Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communications

Rutgers University•Newark, NJ

15h

About The Position

Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N), an urban public research university and anchor institution, located in Newark, New Jersey, a city of promise, is seeking a Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor for Marketing & Communications at Rutgers University–Newark serves as the Chancellor’s principal advisor and senior leader responsible for the university’s public narrative, reputation, and external engagement strategy. Reporting directly to the Chancellor, this cabinet-level role provides executive leadership in shaping and protecting RU-N’s credibility through proactive, long-term communications that align with the university’s mission, vision, and values. The Vice Chancellor leads institutional storytelling, media relations, and crisis communications, ensuring clear, consistent, and transparent messaging to external audiences. With a strong public-facing and strategic focus, the role strengthens RU-N’s visibility, influence, brand identity and trust among prospective students, community partners, policymakers, alumni, and the broader public, while guiding a high-performing communications organization capable of responding effectively and consistently in both routine and high-stakes environments. This position is responsible for and not limited to the following:

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in marketing, communications, public relations, or a related field.
Experience in a higher education environment.
Demonstrated success in progressively responsible leadership roles.

Responsibilities

Provides executive leadership for shaping, advancing, and protecting the public narrative, reputation, and credibility of Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N).
Develops and executes a proactive, long-term communications and engagement strategy that clearly articulates RU-N’s mission, vision, values, and impact as an urban public research university.
Leads relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets and proactively shapes media coverage that elevates RU-N’s academic excellence, research, student success, and community impact.
Provides counsel to senior leadership on sensitive communications and high-visibility issues.
Anticipates, prepares for, and manages communications during campus emergencies, sensitive incidents, or high-profile matters in close coordination with the Chancellor, senior leadership, Rutgers University central administration, legal counsel, and public safety partners.
Ensures timely, accurate, and transparent messaging to protect institutional trust and credibility.
Leads RU-N’s external-facing communications and engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with prospective students, families, alumni, community partners, policymakers, donors, and the City of Newark.
Ensures communications reflect RU-N’s role as an anchor institution and amplify its contributions to the region, state, and broader public, with a strong focus on visibility, influence, impact and public trust.
Builds, leads, and develops a high-performing communications and engagement organization.
Oversees talent development, operational effectiveness, and resource stewardship to ensure readiness for both routine communications and high-stakes crisis response.
Establishes frameworks, policies, and best practices to maintain brand consistency, message discipline, and coordinated execution while preserving RU-N’s unique identity.
Other duties as assigned.