Job Title: Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 278891
About Us

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Do you want to cultivate an inclusive environment that encourages free expression and civil discourse? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower our 47,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens. Our entrepreneurial spirit, high-impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Job Summary

Responsible for the development of an integrated communications and marketing strategy, which encompasses the institution's internal and external communications, community, and media relations. Will lead a diverse group of communications and marketing professionals in building, shaping, enhancing, promoting, and protecting the organization's brand and reputation. In addition, the Communication and Marketing division supports the strategic direction, needs and mission of the organization as articulated through its strategic plan and serves as a close partner to Enrollment Management, Advancement, and others to deliver a consistent and compelling message.

Will articulate and recommend communications and marketing goals for the organization, identifying measures to assess achievement of these goals and manage these resources. With the rapidly changing social communications landscape and the growing influence of information technology, this role will require a leader to manage traditional communications programs while creating and leveraging the technology/media experience of the future. The vice president will strive to develop communications and marketing programs that will differentiate the institution in the academic marketplace and help the organization in its mission to be a destination of choice.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Work collaboratively with the Office of the President and other vice presidents to develop long-term communications and marketing strategies to advance the mission of Kennesaw State University.
2. Develop and lead Institution-wide integrated branding initiatives.
3. Lead collaborative efforts to create and manage a unified institutional brand strategy for the university.
4. Partner with senior leadership to ensure consistent branding policies and best practices are implemented.
5. Assure marketing strategy and tactics are tightly integrated with internal communications, media relations, and business objectives of the Institution.
6. Lead the university¿s comprehensive marketing communications program to drive market share growth and revenue, student enrollment and retention, brand awareness, and consumer loyalty.
7. Develop the means to assess marketing performance across platforms, develop opportunities for new campaigns, and assess new markets.
8. Execute internal communications strategy using varieties of tools and channels that support business objectives.
9. Provide strategic leadership on internal (employee) communication that increases employee engagement and provides information in a candid, timely, and transparent manner.
10. Oversee the development and operation of leadership communication channels including online, video conferencing, and use of collaboration tools.
11. Lead external communications activities from conception to implementation including, public affairs, issues/crisis management, mergers & acquisitions, executive communications, and reputation management.
12. Responsible for developing a communications strategy to anticipate, prevent, and manage issues/crises; develop core messaging, reputation management plans, positioning papers, and media training.
13. Serve as the primary community and media relations strategist. Lead media strategy to elevate brand prominence in local, state, and national media outlets.
14. Responsible for leading and collaborating with college-based and campus-based communications and marketing professionals, to include communications training and development across the University, measurement and performance management to ensure accountability and continuous improvement and mobilizing reputation-building initiatives nationally and globally.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Master's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in Business, Communications, Marketing, or related field

Other Required Qualifications
Current, valid, and unrestricted driver's license

Required Experience
Ten (10) years of related work experience and advanced knowledge of marketing, communications, journalism, digital media, leadership, and preparation of management reports.
Seven (7) years of experience within higher education with an in-depth understanding of the academic mission of higher education institutions.
Established success in building and leading collaborative teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications
Advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher learning in a related field

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
Ability to function effectively and efficiently as part of the organization's leadership team.
Extensive experience in leading visually compelling design and/or brand campaigns.

KNOWLEDGE
Strategic knowledge and understanding of marketing and communication channels and tools (e.g., email, print, web, media, etc.).
Knowledge of best practices, emerging issues, trends, and opportunities in university higher education communications.

SKILLS
Highly developed human relations skills leading to the ability to work well with individuals at all levels in the organization.
Strong planning and organizational skills, task orientation, and high level of energy.
Excellent presentation and communication skills at all levels; experience working with an executive leadership team and board members.
Proven success in developing and leading broad marketing, PR, and communications strategies to enhance institutional reputation and growth.
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem solving, independent judgment, organization, time management, and project management skills.
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite).
Strong attention to detail and follow up skills.
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 25% - 49% of the time
This position does not require security clearance.

Background Check

• Credit Report
• Standard Enhanced
• Education
• DMV

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening
results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job-based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, pre-employment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials.

https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf