Vice President for Marketing & Communications

University of Oklahoma•Norman, OK

About The Position

Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma (OU) is a comprehensive public research university with campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. The university's mission is advanced through undergraduate and graduate education, professional and clinical training, research and discovery, patient care partnerships, athletics excellence, and statewide service. With an enrollment exceeding 36,500 students, OU offers a vast array of academic programs across 20 colleges and is classified as "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity." The OU Health Campus in Oklahoma City is crucial for education, research, and public service, preparing the health care workforce and advancing biomedical research. The university's athletic programs have achieved significant national success, contributing to its brand awareness. OU is executing a strategic plan, "Lead On, University," focused on becoming a top-tier public research university, empowering students, unifying campuses, advancing health, and fostering innovation. The university has also launched a historic $2 billion fundraising campaign. The Vice President of Marketing & Communications is an executive officer and a member of the President’s leadership team, reporting to the Vice President of Executive Affairs & Chief of Staff. This role is responsible for developing and executing communications strategies that support presidential priorities, enterprise-wide initiatives, and enhance the university’s reputation. The position serves as a strategic advisor on institutional messaging, executive communications, and public profile matters. The Vice President oversees internal and external communications for all OU colleges, campuses, and business units, ensuring a consistent brand expression. This includes providing strategic reinforcement and services across the Norman, Health, and Tulsa campuses, with a particular focus on elevating the OU Health Campus’s contributions. The role also involves collaborating with the Department of Athletics to integrate its reputation into the university’s brand and navigating the evolving landscape of college athletics. The Vice President will lead innovative, measurable, and data-informed marketing and communications programs aligned with the university’s strategic plan. This critical role involves articulating and advancing OU’s mission, priorities, and impact to both internal and external audiences.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
Demonstrated success developing integrated marketing, communications, and branding strategies that strengthen institutional reputation, engage varied audiences, and produce measurable results.
Experience advising a president, chief executive officer, or other senior leaders on executive communications, institutional priorities, sensitive issues, and crisis management.
Exceptional judgment, communication skills, and political acumen, including experience managing media relations, navigating high-profile or sensitive situations, and serving as an organizational spokesperson.
Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams, manage resources effectively, and build productive relationships across a complex organization.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree is preferred.
Experience working within a multicampus university, academic health center, research institution, health system, or similarly complex organization is preferred.

Responsibilities

Strategically position and advance OU’s priorities while leading integrated marketing and communications that reflect the distinct missions, audiences, and contributions of the Norman, Health, and Tulsa campuses.
Provide counsel and coaching on potential threats and vulnerabilities, as well as tactics to respond to, redirect, or mitigate those challenges.
Facilitate the relationships between MarComm and the colleges/departments it supports through the still-young centralization of most all campus marketing and communications.
Work closely with the university’s Department of Athletics to predict and shape its responses to the volatile and continuously evolving world of college athletics.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the President, Chief of Staff, and university leadership on executive communications, institutional priorities, emerging issues, and opportunities to strengthen OU’s reputation.
Partner with academic leaders, Health Campus deans, researchers, and OU Health executives to elevate the university’s contributions to education, research, clinical training, workforce development, and the health of Oklahoma.
Strengthen OU’s national and global visibility through compelling storytelling, strategic media relations, brand management, and coordinated communications across its colleges, campuses, athletics programs, and affiliated organizations.
Build and maintain strong relationships with local and national media outlets.
Lead crisis and emergency communications, serve as a university spokesperson, and protect the institution’s reputation during sensitive or high-profile situations.
Shape effective internal communications that inform and connect faculty, staff, and students while reinforcing a shared university identity across all three campuses.
Use audience insights, performance metrics, emerging technologies, and innovative marketing approaches to expand engagement and support institutional growth.
Lead and develop a high-performing marketing and communications team of nearly 70 employees, managing an $8 million budget and aligning staffing and resources with university-wide priorities.
Oversee university brand standards, Trademark & Licensing, and related governance, including leadership of the Trademark Administrative Committee.