Director of Marketing and Communications, Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Pepperdine University•Calabasas, CA

29d•$93,000 - $105,000

About The Position

The Director of Marketing for the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) reports to the Senior Director of Client Relations and serves as the primary communications, brand, and growth leader, acting as a strategic partner to the Dean, faculty, and school leadership. This essential role is the dedicated co-architect of high-quality, data-informed strategies that ensure the college’s objectives align seamlessly with the university’s brand, mission, and long-term vision. The Director is accountable for the integrated planning and execution of all marketing and communications efforts across three key areas: School Marketing (collaborating with centralized enrollment marketing, web, communications, and creative teams to drive applications and funnel development through print, digital, social, web, and other channels); Profile-Raising (strengthening the school’s brand through PR, rankings, and multimedia content); and Advancement and Alumni Engagement (supporting the relevant advancement/ alumni engagement leaders in the college as well as the centralized alumni communications team). As the central point of contact for GSEP, the Director manages all constituent support requests, utilizing research and analysis to improve strategies and ensure the timely delivery of strategic and tactical support. This role is crucial in reinforcing the university’s Christ-centered commitment in external and internal communications. Duties School Marketing: Participate in all marketing and associated outcomes for programs, including websites, communications, social media, and digital marketing. Work in close collaboration with the Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing to align school-level initiatives with centralized strategies and performance goals. Brand Marketing and Profile-Raising: Lead efforts to strengthen the school's brand identity and elevate its profile across key audiences by developing and executing strategies that include public relations, organic social media, ranking improvement/publication plans, print, video, multimedia, and event promotion. Advancement and Alumni: Maintain regular and ongoing interaction with the centralized advancement and alumni relations teams, sharing accountability for measurable results directly tied to efforts. This includes writing annual plans, developing and executing communications, creating marketing and outreach materials, setting goals, reporting on measurable outcomes, and documenting work and results regularly. Constituent Support: Serve as the primary point of contact for school leadership and constituents, including the dean, committees, program chairs, faculty, staff, and admissions. Solely responsible for directly receiving, managing, and fulfilling all requests, ensuring the timely delivery of marketing and communications support for school marketing initiatives, internal/external communications, and any other school-related priorities. In partnership with senior school and departmental leadership, the Director also serves as a co-architect of high-quality, data-informed growth strategies that align school-level objectives with broader university plans and commitments. This includes advising leaders on strategic marketing opportunities, helping shape integrated campaigns and messaging that advance institutional goals, and ensuring that all communications reinforce the university's brand, mission, and long-term vision. Data, Research, and Analysis: Work closely with IMC teams to ideate, create, and monitor reports on the effectiveness of marketing and communications efforts. Analyze data and utilize insights to improve strategies and prepare synthesized presentations regularly. Budgeting: Field funding requests from school constituents and develop ideas that may require budget resources. Present enrollment-related requests directly to the Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing and non-enrollment-related requests to the Director’s direct supervisor. The Director must work through the proper channels, follow established processes, and obtain written approval before carrying out any budget-related activity, as they do not hold authority over budgets or spending. Perform other duties as assigned: Contribute to additional projects and responsibilities in support of Integrated Marketing Communications and broader University initiatives. Uphold University Mission Through Work Performed: Contribute to Pepperdine's mission and community through all responsibilities and interpersonal interactions, reflecting a culture of excellence, service, and hospitality. The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in writing, marketing, business, communications, or related field.
Excellent communication skills.
Proven ability to create and customize content for a variety of channels.
Ability to work collaboratively across teams to meet shared objectives.
Ability to work independently & pro-actively, handle multiple requests/projects simultaneously and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Quick learner.
Computer proficient in database management, word processing, project management, writing and editing skills.
Ability to effectively produce in a highly autonomous position.
Ability to delicately manage the input of multiple perspectives into one final product.
Ability to articulate the Pepperdine brand and a strong commitment to Pepperdine’s Christian mission.
Detail orientation
Proficiency in Microsoft suite, Google Analytics, G Suite, Salesforce, PeopleSoft, OmniUpdate, and Mac.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or related field preferred.
Five years of experience in marketing leadership.
Experience within a higher education marketing, recruitment, advancement, or enrollment office.
Supervisory capabilities, expert knowledge in higher education and marketing trends, ability to analyze and demonstrate returns on investment.
Adobe Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator), survey software preferred.

Responsibilities

Participate in all marketing and associated outcomes for programs, including websites, communications, social media, and digital marketing.
Work in close collaboration with the Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing to align school-level initiatives with centralized strategies and performance goals.
Lead efforts to strengthen the school's brand identity and elevate its profile across key audiences by developing and executing strategies that include public relations, organic social media, ranking improvement/publication plans, print, video, multimedia, and event promotion.
Maintain regular and ongoing interaction with the centralized advancement and alumni relations teams, sharing accountability for measurable results directly tied to efforts. This includes writing annual plans, developing and executing communications, creating marketing and outreach materials, setting goals, reporting on measurable outcomes, and documenting work and results regularly.
Serve as the primary point of contact for school leadership and constituents, including the dean, committees, program chairs, faculty, staff, and admissions.
Solely responsible for directly receiving, managing, and fulfilling all requests, ensuring the timely delivery of marketing and communications support for school marketing initiatives, internal/external communications, and any other school-related priorities.
In partnership with senior school and departmental leadership, the Director also serves as a co-architect of high-quality, data-informed growth strategies that align school-level objectives with broader university plans and commitments.
Work closely with IMC teams to ideate, create, and monitor reports on the effectiveness of marketing and communications efforts.
Analyze data and utilize insights to improve strategies and prepare synthesized presentations regularly.
Field funding requests from school constituents and develop ideas that may require budget resources.
Present enrollment-related requests directly to the Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing and non-enrollment-related requests to the Director’s direct supervisor.
Contribute to additional projects and responsibilities in support of Integrated Marketing Communications and broader University initiatives.
Contribute to Pepperdine's mission and community through all responsibilities and interpersonal interactions, reflecting a culture of excellence, service, and hospitality.