Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

University of Pennsylvania

10d•$110,907 - $124,125

About The Position

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications is a senior member of the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) team, leading integrated marketing and communications efforts to strengthen student and alumni engagement and advance DAR priorities. The role provides strategic and creative leadership across digital media, marketing communications, design, content, and campaign execution, translating organizational priorities into compelling, coordinated experiences for students, alumni, and other audiences. Working with teams across DAR, the Senior Director is a key partner in advancing communications strategies within Penn’s digital engagement ecosystem. The role calls for an understanding of student and alumni audiences, digital communications, creative development, and emerging engagement practices to ensure communications are relevant, effective, accessible, and aligned across channels. The Senior Director leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for design and branding, digital media, and marketing technology support. The role sets direction and priorities and fosters creative, solutions-oriented approaches across Alumni Relations. It works closely with The Penn Fund, Central Development, DAR Marketing and Communications, schools and centers, and other University partners to develop integrated communications strategies and campaigns.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 7 to 10 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Understanding of student and alumni audiences, digital communications, creative development, and emerging engagement practices.
Resume and cover letter must be submitted in the Resume/CV section of the application.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies that advance student and alumni engagement and DAR priorities.
Develop communications strategies, messaging approaches, channel plans, and timelines for student and alumni programs, events, initiatives, and campaigns.
Advise DAR leaders and colleagues on messaging, audience engagement, channel strategy, and communications opportunities.
Establish goals and measures for communications initiatives, assess performance and engagement metrics, and use findings to refine strategy and outcomes.
Monitor evolving practices in digital communications, alumni engagement, social media, content strategy, and creative development to identify opportunities for innovation.
Provide strategic leadership for student and alumni digital communications across websites, email, social media, and other channels.
Lead digital content and campaign development, including audience strategy, messaging cadence, and channel selection.
Ensure digital communications are timely, accurate, accessible, brand-aligned, and responsive to audience needs.
Collaborate across DAR to use digital platforms and emerging capabilities in support of communications and engagement goals.
Provide communications leadership for major organizational initiatives, including time-sensitive, high-profile, and crisis communications as needed.
Set creative direction for student and alumni-facing marketing and communications, maintaining University and DAR brand consistency and supporting storytelling and audience engagement.
Direct conceptualization, design, and production of digital and print materials, including campaign creative, event communications, web and social media assets, invitations, and other collateral.
Guide visual identities and creative approaches for major alumni programs, initiatives, and campaigns, balancing creativity with accessibility, usability, and audience needs.
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team that includes the Assistant Director of Art & Design, Assistant Director of Marketing Technology, and Associate Director of Digital Media.
Establish priorities, workflows, standards, and expectations across creative, digital media, and marketing technology functions.
Direct staff and manage performance, supporting professional development, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Coordinate team resources and priorities to ensure projects are effectively planned and delivered.
Build partnerships with Alumni Relations, The Penn Fund, Central Development, DAR Marketing and Communications, schools and centers, and other University partners.
Manage integration and use of technical tools for alumni and student engagement and communications, including broadcast emails, event registration, website development and maintenance, and community management platforms and systems.
Manage complex communications and creative initiatives across priorities, timelines, resources, budgets, and stakeholder needs, from planning through execution and evaluation.
Manage the communications and marketing budget and relationships with external partners and vendors.
Develop and improve processes, workflows, and tools that strengthen the quality, consistency, efficiency, and sustainability of the team's work.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
Tuition assistance for employees, spouses, and dependent children at Penn; dependent children may also receive tuition assistance at other institutions.
Basic, matching, and supplemental retirement plans, with pre-tax or Roth savings options and investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Substantial time away from work during the year.
Long-term care insurance options for eligible faculty and staff and family members.
Wellness and work-life programs and resources.
Professional and personal development resources.
Access to University resources, including libraries, athletic facilities, cultural and recreational activities.
Discounts and special services, including arts and cultural memberships, transportation, mortgage-related offerings, and other goods and services.
Flexible work options and work hours.
Forgivable homeownership loan for eligible employees purchasing a home or residing in West Philadelphia.
Adoption assistance reimbursement for qualified adoption expenses, up to two adoptions per household.