Olivet College Looking for Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Full Time

Olivet College, a liberal arts college in south central Michigan with a long-standing commitment to inclusion and diversity, seeks an Executive Director of Communications and Marketing (“Executive Director”). The Executive Director provides leadership and management for the operations and personnel in the marketing and communications areas of Olivet College.

Olivet College was founded in 1844 on the principle that the future of humanity rests in the hands, hearts and minds of those who will take responsibility for themselves and others in an increasingly diverse society. Open since its founding over 178 years ago to all regardless of race, gender or ability to pay, Olivet College is one of the most diverse private liberal arts institutions in the state and actively seeks diversity in its students and employees. The student body is composed of a strong mixture of first-generation, urban, rural and students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, with about 50 percent qualifying annually for Federal Pell Grants. Given the college’s commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive college community, members of historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Vice President for Enrollment Management, and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Executive Director is responsible for the leadership, management, and planning of the strategies and actions which promote the mission, vision, and goals of the College through internal and external communications, marketing and branding, strategic partnerships, and image development.

Responsibilities

• • Proven ability to interact effectively, cooperatively, confidentially, and tactfully with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to perform responsibilities in a timely and efficient manner as well as be reliable, resourceful, tactful, self-starting, flexible, and cooperative.
  • Marketing and Brand Management: Develops and executes long-term marketing strategies designed to promote the College’s mission and brand positioning, including internal and external advocacy and quality control of the College’s brand. Directs the planning, development, editorial content, production, and evaluation of promotional campaigns and college collateral (print, website, electronic). Oversees the ongoing development and maintenance of the College’s external website and social media strategy to include components for measuring and assessing performance and effectiveness. Plans, develops and implements comprehensive marketing initiatives, including competitive positioning, marketing and advertising strategy, and consistent brand image.
  • Student Enrollment: Works collaboratively across all departments to identify, develop and deploy marketing and communications strategies to support the recruitment of prospective students and retention of current students.
  • Strategic Communications: Provides leadership in the planning, development, and direction of communication strategies and long-range public relations programs. Collaboratively works with the College’s leaders to develop and plan public relations/media relations activities that are designed to elevate public awareness and visibility of the College (locally, regionally, and nationally). Develops and maintains effective working relationships with media representatives.
  • Communication Counsel: Acts as the official college media contact/spokesperson as required and/or requested by the President. Provides strategic communications and media relations counsel, writing, and presentation support to the President and other senior administrators at the College.
  • Develops the marketing and communications strategic plan and budget.
  • Performs other related duties as required to support the mission of the College and as directed by the Vice President for Enrollment Management.

Duties

• • Develops, implements, executes, measures, and refines the college’s marketing, communications, advertising, public relations, and digital media strategies.
  • Directs and coordinates the strategic and tactical elements of marketing, communications, advertising, public relations, and digital media resources.
  • Delivers campaigns to generate student, faculty, administration, alumni, community, and other stakeholder interest.
  • Ensures consistent marketing and communication of the brand and its position through all vehicles and to all constituencies.
  • Directs outside marketing, advertising, communications, public relations, and digital media agencies.
  • Directs all creation of marketing collateral, advertising, communications, public relations, and digital media.
  • Establishes missions, goals, and objectives and ensure and evaluate progress.
  • Manages department, vendor, and agency budgets.
  • Reports on key metrics for marketing programs.
  • Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business or a related field.
  • Experience developing a marketing plan with proven results.
  • Minimum of 10 years of marketing/communications leadership experience.
  • Experience supervising, directing, and mentoring the work of others.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively.
  • Demonstrated ability to coordinate and execute a variety of tasks simultaneously and to exercise judgment and discretion.
  • Demonstrated ability as a public speaker and serving as the organization’s representative at public and private events.

Preferred Qualifications

• • Master’s degree or higher in a related field.
  • Experience in higher education and/or corporate marketing.
  • Working knowledge of graphic, web, and social media applications and tools, including MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, and WordPress.
  • Working knowledge of comprehensive higher education CRM, such as Slate.
  • Demonstrated experience with marketing photography and video.
  • Experience with brand development and professional writing.

Other requirements

• • 10 years of proven progressively responsible experience in marketing, advertising, journalism, communications, or related fields and experience in social and emerging media management for a major brand or agency.
  • In-depth knowledge of adaptive marketing, broadcast and print advertising, internal and external communications, digital and social media, and brand strategy development and management.
  • Proven experience in developing successful marketing, advertising, communications, public relations, and digital media strategies and campaigns.
  • Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate individuals to work effectively and accomplish key objectives.
  • Successful issues and crisis management communication experience.
  • Ability to rapidly design and adapt strategies, plans, and messaging to achieve mission goals.
  • Digital and new media channels expertise to engage, compel, and call to action key constituents.
  • Excellent written, presentation, verbal, and coaching skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to understand the infrastructure requirements of “marketing,” broadly defined, including marketing automation, digital marketing, and business intelligence.

Application Process:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Click on the link below, select this position and then click on the “Apply” button. From there, follow the instructions for completing the profile and submitting the required documents, as follows:

1. 1. formal cover letter
   2. resume, and
   3. contact information for three references