Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Description

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a highly regarded, nationally and internationally
ranked independent arts institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Located in
the northern Los Angeles metro area, CalArts invites applications and nominations for the
position of Vice President of Marketing & Communications (VP M & C). This position serves as
the Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of the Institute, reporting to the President.
Collaborating with academic and administrative leaders across the Institute, the VP M & C
provides overall vision, strategic and operational leadership, policy guidance, and direct
management of Institute needs as it pertains to integrated marketing and communications.

The Position
The VP M & C will serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for
conceiving of and establishing a holistic, high-level and multi-faceted marketing strategy for all
segments and publics of the Institute. This leader is also responsible for managing a central
communications program that is aligned with the cooperative communications efforts in
Admissions/Enrollment and Institutional Advancement, all of which will roll into the
aforementioned overall marketing strategy. Key to this will be a vision for communications that
can enhance the uniqueness of the CalArts community, provides help towards unified
messaging, and that supports and furthers the goals of the Institute – which is comprised of
various stakeholders including the six Schools, the Roy & Edna Disney CalArts Theater
(REDCAT) in downtown Los Angeles, and other key voices.

The Vice President should have the values and a demonstrated record that allows them to build
on the Institute’s deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA), through
actions that further these values.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

● Serve collaboratively as a member of the Institute’s Senior Leadership Team
● Prepare analyses and presentations for leadership, various stakeholders, and the Board of
Trustees
● Ensure that the ongoing work of the Marketing and Communications team is aligned with,
and in support of, the goals and objectives in the 2020 Strategic Framework.
● Engage shared governance in the assessment of and planning for strategic work.
● Create and lead an Integrated Marketing Working Group.
● Seek to identify and expand opportunities to advance CalArts and it’s reputation, including
for the six schools and the numerous programs under the Schools, most of which already
have national prominence.
● Document and evolve the Institute & internal and external communications, marketing, and
brand strategy and lead the development of policy, priorities, and best practices for central
marketing and the Institute & main communications platforms.
● Partner through effective communication and flexibility with members of the faculty,
academic leadership (deans, program directors), staff, and other leadership to capture and
articulate the unique CalArts culture, and position the Institute across all media – emerging, new, and more traditional – and tailored to the many audiences and publics towards which CalArts faces. 

● Partner with the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Enrollment Management
Team (Admissions, Financial Aid, etc.) and the Schools (deans and faculty liaisons) on the
VP’s work to create and advance the Institute’s strategic enrollment strategy. Goals for this
include aligning with the needs of the academic programs and identifying the market
segments for them, then create nuanced marketing strategies which are tailored to the
specific needs of CalArts’ unique populations and programs.
● Partner with the Vice President of Advancement, the Institutional Advancement Team, the
Schools (deans and program directors), staff, and other leadership on the VP’s work to
advance the Institute’s strategic fundraising and alumni engagement practices. Goals for
this include identifying the market segments involved, then create nuanced marketing
strategies which are tailored to the specific needs of CalArts’ unique populations and
programs.
● Partner with the Director of Government &  Community Relations, the President’s Office staff,
the Vice President of Facilities & Operations, and other stakeholders on the Director’s work
to advance the Institute’s ongoing relationships with city, county, state, and national
stakeholders.
● Partner with the Vice President for Cultural Partnerships and Executive Director of REDCAT,
the REDCAT team, and the Schools on the VP’s work to advance the Institute’s strategic
cultural par