Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85718
Work at University of Arizona
Overview
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Overview
Posting Number
req21935
Department
University Marketing & Communications
Read the overview of this opportunity to understand what skills, including and relevant soft skills and software package proficiencies, are required. Department Website Link
https://marcom.arizona.edu/
Location
Main Campus
Address
Tucson, AZ USA The University of Arizona (U of A) seeks a creative, visionary and experienced professional to serve as its next Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO). Reporting directly to the President, the CCMO will act as a strategic thought partner and a dynamic and collaborative member of the senior leadership team that is helping forge a new direction for one of the world’s
preeminent public research universities . With the arrival of our new
President Suresh Garimella , the U of A is positioned for a strong financial future with an accelerated focus on its mission of excellence in educating students, conducting outstanding research, and delivering on its land-grant mission. With a spirit of open communication and collaboration, the CCMO will advance the university’s goals, enhance public awareness, and maximize the reputation and potential for growth. The CCMO will spearhead the development and implementation of strategic, innovative, creative, and impactful communications and data-driven marketing programs that are aligned with the strategic priorities established by the University of Arizona’s senior leadership team. Additionally, the individual will serve as a trusted advisor to President Garimella and as a communications and marketing subject-matter expert to other university senior leaders. Serving as a member of the President’s senior leadership team, the CCMO will work in partnership with internal constituents including deans and vice presidents, shared governance groups, and faculty and staff leaders across the University of Arizona to develop strategies and practices that elevate public understanding and support for the university’s teaching, research, and engagement mission. The CCMO will act as a key partner in successfully interpreting and promoting the mission of the university to both internal and external constituencies to create a climate that promotes and encourages public and private support. This dynamic leader will address challenges with poise and amplify the university’s consistent message on a local, national, and global scale. Duties & Responsibilities Position Responsibilities, Challenges, and Opportunities Lead Communications and Marketing Strategy, Providing Executive Counsel Lead the development of a strategic, overarching, integrated communications strategy that effectively engages all internal and external stakeholders while broadly increasing the visibility of the University of Arizona’s mission, reputation, and impact. Provide strategic vision and institutional thought leadership for university communications and marketing, including cultivating a digital strategy utilizing social media and emerging trends, and ensure alignment with the university’s mission, values, and strategic imperatives. Serve as the President’s chief advisor for communications, marketing, and public relations around emergent issues, including crisis communications, and partner with the President’s office on public engagements, reports, white papers, and other documents and presentations. Lead internal communication efforts with the objective of informing and engaging key stakeholders (faculty, students, and staff), enabling knowledge sharing and informed decision-making across the university. Work with the University of Arizona’s senior leadership team to ensure that future-oriented marketing strategies are in place and executed efficiently and aligned with communications strategy to generate regional and national attention to the university’s strengths, achievements and future goals. Galvanize the efforts of the marketing team to promote effective and consistent branding of the university. Collaborate with and serve as a partner for senior university leaders on specific communications-related strategies and initiatives. Lead Communications and Marketing Professionals, Building Institutional Capacity Serve as the strategic leader of the communications and marketing functions, continuously assessing the staffing and operational needs as communications and industry trends change to ensure the office aligns appropriately and is staffed optimally to advance effectively the mission, vision, values, and brand of the university. Lead a dynamic team of communications and marketing professionals with a variety of responsibilities that promote and protect the University of Arizona’s brand, seizing opportunities for productivity and efficiency gains within the division and advancing a culture based on collaboration and collegiality. Provide overall leadership, coordination, and strategic direction for communications and marketing professionals (both direct and indirect reports) across the institution, coordinating strategically with University of Arizona Foundation marketing and communications efforts; assess the organization and strength of communications and marketing operations to maximize coordination and efficacy. Partner with college and division communications professionals and their leaders to ensure that media inquiries and outreach opportunities are appropriately coordinated and aligned at all levels of the university and that they effectively represent institutional goals and interests. In collaboration with the university CIO and other leaders, evaluate and continually enhance the university’s use of CRM and other communications technologies to support implementation of strategy for internal and external audiences, tracking effectiveness and ROI for major investments in these tools. Develop communications and marketing benchmarks and use data analytics to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communications and marketing strategies. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure effective communications and messaging throughout the entire institution. Create means for two-way communications, including feedback mechanisms and sharing of ideas and best practices. Evaluate, develop, and implement policies and standards for the university’s print publications, websites, social media, official trademarks, logos, and other media. Drive Effective Brand Reputation Management and Media Relations Oversee proactive and reactive reputation and brand management functions at the university, including anticipating and preparing for issues and events with the potential for reputational impact. Devise anticipatory communication plans as well as swift responses to unexpected events and issues and serve as a valued contributor to any crisis management effort. Promote and reinforce the University of Arizona’s culture, values, and beliefs across internal and external communications (across administrative units, colleges, departments, divisions, schools, centers, and programs), emphasizing creativity, innovation, authenticity, and transparency. Develop appropriate outreach plans for hearing and engaging key stakeholders, including faculty, students, staff, alumni, and regional and national community and business leaders, for sharing the university’s accomplishments and strategies, and for planning best approaches to communicate and elevate the university’s impact. Work consistently to gather, develop, and tell university stories, weaving them together to create a consistent, unified message in support of the University of Arizona brand and identity. Oversee evaluation, review, and use of external marketing and communications vendors to ensure university brand, identity, and resources are stewarded effectively and in alignment with university vision, mission, and goals. Actively engage with key media outlets, both proactively and reactively. Provide media training to university administrators, shared governance leaders, and faculty and staff, as required. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Extensive knowledge of industry best practices and a deep understanding of all aspects of communications, messaging, marketing, branding, and positioning. The ability to develop communications strategies across a wide range of platforms and audiences and evaluate their effectiveness. An enthusiastic and natural collaborator with the ability to work with diverse teams to develop plans and drive results. Proven ability to develop and execute strategically sound and tactically efficient, results-oriented, internal and external communication and marketing activities that drive the university’s goals and objectives. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a problem-solver and relationship builder, a trusted advisor. A skillful advocate and practitioner, as well as an exceptional leader and manager of people, with a proven ability to develop and nurture talent to meet objectives. Demonstrated ability to strategically allocate and responsibly manage the budget. Demonstrated commitment to the ideals of a public, land grant research university. Minimum Qualifications A bachelor’s degree and 10+ years of leadership experience with a record of directly applicable success and evidence of scholarly, professional, or creative achievement are required. Track record of hiring, managing, motivating, retaining, and providing vision for high-performing and diverse teams, fostering an environment of inclusion, teamwork and collaboration to drive the development of creative and effective marketing and communications programs. Outstanding project management skills and experience. Experience in expertly managing sensitive situations, crisis communications, and issues impacting reputation. Experience working with the media, including serving as an organizational lead contact/liaison and successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high impact. Preferred Qualifications Advanced degree highly preferred. FLSA
Exempt
Full Time/Part Time
Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week
40
Job FTE
1.0
Work Calendar
Fiscal
Job Category
Executive Leadership
Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay
DOE
Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Type of criminal background check required:
Fingerprint criminal background check (security sensitive due to title or department)
Number of Vacancies
1
Target Hire Date
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates
Helena Rodrigues Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer hrodrigu@email.arizona.edu
Open Date
2/11/2025
Open Until Filled
Yes
Documents Needed to Apply
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter
Special Instructions to Applicant
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience. Diversity Statement
At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. As a Hispanic-serving institution, we translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues, and constituencies.
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