To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm MT on 03/20/2026.
Position Summary
The Marketing team within University Advancement leads the development, stewardship, and activation of the University of Northern Colorados (UNC) UNC brand in support of institutional growth, engagement, and enrollment objectives. The Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Marketing leads this team by translating institutional priorities into clear, coordinated, and mission-centered messaging that strengthens enrollment reputation and stakeholder engagement. The AVP serves as the universitys chief marketing and brand strategist, providing strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the universitys centralized marketing function and partnering with other embedded units across the campus.
Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement and serving as a senior member of the Advancement leadership team, the AVP provides vision direction and leadership for UNCs brand strategy, enrollment marketing, creative development, digital marketing, advertising, web strategy, and marketing analytics, all in service to strengthening institutional reputation, supporting enrollment and student success objectives, driving philanthropic engagement, and increasing visibility and perception of the universitys brand.
In close collaboration with the AVP for Communications, the AVP partners with campus leaders and communicators to ensure that institutional messaging is clear, consistent, and reflective of the universitys academic excellence and public mission.
As a senior member of the University Advancement leadership team, the AVP fosters collaboration across campus and leads a professional staff committed to advancing the universitys strategic priorities through thoughtful, data-informed marketing initiatives.
Job Duties
Provide Vision and Strategic Direction
The Assistant Vice President for Marketing leads the development and execution of comprehensive, data-driven marketing and brand strategies aligned with UNCs strategic plan and enrollment and fundraising goals. The AVP partners closely with Admissions and university leadership to ensure marketing strategies support measurable enrollment growth and retention and brand awareness outcomes. The AVP will define key performance indicators (KPIs) for marketing initiatives and implement dashboards and reporting systems that provide leadership with clear insight into campaign effectiveness, brand health, and enrollment impact.
Areas of focus include:
• Developing and implementing a comprehensive integrated marketing and communications strategy aligned with the universitys strategic plan • Establishing appropriate assessment measures and performance indicators to evaluate marketing effectiveness • Providing oversight of institutional brand positioning and messaging to ensure alignment with the universitys mission and values • Serving as a strategic advisor to the Vice President for University Advancement on marketing-related matters • Leading marketing strategies that support enrollment, philanthropy, and increased awareness of UNCs brand • Partnering with Admissions and enrollment leadership to design coordinated audience-focused recruitment campaigns • Utilizing market research, demographic analysis, and institutional data to inform strategy and resource allocation • Supporting communication efforts that reinforce student success and retention priorities
Advance and Protect UNCs Brand
The AVP serves as steward of the UNC brand, ensuring clarity, consistency, and differentiation across marketing efforts. This includes:
• Overseeing the development and implementation of brand standards and visual identity guidelines, as well as brand positioning and messaging frameworks • Ensuring consistency and quality across marketing materials and platforms • Creating and executing marketing campaigns that reflect UNCs distinctive value proposition • Identifying and elevating content that highlights the accomplishments of students, faculty, staff, and alumni to increase brand awareness • Developing the understanding and ability of campus collaborators to support UNCs brand through tools, trainings, and other collaboration
Department
Leadership and Management
The AVP hires, develops, and leads a centralized marketing team focused on brand, enrollment marketing, creative production, and digital strategy. The position manages the marketing budget and allocates resources to maximize measurable outcomes and return on investment. Examples of this include:
• Providing leadership, supervision, and professional development for marketing staff • Establishing clear expectations, promoting accountability, and fostering a collaborative team environment • Partnering effectively with the AVP for Communications to ensure coordination across functions of MarComm • Coordinating project prioritization and workflow management to meet institutional needs • Supporting a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth • Developing and managing the departments operating and marketing budgets and ensuring responsible stewardship of university resources • Overseeing contracts, vendor relationships, and advertising expenditures in accordance with university policies
Strategic Partnership and Campus Collaboration
The AVP will serve as a respected campus leader and brand ambassador for the university and the Division of University Advancement across the campus. In partnership with Advancement, Enrollment, and university leadership, the AVP will identify strategic opportunities where marketing and brand strategy can add value to key stakeholder groups, including prospective students, alumni, donors, parents, and community partners. The AVP will ensure that campus-wide marketing initiatives strengthen UNCs reputation, support enrollment growth, deepen engagement, and advance institutional priorities.
To accomplish this, the AVP must:
• Partner with academic and administrative units to advance institutional initiatives through strategic marketing support • Provide consultation on messaging, positioning, and audience engagement strategies • Represent marketing and University Advancement within university committees and working groups as appropriate
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelors degree required • Masters degree in marketing communications, business, or related field preferred • Equivalent professional experience may substitute for advanced degree
The ideal candidate will be a creative, inspiring, and energetic leader who will advance the departments mission, a skilled administrator who values collaborative governance and student-centeredness, and a visionary who is well-informed about emerging trends in marketing. An understanding of student recruitment and/or philanthropy and community relations is important.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic marketing leadership, preferably in higher education or a similarly complex organization • Demonstrated experience leading brand strategy and enrollment marketing initiatives • Expertise in digital marketing, paid media strategy, and marketing analytics • Experience managing marketing budgets and optimizing marketing performance • Strong understanding of brand positioning and competitive differentiation • Demonstrated understanding of the advancement model, including development, alumni engagement, and campaign strategy, and the ability to align brand positioning and marketing initiatives to support philanthropic growth and long-term institutional sustainability