Director of Marketing and Communications

University of Iowa•Iowa City, IA

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Iowa's College of Pharmacy is seeking a Director of Marketing and Communications to lead its marketing strategy, focusing on enrollment growth, program reputation, and audience engagement. This role is a strategic growth driver, responsible for finding aligned students, building awareness, and making a compelling case across all channels. The director will serve as the college's embedded marketing lead and Program Marketing Owner, connecting Pharmacy with specialist resources within the university's Office of Strategic Communication (OSC). Initially, the focus will be on building new capabilities such as audience research, positioning, messaging, web strategy, and enrollment marketing, while developing expertise in pharmacy education. The role also involves strategic direction for communicating with and stewarding relationships with alumni, preceptors, faculty, and current students. Over time, the director will own the college's brand positioning, enrollment marketing channels, and coordinate OSC resources for Pharmacy's goals. This position reports centrally to the university's Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and operates within the college as a member of its leadership team, serving as a trusted advisor to the dean and ensuring the college's voice is reflected in broader institutional strategy.

Requirements

Master's degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field, or a bachelor's degree in a related field plus equivalent years of professional experience.
Typically, 5-7 years of progressive experience in marketing, with demonstrated responsibility for strategy, planning, and measurable outcomes.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing integrated marketing plans, including hands-on experience with at least two of the following: Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, programmatic advertising, web strategy, or email marketing.
Familiarity with performance measurement systems, including analytics platforms, conversion tracking, and attribution methodologies.
Experience working effectively in complex organizations with multiple stakeholders, including the ability to influence without direct authority.
Demonstrated experience managing and developing staff.
Excellent writing and editorial skills; the director frequently serves as the final reviewer of college communications and must bring both craft and sound judgment to the role.
Demonstrated experience working effectively and collaboratively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives, including knowledge of effective strategies that foster and promote a welcoming and respectful work/academic environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in enrollment marketing, higher education, or mission-driven organizations.
Demonstrated ability to build new marketing capabilities or functions from early stages.
Working knowledge of email marketing best practices.
Familiarity with CRM platforms, marketing automation tools, or customer data platforms.
Working knowledge of data privacy regulations relevant to marketing operations.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of an annual marketing plan aligned with collegiate enrollment goals, program priorities, and available resources.
Collaborate with the CMO to build and deploy marketing infrastructure: audience segmentation, web strategy, paid media, email marketing, and marketing automation.
Lead the development of audience-specific messaging frameworks for prospective students, current students, faculty, alumni, and external partners, guiding how the college communicates across all channels and functions.
Provide strategic direction for alumni, donor, and leadership communications, ensuring alignment with brand positioning and enrollment goals, with execution shared across the team and in coordination with advancement partners.
Develop and maintain a marketing calendar that sequences initiatives, manages dependencies, and aligns with enrollment and academic cycles.
Establish processes for intake, prioritization, and capacity management that protect the team's focus on strategic marketing work.
Develop and manage the annual marketing budget in coordination with college leadership and OSC.
Allocate resources across channels and initiatives based on audience data, performance history, and enrollment priorities.
Provide functional and administrative supervision of college marcom staff across marketing, communications, and constituent engagement functions, including hiring, performance management, and professional development.
Build a team culture grounded in marketing accountability, creative excellence, and data-informed decision-making.