The Executive Director of University Marketing and Public Relations reports to the Vice President for Advancement and Marketing and provides strategic oversight for marketing and branding initiatives of the university, its 10 academic schools and other strategic units on campus. The position also serves as a resource for leadership in University Advancement, Enrollment Management, and Athletics for significant university marketing projects. The Executive Director collaborates with the Director of University Marketing and the team of school-based colleagues and academic deans to advance the 10 school brands and to assure the strategic marketing plans in each school align with the university’s goals and initiatives. The position collaborates with colleagues throughout the Division of Advancement and Marketing and leadership across the university to advance all strategic marketing functions.

1. Collaborate with the Director of University Marketing to lead the marketing and communication colleagues who oversee the day-to-day marketing and communication operations of the ten academic schools, in close coordination with the Assistant Vice President for Creative and Web Marketing.
2. Collaborate with academic deans and school leadership to develop, implement and assess school-specific marketing and communication plans on an annual basis, consistent with the strategic goals and plans of the university.
3. Provide leadership in support of university-wide branding initiatives and creative branding projects, collaborating with university leaders across campus.  
4. In close collaboration with the Director of University Marketing and the Assistant Vice President for Creative and Web Marketing, provide support for recruitment marketing in the academic schools. Collaborate with colleagues in Enrollment Management and the schools to identify strategies for enhancing recruitment efforts, particularly in graduate programs.
5. Collaborate with central Marketing and Communication and University Advancement leadership to provide marketing support for the advancement function in the academic schools.
6. Work with academic deans and administrative colleagues in communicating individual school and program strengths while ensuring consistency across institutional messaging.
7. In close collaboration with the Director of University Communication and the Social Media Manager, support the university in times of crisis through university communications and public relations counsel for senior leadership.   
8. Provide public relations counsel to the Vice President for Advancement and Marketing and executive leadership to ensure that the public relations impact is considered in all important decisions.
9. Together with the Digital Marketing Analyst and the Director of University Marketing provide oversight for university advertising, including creative direction, along with the evaluation and purchase of paid advertising to advance university-wide goals. 
10. Be a visible, dynamic and involved participant in the life of the university community. Develop familiarity with all areas of academic and student life.
11. Foster a work environment that encourages creativity, innovation, professionalism, and a service-oriented approach to serving colleagues campus-wide.
12. Mentor, manage, and work in partnership with marketing and communication staff across the institution to strengthen unified efforts to enhance the University’s brand and reputation. 
13. Remain competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses and appropriate training.
14. In collaboration with the leadership team in Advancement and Marketing, foster a work environment that encourages creativity, innovation, professionalism, and a service-oriented approach to serving colleagues and advancing the mission of Samford University. 
15. Support a culture of continual improvement, displaying a willingness to evolve, adapt and forge new solutions that improve operational efficiency and/or effectiveness.
16. Contribute to the overall success of the division of Advancement and Marketing by performing additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, marketing, communication, or another related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience with managing personnel and functions in marketing and communication or similar operations.
• High level of written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well with others.
• Strong creative abilities.
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently with limited direction.
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, with an appreciation for market-orientation and customer service.  
• Proactive self-starter with a strong results orientation.
• Must be detail-oriented, well-organized, focused, and goal-oriented, with a high level of initiative.
• Maintain a commitment to the Christian mission of Samford University.
• Experience with managing large projects involving a variety of constituents.
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.  
• Ability to warmly develop relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Knowledge of the culture and organization of the university or similar multi-stakeholder environments.
• A professional, client-centric, and service-oriented attitude is expected in daily work with a wide variety of internal and external constituents.