Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Responsibilities

• 1a Institutional Reputation and Strategic Communications: UWG's continued growth and advancement depend upon a strong institutional reputation and the ability to communicate its value, accomplishments, and impact to audiences in Georgia and beyond. The Vice President will develop and lead a comprehensive, integrated communications strategy aligned with the President's vision, UWG's strategic priorities, and the University's mission. Serve as the President's senior communications advisor and provide strategic counsel to University leadership on messaging, positioning, media strategy, reputation, and significant public issues. Develop and continually strengthen UWG's institutional narrative, translating the University's priorities and accomplishments into clear and compelling communications. Lead a proactive media and reputation strategy that expands UWG's visibility regionally, statewide, and nationally and elevates the University's academic excellence, student achievement, faculty expertise, research and innovation, economic and community impact, athletics, alumni success, and institutional momentum. 1b Provide strategic leadership for presidential and executive communications, including major addresses, institutional announcements, presentations, opinion pieces, talking points, and other high-level communications. Lead an effective internal communications strategy that strengthens understanding of university priorities, decisions, accomplishments, and change initiatives. Anticipate emerging issues and reputational risks and lead the University's crisis and issues-communications strategy, ensuring UWG communicates with speed, accuracy, coordination, transparency, and sound judgment when significant issues arise.
• 2a Marketing, Brand and Institutional Growth: In an increasingly competitive higher education marketplace, UWG must clearly differentiate itself and communicate a compelling value proposition to the audiences whose decisions and engagement are essential to the University's success. The Vice President will lead the development, stewardship, and continuous strengthening of UWG's institutional brand, including positioning, messaging, visual identity, standards, and implementation. Develop and continually refine a compelling institutional value proposition that answers a fundamental question: Why West Georgia? Lead integrated marketing strategies that advance enrollment, academic programs, philanthropy, alumni engagement, athletics, and other institutional priorities. Work closely with Enrollment Management to develop audience-specific marketing strategies supporting undergraduate, graduate, transfer, online, and professional enrollment goals. Partner with University Advancement to strengthen alumni and donor engagement and support philanthropic priorities through compelling institutional storytelling and communications.
• 2b Use market research, audience segmentation, competitive intelligence, digital analytics, and other data to identify opportunities, guide strategy, allocate resources, and improve marketing effectiveness. Identify emerging markets, audiences, and opportunities that can strengthen UWG's competitive position and contribute to institutional growth. Establish meaningful measures of brand awareness, reputation, audience engagement, marketing effectiveness, enrollment impact, and return on investment.
• 3a Communications Operations and Digital Strategy: The effectiveness of UWG's communications and marketing enterprise depends upon an organization capable of translating strategy into high-quality execution. The Vice President will build and lead a high-performing communications and marketing organization characterized by creativity, collaboration, responsiveness, accountability, and excellence. Establish clear priorities, responsibilities, standards, workflows, timelines, and measures of performance that create a culture of production and execution. Provide strategic leadership for UWG's digital communications ecosystem, including web, social media, video, email, digital storytelling, and emerging platforms. Develop and execute a strategy for responsibly incorporating artificial intelligence, automation, analytics, personalization, and emerging technologies into the University's communications and marketing enterprise.
• 3b Establish and maintain University-wide brand, communications, and marketing standards and provide leadership that strengthens coordination across the institution. Ensure communications and marketing resources are aligned with the University's highest priorities and develop processes for prioritizing projects and allocating resources according to anticipated institutional impact. Manage the division's personnel, financial resources, agencies, vendors, technology, and other assets strategically and responsibly. Establish appropriate performance measures and continually evaluate the University's communications capabilities, structure, investments, and results to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities ABILITIES Ability to provide strategic counsel to executive leadership on sensitive and complex institutional matters. Ability to develop and implement comprehensive communications and marketing strategies aligned with organizational goals. Ability to lead and manage multiple functional areas through subordinate managers and professional staff. Ability to effectively manage crisis communications and respond to rapidly changing situations. Ability to cultivate collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and political acumen in high-profile situations. Ability to represent the University effectively before media, community partners, donors, government officials, alumni, and other constituent groups. Ability to maintain brand integrity and ensure consistent institutional messaging across diverse communication channels. Physical Requirements - Lifting up to 15lbs. Office Environment - Work normally performed in a typical interior work environment. KNOWLEDGE Comprehensive knowledge of strategic communications, marketing, public relations, branding, and reputation management. Knowledge of higher education administration, governance, and organizational operations. Knowledge of crisis communications principles and issues management. Knowledge of media relations, digital communications, and emerging communication technologies. Knowledge of budgeting, resource management, and performance measurement methodologies. Position is accountable for the strategic direction, administration, and execution of the University's communications, marketing, public relations, and brand management functions. SKILLS Strategic planning and organizational leadership skills. Executive-level written, verbal, and presentation communication skills. Relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills. Media relations, public affairs, and public speaking skills. Project management, change management, and decision-making skills. Data analysis and assessment skills to evaluate marketing and communication effectiveness.

Requirements

• Educational Requirements Master's Degree Required Experience A master’s degree from an accredited institution in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, higher education administration, business, or a closely related field. A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, marketing, public relations, media relations, brand management, or a closely related function. A minimum of seven (7) years of experience within higher education, demonstrating an in-depth understanding of the academic mission, culture, governance, and operating environment of colleges and universities.

Preferred

• Preferred Qualifications Preferred Educational Qualifications Master's Degree Preferred Experience Senior communications or marketing leadership experience at a comprehensive public university, research university, university system, or similarly complex higher education institution. Experience supporting enrollment growth, student recruitment, advancement, fundraising, alumni engagement, athletics, or other measurable institutional priorities. Experience leading significant institutional branding, repositioning, reputation-building, or integrated marketing initiatives. Experience managing crisis communications, significant media inquiries, reputational issues, and rapid-response situations in higher education. Demonstrated experience with digital marketing, audience segmentation, market research, analytics, and performance measurement. Demonstrated understanding of emerging communications technologies, artificial intelligence, digital media, and evolving audience behavior. Knowledge of the University of West Georgia, the University System of Georgia, and the higher education environment in Georgia.

Benefits

• The University of West Georgia offers a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support faculty and staff across multiple dimensions; health, wellness, financial security, and professional growth. Employees working at least 30 hours per week gain access to a range of health plans, including medical, dental, and vision, wellness programs, and robust retirement options through Georgia Teachers Retirement System (TRS), Optional Retirement Program, and voluntary 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Employees are granted 13 paid holidays and paid time off accruals and are eligible to participate in the University System of Georgia's Tuition Assistance Program. Fringe benefits include a variety of resources focused on employee physical, mental, financial, and social well-being through Acentra Employee Assistance Program in addition to personal financial advising with Captrust. UWG also offers exclusive discounts and special offers on entertainment, travel, and other products and services through the Perks at Work program, free access to the university recreation facility, discounted campus dining options, and more!