Description
The Senior Director of Marketing and Strategic Communication serves as the university's chief communications strategist, leading integrated marketing, brand management and institutional communications to advance university priorities. This role leads the UIS Department of Strategic Communication and partners closely with executive leadership to shape the university's narrative, strengthen reputation and drive measurable outcomes through coordinated, multi-channel strategies. Reports to the Chief of Staff to the Chancellor.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Communications Leadership: Serves as the university’s lead communications strategist with primary focus on guiding and implementing institutional marketing and brand management strategies; provides supervisory oversight of media relations, social media, internal and external communication, executive communication and digital/web strategy. Advises the Chancellor, Chief of Staff, and executive leadership on communications aligned with university goals. Represents the university on system-level communications committees.
Brand Strategy & Integrated Marketing: Leads efforts to advance and strengthen the university brand through integrated marketing strategies. Develops and directs annual marketing and communications plans and budgets aligned with institutional priorities. Collaborates with internal partners (including enrollment leadership and academic deans) and external vendors to drive enrollment results.
Institutional Initiatives & Crisis Communication: Directs large-scale communications planning for major institutional initiatives, including crisis communications. Serves as Public Information Officer (PIO) in the UIS Emergency Operations Center when activated.
Team Leadership & Organizational Alignment: Supervises the assistant director of marketing, director of media strategy and director of web & digital strategy, ensuring coordination across teams and platforms. Drives integration of messaging and evaluates effectiveness of communications efforts.
Administration & Executive Engagement: Partners with the division’s director of business operations on budget management to ensure sound fiscal practices. Serves as an ex-officio member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet and contributes to executive-level planning and decision-making.
Other Duties as Assigned
Full application details: https://uis.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/1267?c=uis
Requirements
Master’s degree.
At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in marketing, strategic communications or a related field.
At least 7 years of supervisory experience, including team leadership and budget oversight.
Proven ability to develop and execute enterprise-wide, data-informed marketing and communications strategies aligned with organizational goals, including leading integrated and omnichannel campaigns across brand, public relations, internal communications, and digital platforms.
Demonstrated success in positioning and strengthening an institutional brand and translating analytics into actionable strategy.
Experience in crisis communications and reputation management.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to write and communicate effectively on behalf of senior executives.
