Executive Director for Marketing and Communications - School of Social Work

The Executive Director for Marketing and Communications serves as the School’s senior communications leader and a core member of the Dean’s leadership team. The successful candidate will be an experienced communication strategist, trusted thought partner, and proactive advisor to School leadership. The Executive Director will set the strategic vision for the School’s internal and external communications, ensuring cohesive messaging, strong brand identity, and engagement across all audiences – faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community partners, and external stakeholders. This position will collaborate closely with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to align content, storytelling and brand positioning with institutional priorities and standards.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Thought Partnership

• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Dean and senior leadership team on communications positioning, opportunities, and challenges

• Anticipate emerging issues; provide proactive counsel on messaging, reputation management, and stakeholder alignment

• Develop a forward-looking, school-wide communications strategy that advances academic priorities, research excellence, community engagement, and student success

Internal Communications and Culture Building

• Design and implement a comprehensive internal communications program, focused on fostering a collaborative culture and faculty, staff, and student engagement

• Create structures and content that build transparency, strengthen culture, and promote community

• Equip students, faculty, and staff to serve as ambassadors of the School, fostering ownership and pride across internal stakeholders

Brand, Messaging, and Storytelling

• Working within guidelines provided by the University, lead development of a consistent, compelling brand identity and integrated messaging strategy for the School

• Oversee storytelling that elevates the accomplishments of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and programs through print, digital, video, and social platforms

• Ensure communications reflect the voice, mission, and values of the School of Social Work

Media, Public Relations, and Reputation Management

• Strengthen the School’s regional, national, and disciplinary visibility by guiding media outreach and cultivating relationships with VCU News partners

• Serve as the School’s primary spokesperson, when appropriate, and partner with VCU Enterprise Marketing & Communications on issues and crisis communications to ensure coordinated, timely and effective messaging across the enterprise

Digital Communications and Web Strategy

• Oversee strategy, content, and user experience for the School’s website and digital channels

• Lead analytics-informed improvements to ensure accessibility, clarity, and audience engagement

• Supervise the development of digital marketing materials that align with recruitment, development, and academic priorities

Management and Administration

• Lead and mentor the School’s communications and marketing staff, cultivating a collaborative, high-performing team

• Manage the communications budget to maximize impact while maintaining compliance with University protocols

• Represent and advocate for communications and marketing strategy as part of the Dean’s leadership team and key School committees

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, or a related field

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, preferably in higher education or a mission-driven organization

• Demonstrated excellence in strategic planning, leadership, and executive-level counsel

• Strong writing, editing, design, and messaging development skills across multiple platforms

• Demonstrated ability to manage digital media, web systems, and content strategy

• Experience leading diverse teams and cultivating an inclusive, respectful environment

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, and complex organizational environment

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, marketing, social sciences, or related field

• Experience in communications leadership within higher education, public service, or nonprofit sectors

• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing a comprehensive internal communications program within a higher education, governmental, or nonprofit setting

familiarity with social work values, professional ethics, and community-engaged framework

• Familiarity with social work values, professional ethics, and community-engaged frameworks

Salary Range: $125,000 - $150,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Communications, Senior Director CM

Designation: Executive and Senior Leadership

Contact Information
Contact Name: Ananda Newmark
Contact Email: anewmark@vcu.edu