Marketing and Communications Director, CU Denver Business School

University of Colorado • Denver, CO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Marketing and Communications Director leads the strategic marketing and communications efforts for the CU Denver Business School, driving enrollment growth, enhancing brand visibility, and supporting the school’s mission. This position is responsible for developing and executing integrated marketing and communication strategies that align with both university-wide initiatives and the specific goals of the Business School. The Director collaborates closely with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications and the Dean of the Business School to ensure cohesive messaging across all platforms, brand consistency, and effective stakeholder engagement. The role requires expertise in digital marketing, CRM management, and data-driven campaign optimization, with a strong emphasis on enrollment-driven outcomes. Success in this position requires expertise in digital marketing, CRM systems, and data-driven campaign optimization, with a strong focus on enrollment outcomes and leveraging emerging trends in social media and online presence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business administration, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Six (6) years of progressive experience in marketing and communications..
• Demonstrated expertise in digital marketing, CRM systems, and analytics for enrollment management.
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage multiple projects, and collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Proficient in software such as Adobe, Salesforce, Slate, Drupal, digital ad managers, task management, and social media management tools.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in marketing, business, communications, or a related field.
• Experience with marketing graduate or professional programs.
• Marketing and communications experience in higher education or complex organizations.
• Experience using Artificial Intelligence tools to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of marketing campaigns.
• Knowledge of higher education trends, especially those relevant to business education and recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy that advances the Business School’s enrollment, reputation, and revenue goals, ensuring alignment with CU Denver’s brand and strategic priorities, keeping up with current market trends.
• Lead targeted digital marketing strategy efforts (e.g., paid search, paid social, SEO, display, retargeting) designed to generate, nurture, and convert prospective student leads for undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs.
• Use Artificial Intelligence, market research, competitive analysis, and enrollment data to identify new opportunities, refine value propositions, and recommend strategic adjustments to academic program portfolios in collaboration with academic leadership.
• Work closely with the Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management and Scholarships, as well as program and discipline directors, to align messaging, campaigns, and tactics with program-specific enrollment goals and scholarship strategies.
• Collaborate with Program Directors, Discipline Directors and department heads to understand unique program value propositions and ensure compelling marketing content.
• Assess the effectiveness of international marketing initiatives, providing insights and recommendations for improved outreach and student engagement in global programs.
• Oversee and optimize the use of CRM and marketing automation tools, including audience segmentation, email journeys, lead scoring, and conversion tracking in partnership with central enrollment and IT teams.
• Ensure all Business School web pages and campaign landing pages are accurate, highly functional, accessible, and up to date, coordinating updates with web and IT partners as needed.
• Manage website training for staff and department teams ensuring current page management and new page creation is correct and accurate.
• Provide website content strategy guidance to ensure brand consistency and messaging that aligns with the School’s strategic priorities and goals. Monitor and analyze digital performance metrics (e.g., web traffic, form fills, conversion rates, cost per lead) and use insights to improve user experience and campaign effectiveness.
• Oversee digital marketing campaigns for organic and paid social, content marketing and email campaigns for recruitment and internal marketing.
• Continuously evaluate and stay up to date with current marketing, social media, and website development trends to ensure the School is aligned and keeps current.
• Direct the creation, production, and quality control of marketing collateral, including brochures, one-sheets, presentations, email templates, video and digital and print advertising assets.
• Ensure that content and design effectively communicate program strengths, student outcomes, faculty expertise and research productivity, and industry partnerships while adhering to CU Denver brand standards.
• Manage timelines and workflows for collateral development with internal staff and external vendors, ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget.
• Lead efforts to highlight and promote success stories of the business school, including student achievements, alumni impact, faculty research, and program milestones, through engaging content and marketing materials.
• Build the reputation of the Business School
• Work with University Communications to manage issue and crisis communications as needed
• Oversee the Business School newsroom. Guide strategic, consistent, and compelling multi-media storytelling with consideration to messaging, audience and platform
• Collaborate with the external events team for special event marketing and communications
• Lead updates, development, and production of the school and program collateral materials with the Brand Manager
• Ensure a consistent brand and voice for the Business School that aligns with university strategic goals
• Lead development of Business School stories for CU Denver News as needed
• Develop, manage, and monitor the Business School marketing budget, including forecasting, tracking expenditures, and ensuring effective use of financial resources across channels and campaigns.
• Negotiate and manage relationships with external agencies, freelancers, and vendors to maximize value, quality, and return on investment.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for marketing investments and provide regular reports and recommendations to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Dean, and other stakeholders.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate the marketing and communications team’s operations, project prioritization, implementation, and performance.
• Serve as a collaborative, responsive, and communicative partner to leaders and units across the Business School and the university, acting as the primary liaison with central University Communications.
• Lead and coordinate marketing efforts for international collaborations, ensuring alignment with CU Denver brand standards and strategic goals.
• Participate in cross-campus marketing, enrollment, and strategic planning committees as assigned, representing the Business School’s needs and perspectives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission and strategic priorities of the Business School and CU Denver.

Benefits

• Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
• Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees