Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Location: Blacksburg
Posted on: June 23, 2025

Job Description:

The Vice President for Marketing and Communications is a strategic leadership role responsible for developing and executing comprehensive marketing and communication strategies to strengthen and enhance the university’s brand, drive growth and institutional visibility, and achieve the university’s top priorities. Reporting jointly to the President and Senior Vice President for Advancement, the Vice President for Marketing and Communications is the chief marketing and communications officer who serves as a strategic advisor on the university’s comprehensive marketing and communications plans. The Vice President is a member of the President’s Cabinet and a key member of the Advancement executive leadership team and collaborates closely with advancement leaders to ensure strong alignment and integration of the advancement model, comprising of development, engagement, and marketing and communications. In addition to overseeing university communication strategies, this role will also focus on marketing initiatives, leveraging data-driven insights and innovative approaches to maximize institutional positioning, brand management, and reputation management. Through direct or delegated reporting lines, the Vice President oversees a broad team of marketing and communication professionals including: all college- and unit-based communications; media relations; primary and secondary university and college- and unit-based platforms; university-level marketing and advertising; advancement communications, including those targeted at major gift prospects, corporations, foundations, and principal gift prospects; The Virginia Tech Magazine; Photo and video production; design services; university-level websites and social media platforms; commercial and promotional licensing of branded merchandise; and the NPR member public radio station, WVTF and Radio IQ, which has signals that cover all of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This role aligns campus marketing and communications efforts, plans, and staff through dual reporting lines shared by the units and central Marketing and Communications, which includes the lead communicators across all university leadership areas. A member of the university’s leadership team, this position partners closely with the President and Senior Vice President for Advancement and fosters relationships with the University’s Board of Visitors to ensure strategies to meet internal and external marketing needs. As a senior leader on campus, the Vice President is expected to be visible and involved in various campus events and activities and advance a spirit of transparency and visibility internally and externally. Required Qualifications • Bachelors degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, or a related field. • Extensive and progressive marketing and communications experience, with a proven track record of success in developing and executing effective marketing strategies within institutional environments. • Experience in developing brand platforms and strategies. • Extensive experience in digital, social media, and content marketing and market segmentation. • Broad understanding of digital and emerging communications technologies and platforms. • Strong analytical skills and proven experience using data to drive marketing and communications decisions. • Proven ability to lead and manage a high-performing team. • Experience in addressing the public through audio, video, and the written word. • Experience with and understanding of contemporary journalism ethics. • A comprehensive understanding of the print, electronic, digital, and social news cycles. • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. • Fiscal acumen with proven experience developing and managing significant marketing and communications budgets. • Demonstrated experience with CRM and marketing automation platforms. • Strong understanding of brand management principles. Preferred Qualifications • A masters degree in marketing, higher education, public administration, business administration, communications, journalism, or a related field, or a bachelors degree with relevant experience that equates to an advanced degree. • Experience in marketing and communications within higher education. • Experience with marketing analytics platforms. • Experience with video production and editing. • Experience in developing and executing global marketing campaigns. • Experience in or oversight of educational and/or professional media organizations, i.e., public radio or TV outlets, news organizations, or similar outlets. • Experience in or a broad understanding of nonprofit and higher education fundraising. Pay Band Administrative Faculty Overtime Status Exempt: Not eligible for overtime Appointment Type Regular Salary Information Commensurate with Experience Hours per week 40 Additional Information The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check. About Virginia Tech Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually. Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

Keywords: , High Point , Vice President for Marketing and Communications, PR / Public Relations , Blacksburg, North Carolina