Director - Brand Strategy

Ancora Education•Arlington, TX

About The Position

The Director of Brand Strategy leads the strategic direction and execution for a portfolio of Ancora brands. The Director unites Ancora’s brand presence, driving student enrollment and retention, and fostering deep engagement across all campuses through compelling social media, strategic events, and effective grassroots marketing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in brand strategy, marketing, or related field, with experience managing multiple brands being highly advantageous.
Proven track record of developing and executing successful social media and digital content strategies.
Demonstrable experience in team leadership, mentorship, and project management.
Strong financial acumen with experience in budget management (grassroots marketing, events, and promotions).
Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and manage complex stakeholder relationships.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the Higher Education sector or a consumer-facing business with a focus on youth/student engagement is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute overarching brand strategies that maintain distinct identities for each brand/campus while aligning with the organization's mission and goals.
Define the core brand narratives, positioning, and messaging for each entity, ensuring consistency across all channels and touchpoints.
Conduct continuous market research and competitive analysis to identify trends and opportunities that inform brand evolution and strategic adjustments.
Collaborate closely with admissions and academic teams to ensure brand strategy supports enrollment and institutional objectives.
Translate brand strategy into measurable business outcomes, including enrollment influence, retention lift, audience growth, and long-term brand equity.
Lead the development and execution of a robust, multi-brand social media and social content strategy designed to maximize reach, engagement, and brand affinity with target demographics (prospective and current students).
Oversee the creation, curation, and distribution of high-quality, on-brand content across all social media platforms (e.g., TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn).
Define KPIs for social media performance, monitor analytics, and provide actionable insights to optimize strategy and content performance.
Oversee influencer marketing initiatives, creator partnerships, ambassador programs, and digital storytelling campaigns that amplify brand visibility and student outcomes.
Evaluate and integrate appropriate AI tools to streamline content planning, creative development, analytics, and community engagement.
Design and implement creative student engagement strategies utilizing campus events, partnerships, and digital initiatives to build a vibrant and connected student community.
Develop student retention strategies driven by brand-aligned experiences and communications that enhance the student value proposition from enrollment through graduation.
Oversee the planning and execution of all campus-level events, ensuring they are on-brand, high-quality, and meet strategic objectives.
Oversee the development of outreach strategies targeting high schools, employer partners, and local communities to increase brand awareness and enrollment opportunities.
Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of brand and marketing specialists, ensuring quality execution, professional development, and collaborative effort.
Serve as the primary brand advocate and strategy liaison, effectively working with multiple internal and external stakeholders (e.g., executive leadership, campus deans, external agencies).
Manage the grassroots, events, and promotional marketing budget across all brands, ensuring maximum ROI and fiscal responsibility.
Establish workflows and processes to ensure all marketing activities are executed efficiently and to the highest standards of quality.
Evaluate vendor performance and proposals, negotiate contracts, and assess new technologies and platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, Hootsuite, Wrike, Monday.com) to enhance efficiency and ROI.