Director of Marketing and Communications, Graduate School of Education and Psychology

The Director of Marketing for the Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) reports to the Senior Director of Client Relations and serves as the primary communications brand and growth leader acting as a strategic partner to the Dean faculty and school leadership. This essential role is the dedicated co-architect of high-quality data-informed strategies that ensure the colleges objectives align seamlessly with the universitys brand mission and long-term vision.

The Director is accountable for the integrated planning and execution of all marketing and communications efforts across three key areas: School Marketing (collaborating with centralized enrollment marketing web communications and creative teams to drive applications and funnel development through print digital social web and other channels); Profile-Raising (strengthening the schools brand through PR rankings and multimedia content); and Advancement and Alumni Engagement (supporting the relevant advancement/ alumni engagement leaders in the college as well as the centralized alumni communications team).

As the central point of contact for GSEP the Director manages all constituent support requests utilizing research and analysis to improve strategies and ensure the timely delivery of strategic and tactical support. This role is crucial in reinforcing the universitys Christ-centered commitment in external and internal communications.

Duties

• School Marketing:
  • Participate in all marketing and associated outcomes for programs including websites communications social media and digital marketing.
  • Work in close collaboration with the Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing to align school-level initiatives with centralized strategies and performance goals.
• Brand Marketing and Profile-Raising:
  • Lead efforts to strengthen the schools brand identity and elevate its profile across key audiences by developing and executing strategies that include public relations organic social media ranking improvement/publication plans print video multimedia and event promotion.
• Advancement and Alumni:
  • Maintain regular and ongoing interaction with the centralized advancement and alumni relations teams sharing accountability for measurable results directly tied to efforts. This includes writing annual plans developing and executing communications creating marketing and outreach materials setting goals reporting on measurable outcomes and documenting work and results regularly.
• Constituent Support:
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for school leadership and constituents including the dean committees program chairs faculty staff and admissions.
  • Solely responsible for directly receiving managing and fulfilling all requests ensuring the timely delivery of marketing and communications support for school marketing initiatives internal/external communications and any other school-related priorities.
  • In partnership with senior school and departmental leadership the Director also serves as a co-architect of high-quality data-informed growth strategies that align school-level objectives with broader university plans and commitments. This includes advising leaders on strategic marketing opportunities helping shape integrated campaigns and messaging that advance institutional goals and ensuring that all communications reinforce the universitys brand mission and long-term vision.
• Data Research and Analysis:
  • Work closely with IMC teams to ideate create and monitor reports on the effectiveness of marketing and communications efforts.
  • Analyze data and utilize insights to improve strategies and prepare synthesized presentations regularly.
• Budgeting:
  • Field funding requests from school constituents and develop ideas that may require budget resources.
  • Present enrollment-related requests directly to the Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing and non-enrollment-related requests to the Directors direct supervisor.
  • The Director must work through the proper channels follow established processes and obtain written approval before carrying out any budget-related activity as they do not hold authority over budgets or spending.
• Perform other duties as assigned:
  • Contribute to additional projects and responsibilities in support of Integrated Marketing Communications and broader University initiatives.
• Uphold University Mission Through Work Performed:
  • Contribute to Pepperdines mission and community through all responsibilities and interpersonal interactions reflecting a culture of excellence service and hospitality.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelors degree in writing marketing business communications or related field.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proven ability to create and customize content for a variety of channels.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams to meet shared objectives.
• Ability to work independently & pro-actively handle multiple requests/projects simultaneously and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Quick learner.
• Computer proficient in database management word processing project management writing and editing skills.
• Ability to effectively produce in a highly autonomous position.
• Ability to delicately manage the input of multiple perspectives into one final product.
• Ability to articulate the Pepperdine brand and a strong commitment to Pepperdines Christian mission.
• Detail orientation
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite Google Analytics G Suite Salesforce PeopleSoft OmniUpdate and Mac.

Preferred:

• Masters degree in marketing business communications or related field preferred.
• Five years of experience in marketing leadership.
• Experience within a higher education marketing recruitment advancement or enrollment office.
• Supervisory capabilities expert knowledge in higher education and marketing trends ability to analyze and demonstrate returns on investment.
• Adobe Suite (e.g. Photoshop Illustrator) survey software preferred.

This is a Regular Exempt 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $93000 - $105000 per year

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience market conditions education/training and skill addition to base pay Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitivebenefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal state or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students faculty and staff represent many religious backgrounds Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek hire and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdines Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal education and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students faculty staff and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people property information and the Universitys reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.