Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
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$ 123200 - 191000
1 Vacancy
Job Description
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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
Penn State Smeal College of Business
Chief Marketing and Communications Officer
The Opportunity
Penn State Smeal: A college of business partners
Success as a leader is defined not only by what one knows and does but also by the people who surround them from the very beginning. At Smeal the community becomes a lifelong partner. With a vibrant network of more than 8000 undergraduate professional graduate executive and doctoral students nearly 400 dedicated faculty and staff members and over 94000 accomplished alumni the Smeal community is global and everpresent. Wherever graduates go members of this exceptional network are always in their cornerready to open doors share insights and cheer them on.
In July 2024 Corey Phelps was appointed as the John and Karen Arnold Dean of Penn States Smeal College of Business and at the start of 2025 the College began a comprehensive strategic planning process. The Imagine Smeal 2030 initiative is a bold strategic planning effort aimed at positioning the Smeal College of Business as a leader in business education for the next decade. This initiative leverages stakeholder engagement market analysis and innovative thinking to craft a clear actionable vision for the future. Imagine Smeal 2030 is designed to establish strategic priorities align resources with ambitious goals and create transformative initiatives that not only inspire but also guide the College toward excellence. This process will culminate in a comprehensive actionable plan aligned with a strategic budget and poised for implementation ensuring Smeals sustained success and transformative impact on business education.
To help continue its momentum and realize the goals of this new strategic plan the College seeks nominations and applications for the position of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO). The CMCO will be a marketing and communications expert and leader who will harness the power of consistent coordinated and creative messaging to drive greater visibility internal and external awareness of Smeals unique missiondriven characteristics and elevate the College to newer heights in national and international distinction.
The successful candidate will bring an inclusive and facilitative leadership style that inspires nurtures and empowers staff encourages open communication and collaboration throughout the College and fosters bold innovation. Working with talented and dedicated staff within communications and marketing as well as faculty and administrative leaders across the College and University this leader will help develop and implement a clear unified vision for marketing and communications that will engage the Smeal College community and position the College for future success.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven leader to initiate positive change and make a lasting impact for the Smeal College community.
Smeal College has retained Berkhemer Clayton a national executive search firm to assist in this search. All applications inquiries and nominations should be directed in confidence to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document.
Position Summary
Reporting directly to the Dean and serving as a member of the Colleges leadership team the CMCO will provide overall vision and strategic leadership for all internal and external communications and marketing activities for the Smeal College of Business.
In partnership with academic and administrative leaders throughout the College this individual will lead the development and of comprehensive branding performance marketing and communication strategies that build upon existing efforts to elevate the Colleges reputation strengthen student and faculty recruitment enhance corporate and alumni engagement and drive fundraising initiatives. The CMCO will also support internal units to ensure their marketing and communications efforts align with the Colleges mission and strategy.
This leader will oversee a skilled team of marketing and communications professionals fostering collaboration across Smeal departments centers and programs and with university marketing and communications teams to ensure alignment with broader institutional strategies. They will also serve as Smeals representative on the Universitys Lead Communications Council advocating for and integrating the Colleges marketing priorities within the broader university framework.
All of this shall be accomplished with a high level of professionalism and integrity handson contributions a transparent teamoriented and collaborative style a passion for the mission of Smeal and a commitment to identifying and embracing opportunities for change that will move the College forward.
Additional areas of responsibility will include but are not limited to the following:
Strategic Leadership and Brand Management
- Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy aligned with the Colleges strategic plan and Penn States broader branding enrollment and digital marketing initiatives collaborating with the PSU Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) to ensure consistent application of the Universitys brand framework messaging assets and visual identity.
- Oversee the Colleges branding efforts ensuring consistency and impact in all messaging and marketing collateral.
- Monitor and enhance the Colleges national and international reputation through strategic public relations and thought leadership initiatives.
- Provide strategic counsel to the Dean and senior leadership on key communication initiatives.
- Lead and manage a team of marketing and communications professionals setting priorities performance expectations and professional development opportunities.
- Advocate for the resources people technology thirdparty partners etc. needed to support and execute the Colleges marketing and communications strategy.
- Stay updated on industry trends through professional development and engagement with higher education marketing organizations.
Marketing Digital Presence and Analytics
- Collaborate with the PSU OSC to scale the Universitys technical strategy when possible to Smeal websites and develop a content and digital marketing strategy aligned with Smeal and University priorities while ensuring the accuracy accessibility and strategic integrity of Smeals digital presence through continuous SEO user experience optimization and social media management.
- Develop and execute innovative datadriven performance marketing campaigns to increase program visibility enrollment and engagement.
- Utilize marketing analytics and reporting tools to measure effectiveness optimize performance and inform future marketing decisions.
- Ensure compelling storytelling that highlights faculty research student success and alumni achievements through digital and traditional marketing channels.
Communications Media Relations and Content Development
- Identify and surface opportunities to elevate and strengthen the Smeal and Penn State brands through proactive communication related to research education and service.
- Develop and execute strategies to communicate faculty research to practitioners industry leaders and key stakeholders with the goal of fostering thought leadership collaboration and securing media coverage.
- Develop and execute a robust content strategy that supports brand awareness and engagement across multiple platforms including video podcasts articles and social media.
