Responsibilities

• Marketing Strategy & Leadership: Develops and oversees a comprehensive strategic marketing plan that advances UCSC's brand visibility, institutional reputation, enrollment goals and philanthropic initiatives; serves as the central marketing thought leader for Communications & Marketing and University Advancement, helping leadership prioritize, resource, and evaluate marketing efforts; establishes and monitors key performance indicators across channels; uses data and analytics to guide strategy and optimize campaign performance; and stays current on higher education marketing trends, digital platform shifts, and best practices, bringing fresh thinking to the team on a consistent basis.
• Team Leadership & Management: Leads a team that includes a creative director (who manages a video production team), a manager of social media and digital engagement, and a digital marketing manager; provides clear direction, mentorship, and professional development support to direct reports; fosters a collaborative, high-performing team culture; maintains strong coordination across the team to ensure creative output is strategically aligned, on-brand, and on-schedule; and serve as an engaged, contributing leader who participates actively in the work.
• Campaign Development & Execution: Leads development of integrated marketing campaigns from concept to execution, working across video, social media, email, digital advertising, and web channels; collaborate with the creative director to ensure creative work reflects strategic intent and brand standards; partner with the digital marketing manager to ensure email campaigns are properly scheduled, reviewed, and optimized for deliverability and engagement; and oversees campaign timelines and budgets, balancing competing priorities with clear communication to stakeholders.
• Brand & Communications Alignment: Champions UCSC's brand identity across all marketing touchpoints, ensuring consistency and quality in tone, design, and messaging; collaborate with campus partners, colleges, departments, and student-facing units to provide marketing guidance and support; represent Communications & Marketing and University Advancement in cross-divisional committees, working groups, systemwide meetings, and external forums as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Thorough knowledge of current and emerging digital marketing trends and best practices, including new and emerging strategies and technologies.
• Excellent skills in strategic planning, effectively organizing resources, engaging stakeholders, and setting and establishing priorities.
• Excellent skills in managing staff including selection, training, evaluating and mentoring staff at all levels, including skills to take disciplinary action as necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and political acumen to effectively work with internal customers and external constituencies.
• Excellent market research, analytical thinking, and problem recognition, avoidance and resolution skills.
• Excellent skills to produce results and achieve predetermined goals within budget and time constraints.
• Strong knowledge of applicable University policies and state and federal laws regarding copyright and other licensing issues.

Preferred

• Thorough knowledge of the campus / health system, including its achievements, mission, goals, vision, infrastructure, products and services.

Benefits

• Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits