and marketing counsel to the Chancellor, Cabinet, and university leadership.
Direct university-wide marketing and communications planning in support of institutional priorities.
Oversee the development and management of App State’s brand across channels, audiences, and university units.
Guide creative, digital, media, and internal communications strategies and establish expectations for quality and consistency.
Strengthen coordination among communicators across colleges, divisions, departments, and campuses.
Lead communications planning and response for significant institutional issues, major announcements, and crises.
Use research, analytics, and audience insights to inform strategy, evaluate effectiveness, and guide investment.
Oversee external agencies, vendors, partnerships, and resources supporting university marketing and communications.
Recruit, develop, and support a talented multidisciplinary team while fostering collaboration and accountability.
Evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and establish responsible approaches to their use in university communications.