AVP of Marketing and Communications

Position Description:

The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Marketing and Communications provides strategic leadership and vision for the university’s integrated marketing, brand management, and communications efforts across all audiences. The AVP oversees marketing and communications for Admissions, Advancement, and Athletics, ensuring a unified brand voice and coordinated strategy that drives enrollment, engagement, and reputation growth.
The AVP leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for public relations, creative services, website strategy, social media, and digital marketing. This position ensures that all institutional messaging, storytelling, and visual identity reinforce the university’s mission, strategic priorities, and market position.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, university-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with institutional goals.
• Strengthen and steward the university’s brand to ensure consistent, compelling, and data-driven messaging across all channels and divisions.
• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership, providing counsel on brand positioning, reputation management, and public visibility.
• Oversee coordination of messaging for Admissions, Advancement, and Athletics to ensure unified storytelling that supports student recruitment, philanthropy, and school spirit.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive, university-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with institutional goals.
• Strengthen and steward the university’s brand to ensure consistent, compelling, and data-driven messaging across all channels and divisions.
• Serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership, providing counsel on brand positioning, reputation management, and public visibility.
• Oversee coordination of messaging for Admissions, Advancement, and Athletics to ensure unified storytelling that supports student recruitment, philanthropy, and school spirit.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Communications, English or related field
• 5-7 of higher education marketing and/or communications experience

Other Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, or public relations, preferably in higher education or a complex organization.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing creative, digital, and communications teams.
• Proven success in developing integrated marketing strategies across multiple platforms and audiences.
• Experience supporting enrollment, advancement, and athletics marketing strongly preferred.
  
  

All offers of employment with Valparaiso University are contingent upon the clear results of a thorough background check. Background checks may include criminal history, motor vehicle reports, prior employment verification, and personal/professional references. If applicable to the position, they will also include credit history. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates for employment.

To be considered for this position, you must upload:

Cover letter

Resume

List of 3 professional references

Answer all application questions

Please address the cover letter to:

LeAnn Hughes

Senior Vice President of Enrollment & Marketing

Valparaiso University