Responsibilities

• establishes the overarching marketing and communications strategy that strengthens SUNY Geneseo’s visibility, reputation, and brand identity among internal and external audiences.
• guide a talented, highly collaborative communications and marketing team toward a shared strategic vision rooted in authenticity, creativity, institutional priorities, and measurable outcomes.
• set institutional standards, frameworks, and messaging priorities that support coordinated action.
• leverage the expertise within the central communications and marketing team while fostering productive partnerships across the institution, including enrollment management, athletics, advancement, and constituent relations, to support cohesive, integrated, and strategically aligned communications.
• oversees crisis communication planning and response.
• strengthens internal and external stakeholder relationships, and ensures cohesive, mission-aligned storytelling across units that advances enrollment, fundraising, and institutional reputation.
• embodies creativity, strategic thinking, superior written communication, trust, collaboration, advocacy, and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and supports an empowered and highly effective hybrid work team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• Accomplished professional with a record of successful and increasingly more responsible leadership experience in marketing, communications, or public relations for a complex organization.
• Superior writing, editing, and storytelling skills across media formats.
• Experience leading communications in crisis or high-pressure situations.
• Experience supervising professional staff and leading cross-functional teams.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in communications practices.
• Candidates for this position must be eligible to work in the United States. VISA sponsorship is not offered.

Nice To Have

• Master’s degree in marketing, communications, business, or higher education.
• Experience serving on a president’s cabinet or in an executive‑leadership role.
• Proven ability to navigate complex, matrixed organizational environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support change‑management initiatives.
• High degree of political acumen and ability to navigate sensitive organizational dynamics.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain composure, optimism, and clarity during crises or stress.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire creative teams with a collaborative, trust‑based leadership style.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, budget management, enrollment marketing, brand strategy, crisis communication, media relations, and social media.
• Experience serving as (or working closely with) a PIO.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit communications and marketing.