DIRECTOR, MARKETING STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIPS, Creative Services Administration

What you'll do:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Strategy & Partnerships team, fostering strategic thinking, strong collaboration, and best practices for engagement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders (deans, vice presidents, and communication leads), shaping marketing and communications strategies aligned with University priorities.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships across schools, colleges, and administrative units, engaging leaders early to define priorities and strengthen institution-wide coordination.
• Translate partner goals into clear communications strategies, actionable plans, and structured briefs aligned to institutional objectives.
• Oversee the development of integrated annual and campaign-based marketing and communications strategies.
• Drive operational excellence by improving workflows, coordination, and resource allocation across teams.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration in a matrixed organization, aligning strategy, creative, digital, and communications teams from concept through execution and evaluation.
• Champion brand consistency, storytelling quality, and innovation in partnership with creative leadership.
• Monitor performance, gather insights and stakeholder feedback, and guide continuous improvement of strategies and institutional impact while educating partners on best practices and emerging trends.

Required Skills:

• Master's degree with 8+ years of direct experience and 5+ years of management experience or equivalent.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing marketing, communications, or strategy teams.
• Strong leadership presence with experience influencing and advising senior stakeholders and institutional leaders.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and leading integrated marketing and communications strategies aligned to organizational priorities.
• Ability to translate complex goals into clear, actionable plans, briefs, and measurable objectives.
• Experience implementing structured intake, planning, and prioritization processes to ensure work is strategically aligned before execution.
• Proven problem-solving capabilities. Able to be flexible and adaptable, juggling multiple tasks under deadlines.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with a track record of establishing and sustaining partnerships across a matrixed organization and a large, decentralized institution.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills, with experience aligning strategy, creative, digital, and communications teams.
• Ability to drive operational excellence by improving workflows, prioritization, and resource allocation.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and resolve challenges.
• Ability to use data, insights, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate effectiveness, continuously refine strategies, and make strategic recommendations. Experience in higher education, healthcare, nonprofit, or other complex, mission-driven organizations preferred.