Executive Director, Marketing & Communications

Brock University • St. Catharines, ON

2d • CA$118,322 - CA$189,314 • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Vice President, External, the Executive Director, Marketing & Communications provides strategic and operational leadership for Brock University’s integrated Marketing and Communications function, ensuring coordinated, university-wide capability that advances institutional growth, reputation, and brand. The incumbent sets direction, establishes priorities, and ensures disciplined delivery across marketing and communications initiatives in support of Brock’s goals and broader institutional objectives. The Executive Director, Marketing & Communications integrates recruitment performance, institutional narrative, and brand governance within a cohesive operating model that connects strategy to execution and drives measurable impact. Working in close partnership with senior leadership, Deans, and key administrative units, the incumbent strengthens institutional alignment, operational effectiveness, and long-term brand equity while ensuring Brock’s voice, visibility, and market presence remain clear, consistent, and competitive.

Requirements

• Degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Relations, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience would be considered.
• Progressive leadership experience in marketing and communications, including significant experience in a similar organization (post-secondary, public sector, or similarly complex environments preferred).
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated marketing and communications functions, including performance marketing, brand governance, media relations, and institutional communications.
• Experience leading reputation strategy and issues management at a senior level.
• Proven ability to translate institutional priorities into measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of enrolment marketing, CRM and lifecycle strategy, and data-informed decision-making.
• Promotes and embodies inclusivity and respect within the workplace and the broader community.
• Demonstrated success building and leading multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets and external partnerships.
• Exceptional communication skills, executive presence, and political acuity.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex organizations requiring clarity, alignment, and disciplined prioritization.

Nice To Haves

• A graduate degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Public Relations, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Brock’s integrated Marketing & Communications strategy, aligning growth, reputation, and brand priorities across the institution.
• Translate institutional strategy into a clear, sequenced Marketing & Communications roadmap with defined outcomes and measures of success.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Vice President, External and senior leadership on matters related to marketing performance, institutional positioning, brand health, and reputation risk.
• Establish annual and multi-year priorities that balance recruitment performance, storytelling excellence, and long-term brand equity.
• Ensure alignment between centralized functions and faculty/unit-based communications resources to promote institutional coherence and effectiveness.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the University’s Centre of Expertise within University Marketing and Communications.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high performing leadership team, fostering a culture of clarity, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure performance-driven recruitment marketing strategies that generate qualified demand and measurable funnel growth.
• Steward Brock’s institutional brand, ensuring governance, standards, and positioning are consistently applied across all institutional touchpoints.
• Oversee resource planning, budget management, and vendor relationships to ensure effective and responsible stewardship.
• Provide leadership and oversight of Brock’s integrated Marketing & Communications operating model, ensuring effective coordination, efficiency, and accountability across the function.
• Ensure systems, analytics, and reporting frameworks enable data-informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Provide executive oversight of institutional issues management and crisis communications planning.
• Advise senior leadership on reputational implications of institutional decisions, public positioning, and emerging issues.

Benefits

• Health & Dental Benefits: Comprehensive extended health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Pension Plan: Enrollment eligibility in the Brock University Pension Plan.
• Vacation: Up to 3 weeks per year, in addition to university holidays.
• Professional Development: Eligibility for the Brock Tuition Waiver Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive