Position Title:

Vice President, Strategic Communications and Marketing

Position Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Categories:

Staff Exempt

Job Summary:

Job Duties:

Bucknell University is excited to announce and invite nominations and applications for its search for the Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing. This pivotal leadership role, reporting directly to the President, offers a unique opportunity to shape the future narrative and strategic direction of the University. This role comes at a time when higher education is profoundly changing, from shifting demographics and public perceptions to emerging technologies and evolving student expectations. Bucknell seeks a Vice President who can navigate this dynamic landscape, proactively shaping narratives that convey a Bucknell education's enduring value and relevance.
 

Bucknell University seeks a visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as its Vice President for Strategic Communications and Marketing. This essential role will provide comprehensive leadership for all institutional communications and marketing efforts, shaping and amplifying Bucknell's narrative at a transformative moment in its history. The Vice President will define and articulate a compelling vision for integrated communications, ensuring a consistent message and strong visual identity that strengthens Bucknell's position with all key constituents, fostering inclusive student and employee experiences that ensure a sense of belonging across the community. As Bucknell embarks on enhancing internal communication strategies, a comprehensive fundraising campaign, and innovative academic, admissions and student-centric retention strategies, the Vice President will orchestrate and propel forward all strategic communications, bringing deep expertise and visionary acumen to ensure the success of these critical endeavors.
 

Key Opportunities and Outcomes
 

Presidential Counsel & Strategic Advisor: Serve as the primary strategic communications advisor to the President, providing timely, direct, and insightful advice that enhances the President's critical role in communicating Bucknell's vision, priorities, and impact. Partner with the President on messaging to ensure his “voice” is consistent and congruent.
 

Visionary Leadership & Strategic Planning: Provide visionary leadership for Bucknell's comprehensive and integrated strategic marketing and communications plan, aligning all efforts with the University's overarching goals and priorities, and championing communication strategies that create inclusive student and employee experiences and foster a strong sense of belonging. Craft compelling stories that elevate the voices of students, faculty, staff, alums, and the broader community, illustrating Bucknell’s transformative impact and creating authentic, emotional connections with diverse audiences.
 

Strengthen Commitment to Inclusive Excellence: Develop and implement communication strategies that reflect and reinforce Bucknell’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging. Ensure that messaging and storytelling authentically represent the diverse experiences and contributions within the University community, building trust and a sense of belonging for all audiences.
 

Integrated Brand Management & Communications Strategy: Exercise ultimate responsibility for the strategic direction, content, and design of all Bucknell communications materials and tools across all formats for all internal and external audiences, ensuring absolute consistency in messaging, branding, and visual identity. Create a strategic communication and marketing plan that is dynamic, innovative and reflects the mission and priorities of the University. Help articulate and refine Bucknell’s unique value proposition in the national higher education landscape, differentiating the institution in ways that resonate deeply with prospective students, families, alums, donors, and external partners.
 

Organizational Leadership & Team Development: Develop and lead a high-performing communications and marketing organization, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and responsiveness. Recruit, retain, and develop a diverse and talented team that provides highly professional and strategic communications and marketing support services across the University, including but not limited to the President's Office, University Advancement, Enrollment Management, Bucknell’s three colleges and the Board of Trustees.
 

Digital Ecosystem & Innovation: Create and implement a forward-looking operational model that optimizes the central role of the University's digital presence, including web, video, and social media, as a dynamic and cohesive communications p