Executive Director, Undergraduate Admission Communications and Marketing

University of Denver•Quinte West, ON

1d•$115,000 - $122,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Enrollment Division at the University of Denver, which consists of Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid, seeks to attract and enroll students who will become leaders, scholars, artists, entrepreneurs, and public servants uniquely qualified to live in and shape a global society. The Undergraduate Admission team recognizes education as a means of individual and societal transformation - our vision is to inspire, guide, and support prospective and current students as leaders and scholars who will positively impact their communities. The Financial Aid Office is dedicated to serving and educating students, families, colleagues, and the community through the financial aid process from pre-enrollment to program completion. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment, the Executive Director of Communication and Marketing (Executive Director/EDCM) for the Enrollment Division is the strategic leader of the communication and marketing needs of Undergraduate Admission and Financial Aid. Acting as a key partner in conjunction with the Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Admission, as well as University Relations, the EDCM is responsible for creating, developing and implementing an integrated communication/marketing plan. The EDCM leads the communication and marketing effort within the division and will plan, develop, implement and assess all communication and marketing needs, strategies and all forms of communication of the Division for key constituents/stakeholders with a high standard of excellence. All messages and communication plans will be developed and shaped with much thought for the direct needs of prospective students, parents, high school counselors and other key constituents; all messages should comply with and promote DUs brand attributes with both a “one DU” ideal and 4D experience representation. The EDCM will be sensitive to, and have an understanding of, the diverse academic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds of University staff and students as well as establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Upon identification and assessment of marketing and communications needs, the EDCM will select the most effective means of communication and create/implement the appropriate messages and materials for each population/project, ensuring all assets are consistent, professional, relevant and delivered in a timely and logical manner. The EDCM is required to keep abreast with communication, marketing and design trends with special emphasis on the trends/methods being implemented by other Enrollment divisions across the country. The EDCM will partner with campus colleagues to ensure a cohesive and consistent user experience for prospective undergraduate students and their families. These skills enable the EDCM to participate successfully on the senior leadership team in the Enrollment Division. In closing, the Executive Director is responsible for developing and executing an integrated marketing and communication plan, promoting and utilizing DU’s editorial and brand standard guides. Working with market research findings, identifying and reaching target audiences, generating imaginative solutions, producing excellent print and digital communication materials, and collaborating with enrollment, central marketing, academic units, media relations, athletics and advancement teams is a key objective of the position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Seven years’ general business experience.
A track record showing the ability to develop and execute an integrated marketing and communication plan, promote brand identity, work with market research findings, identify and reach target audiences, generate imaginative solutions, produce print and electronic communication materials that yield demonstrable results/positive outcomes, and collaborate with finance, media relations, enrollment (recruitment/financial aid), and development teams.
Strong writing, editing and organizational skills with an emphasis on creative and promotional writing.
Familiarity with contemporary communication tools and channels.
Ability to effectively present information one-on-one and in large-group settings to a variety of audiences.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret marketing/communication and enrollment management data/reports as well as departmental procedures and policies.
Ability to draft reports and business correspondence.
Knowledgeable in software programs and other computer skills.
Demonstrated commitment to promoting inclusive excellence.
Ability to compute, read and interpret rates and percentages in all areas of tracking and managing statistical communication and marketing data as well as for assigned territory management.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure.
Ability to compute and interpret ratios, percentages, charts and bar graphs.
Basic accounting skills are required for developing and managing the assigned marketing/communication budget/s.
Must be able to independently assess opportunities and situations and provide reasonable solutions.
Must be focused on problem resolution.
Creative problem solving and thoughtful, timely decision-making skills.
Ability to analyze a situation, draw conclusions and take or recommend actions on a timely and regular basis.
Continually evaluate the effectiveness of communications, marketing efforts, and programs.
Set goals and objectives that form an integral part of a complex set of Enrollment goals; monitor results; and use results analysis to fashion future plans, strategies, goals, and uses of resources.
Proven ability to understand industry and data trends for a program/project/plan/territory and translate into measurable action plans.
Ability to cast vision as well as to motivate team to reach objectives both independently and with the group.
Model inclusiveness, transparency and authenticity in all communications.
Proven ability to form effective partnerships internal and external to organization.
Ability to summarize the results of communication/marketing/recruiting efforts and make future recommendations.
Ability to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for unit and measure success of programming.
Ability to create and interpret data/marketing/enrollment reports.
Ability to communicate the features, benefits, value and outcomes of a University of Denver education.
Ability to describe the areas of study and curriculum offered at DU as well as the benefits each offer.
Able to define the basic needs of prospects and customize responses accordingly.
Must effectively manage and plan letters, e-mails, digital advertising, text messages and calls to prospects, parents and counselors for use in persuasive marketing.
Passion for innovation while endeavoring to deliver quantifiable results.
Professional, personable, and responsive.
Demonstrated ability to write and edit marketing/communication materials for a brand/organization and yield results.
Ability to speak and give professional presentations sharing the features, outcomes and value of DU.
Ability to manage content and critically assess what is being communicated with prospects.
Experience managing communications through a constituent relationship management (CRM) tool or similar system, as well as experience managing websites through a content management system (CMS).
Ability to manage projects involving multiple stakeholders, including other DU divisions, vendors and direct reports using time management to meet project deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree – prefer degrees in Public Relations, Journalism, English, Marketing, Communications, or related field.
Five years of significant higher education communication and marketing experience.
Supervisory experience.
CRM experience, Slate preferred.

Responsibilities

Developing and executing an integrated marketing and communication plan to achieve undergraduate enrollment goals.
Leveraging the undergraduate admission webpages through consistent, accurate and on-brand content, and ensuring appropriate analytics and informed responses.
Keeping abreast of marketing trends, especially as it relates to recruiting and admission. Creatively developing unique and innovative strategies on a yearly basis to maximize potential and to meet the enrollment goals of the University.
Annually assessing and evaluating efforts across channels and partner firms to inform future work.
Working closely with central University Relations (UR) Division, as well as various partner firms in the creation, development, implementation, delivery and assessment of print materials, presentations, web designs/upgrades, messages, email campaigns, social media, digital advertising, video work, etc. Ensuring that messages are on-brand; appropriate for the intended audiences; meet the purpose of the project/program/campaign; are within budget guidelines; and meet the deadlines dictated by our communication/recruiting plans.
Serving as liaison to UR division.
Staying up-to-date with DU academic programs, majors and initiatives to best represent the various divisions/departments/programs.
Accountable for Division Communication budget, including allocation recommendations of existing and new communication and marketing plans/campaigns, project cost quoting; and routine budget monitoring/stewardship.
Directly supervising a small team who will support the marketing and communications work of the division while also serving the division in other capacities to meet enrollment goals.
Leading the division-wide communications team in idea generation and developing strategic initiatives that more effectively engage our audiences and lead to measurable results against engagement and enrollment goals.