AVP or Executive Director, Marketing Communication

Reading, PA (On-site)

Salary Not AvailableSenior Level7+ years expFull time

Posted 4 months ago

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Job Summary

Drive enrollment-focused marketing at the university by leading integrated strategy across digital, brand, and communications to deliver measurable growth.

  • Own enrollment marketing with data-informed, multi-channel campaigns.
  • Must-have: 7–10 years of marketing/communications leadership; cross-functional experience.
  • Standout: Proven ability to align Admissions, branding, and analytics at scale.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Lead the university’s integrated marketing strategy with a primary focus on driving enrollment growth through data-driven, digitally enabled marketing practices.
  • Build a high-performance marketing engine that generates qualified student demand, strengthens market position, and delivers measurable impact across undergraduate, graduate, adult, and partnership populations.
  • Provide strategic leadership across digital marketing, demand generation, brand strategy, and marketing analytics, ensuring alignment with enrollment priorities and institutional goals.
  • Oversee institutional communications, public relations, and reputation management to support growth trajectory.
  • Set vision, priorities, and performance expectations for all marketing and communications functions, including creative and content execution, while leading internal teams and external partners.
  • Strategic Marketing & Enrollment Growth Leadership: develop and execute data-informed marketing strategy to drive enrollment growth and expand market reach.
  • Digital Marketing & Demand Generation: lead digital marketing ecosystem including paid media, SEM, SEO, social media, email marketing, and marketing automation; optimize learner lifecycle.
  • Enrollment Marketing Integration: partner with Admissions and Enrollment teams to create seamless recruitment marketing strategy; integrate campaigns, CRM, and admissions processes.
  • Analytics, Performance & Growth Optimization: establish KPIs and dashboards; use data and market insights to refine strategy and reallocate resources.
  • Brand Strategy & Creative Direction: steward brand, set direction for visual identity, messaging, and storytelling; oversee design and content execution.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, or related field; master’s degree preferred
  • Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, or public affairs, including team leadership and supervisory experience
  • Proven ability to develop and implement comprehensive marketing and communications strategies
  • Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional teams, managing staff, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance work culture
  • Exceptional writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Experience with media relations, executive messaging, and crisis communication
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects across multiple platforms and stakeholders
  • Strong knowledge of branding, digital strategy, analytics, and content marketing
  • Attendance is required to perform the duties of this job
  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Preferred

  • Master’s degree preferred
  • Experience working in higher education or mission-driven institutions preferred

Benefits

  • Robust Health Coverage: Choose from three offered medical plans, plus dental and vision.
  • Financial Security: Enjoy University-paid life/AD&D insurance and long-term disability, with options for short-term disability and supplemental coverage for you and your family (including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans). Flexible spending accounts are also available.
  • Exceptional Retirement: Start saving immediately with our 403(b) Retirement Plan. You will get 100% immediate vesting, a University gift contribution, and a generous match up to 5% of your deferrals.
  • Time Off & Flexibility: Take advantage of 18 paid holidays each year and the possibility of flexible or hybrid work options for many roles.
  • Invest in Your Future: Enjoy tuition remission benefits for yourself and your dependents.
  • On-Campus Wellness: Benefit-eligible employees on our main campus receive free access to our Medical & Counseling Center.
  • Employee Meal Plan: This plan provides convenient, flexible dining options on campus at a reduced cost.
Alvernia University logo

Alvernia University

As one of only 24 Franciscan institutions in the United States, we believe in developing ethical leaders with moral courage and a commitment to service. Our values-based learning philosophy and emphasis on experiential learning opens doors to careers with a variety of companies throughout the region and nation. Alvernia combines the personal touch and attention of a small private college with the outstanding academics of a university. Our students benefit from a liberal arts foundation that helps them develop their own opinions, attitudes and beliefs. They also receive first-rate professional preparation to provide them with the skills and knowledge needed for career success. Taught by faculty who are experts in their fields, our students appreciate the small class sizes and breadth of our academic programs. Our School of Graduate and Adult Education offers several graduate programs and dozens of degree completion programs in nearly every field to prepare students for the life and career they want to pursue.

Founded in 1958
Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
940 employees (15 in marketing)

Traffic Signals

Monthly Visitors
144.6K
Monthly Google Ads Budget
$407.5K
Traffic Source Mix
Search
30.5%
Direct
59.6%
Referral
8.2%
Social
0.5%
Paid
1.1%

Headcount Trend

Current headcount: ~943

Marketing Team

Marketing Team Size
15 (2% of company)

Funding

Total Funding
$5K
Last Raise
$5K
Grant, 5 years ago

Funding History

  • Mar 2021
    Grant • $5K

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