- Oversee internal and external communications including crisis communications media relations and stakeholder engagement.
- Continuously monitor online and offline sources for Smeal issues that could adversely impact the reputation of Penn State and Smeal. Promptly report issues to the OSC implement communication guidance and provide feedback on their impact on Smeal.
- Serve as the primary media contact managing press releases media requests and proactive engagement with journalists.
- Collaborate with OSC to amplify the Colleges thought leadership in national and global media outlets.
Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
- Work closely and collaboratively with CRM and internal IT which includes creative partners ensuring clear communication and alignment on collaborative project goals priorities and timelines.
- Work closely with development and alumni relations teams to support fundraising and donor engagement through strategic marketing efforts.
- Partner with admissions teams to develop and execute enrollment marketing strategies that attract and convert prospective students.
- Engage with corporate partners industry leaders the Smeal Board of Visitors and other external stakeholders to enhance the Colleges reputation and visibility.
- Represent the College in universitywide marketing and communications meetings including the Lead Communications Council and higher education professional organizations.
Team Leadership
- Set priorities and goals for the marketing and communications team.
- Ensure efficient and clear project management and workflow processes for the team creating shared expectations for customer service to internal constituents.
- Make hiring evaluation and other management decisions for the unit within a diverse and inclusive college.
- Lead team to actively participate in campus life to ensure deep awareness of the Smeal College story as it continues to evolve.
Budget and Resource Management
- Develop and manage the marketing and communications budget ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
- Oversee relationships with external agencies vendors and consultants for marketing advertising and creative services.
- Implement costeffective strategies to maximize the impact of marketing investments.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will bring the professional experience and leadership style needed to inspire others towards a common vision within the marketing and communications team and throughout the campus community with ten or more years of relevant marketing communications and/or media relations experience in positions of increasing responsibility and at least five years in a supervisory or management capacity.
This leader will have demonstrated success working with organizational leadership to develop successful campaigns and strategies and the willingness and ability to work directly with staff in daytoday of these strategies.
This individual will have a solutionoriented service approach with interpersonal communication organizational and decisionmaking skills to work effectively and thrive in an inclusive highly collaborative and consensusdriven environment. Current or prior experience in an educational environment would be helpful but not required.
Smeal seeks candidates with the following specific qualities characteristics experience and degrees. Understanding that each candidate brings relative strengths and areas in need of improvement and that no single candidate will be equally strong in every area we encourage all who are interested to apply.
- Strategic Vision: Ability to conceptualize and articulate a clear vision for the Colleges brand and marketing initiatives aligning with the strategic priorities of the University.
- Leadership: Demonstrated experience in leading and motivating a team of marketing and communications professionals with a track record of strategic decisionmaking and effective team management.
- Communication Excellence: Superior written and verbal communication skills with the capacity to develop compelling stories that enhance the Colleges reputation and brand image.
- FullStack Marketing Expertise: Extensive knowledge of marketing principles and practices including digital and traditional advertising public relations owned and sponsored content and marketing analytics.
- Digital Proficiency: Strong understanding of digital marketing channels SEO web presence management and the ability to leverage social media platforms effectively.
- Analytical Thinking: Proficiency in using data analytics to track measure and optimize marketing campaign performance with experience in managing a significant marketing budget.
- Content Development: Experience overseeing the production and distribution of highquality content across various platforms including managing relationships with thirdparty designers talent and production partners.
- ProblemSolving: Proven capability to tackle complex varied problems with innovative solutions and creative thinking.
- Fiscal Management: Experience in budgetary planning and oversight with a clear understanding of monitoring and tracking financial resources.
- Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively across different departments and with external partners agencies and consultants to achieve marketing objectives.
- Adaptability: Flexibility to respond to and manage changing priorities and operate effectively in a dynamic environment.
- Project Management: Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ethical Leadership: Commitment to ethical principles in overseeing marketing practices ensuring integrity in all communications.
- Cultural Competency: Sensitivity and awareness to effectively engage with diverse populations and foster an inclusive environment within the team.
Education Requirements and Certifications
Bachelors degree in marketing communications business administration or a related field is required. 10 years of relevant experience includes 5 years of supervisory experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience accepted. Advanced degree preferred. Professional certifications in performance marketing digital media or related fields are advantageous.
Location
The CMCO position will be based at Smeal College on Penn States University Park campus and oncampus presence will be critical to the success of the role. The campus is adjacent to the town of State College Pennsylvania. With a population of just over 40000 State College has been ranked as one of the nations most livable communities by Kiplingers and among the best college towns by the American Institute for Economic Research.
Procedure For Confidential Candidacy
This search is being assisted by the search firm Berkhemer Clayton. To be considered for the position candidates are requested to also apply to the Berkhemer Clayton website for the search:
Commitment to Culture and Belonging
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity respect and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the universitys teaching research and service mission.
The salary range for this position including all possible grades is:
$123200.00 $191000.00Salary Structure additional information on Penn States job and salary structure.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988 Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security such as those concerning alcohol and drug use crime prevention the reporting of crimes sexual and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race color religion age sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability please contact.
Required Experience:
Chief
Employment Type
Full-Time
