Executive Director of Marketing and Communications

Job Profile:

Outreach and Marketing Manager 5

Job Family:

Outreach and Marketing

Time Type:

Full time

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and eleven (11) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field including seven (7) years managerial experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Develops, implements, and evaluates marketing strategy for the institution. Directs development and implementation of marketing operations ensuring consistent branding in support of institutional marketing goals.

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Marketing and Communications serves as the senior-most marketing leader for the W. P. Carey School of Business, the largest business school in the United States with numerous programs and specialties ranked Top 30 or higher by U.S. News & World Report. This role, which reports to the Dean, is responsible for setting and executing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that advances the school’s strategic objectives, including enrollment growth, brand elevation, and stakeholder engagement.

Leading a team of 20+ professionals, the Executive Director drives integrated marketing efforts across a complex portfolio of MBA, specialized master’s, and executive education programs. The role plays a critical part in positioning W. P. Carey competitively in a global marketplace while aligning marketing strategy with institutional priorities and long-term growth goals.

Salary Range: $158,700-$185,260 to commensurate with experience.

Job Functions and Duties

Strategic Marketing Leadership 

• Develop and execute an integrated, multi-channel marketing strategy aligned with school and university priorities.

• Lead brand positioning and differentiation in a competitive global business education market.

• Ensure alignment with enterprise-level brand, communications and marketing standards. 

• Utilize market research, analytics, and competitive intelligence to identify growth opportunities.

• Proactively identify and advance opportunities for the school to lead in the application of AI within marketing and communications, positioning W. P. Carey at the forefront of innovation in business education marketing.

• Integrate AI-driven marketing strategies and tools (e.g., predictive analytics, personalization, marketing automation, generative AI for content) to enhance awareness of our teaching, research and practice innovations among our stakeholders. 

• Forge partnerships with academic and administrative leadership to develop effective marketing strategies that achieve program objectives.

Enrollment Marketing & Program Support

• Proactively develop and execute marketing strategies that drive awareness, inquiry, and enrollment with a primary focus on graduate offerings (MBA programs and specialized master’s) and executive education.

• Collaborate with admissions and program teams to optimize the prospective student journey and conversion funnel.

• Leverage CRM systems and marketing automation/AI tools to support lead generation and nurturing.

• Navigate complex privacy landscapes while maintaining precision targeting and measurement through ethical zero-party and first-party data capture.

• Monitor campaign effectiveness and adjust strategies based on performance data and ROI using always-on, iterative testing methodology.

Brand Management & Communications 

• Ensure consistency of brand identity and messaging across all platforms and audiences.

• Lead internal and external communications, including media relations, public relations, and crisis communications.

• Oversee content strategy, including digital, social media, and thought leadership initiatives.

• Enhance institutional reputation through strategic storytelling and visibility efforts.

• Manage decentralized content creator networks and leverage social signals to inform brand strategy and marketing innovation.

• Partner closely with university stakeholders to interpret and uphold ASU Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management standards.

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence 

• Coach, develop, lead, and mentor a team of 20+ marketing and communications professionals, spanning multiple specializations.

• Oversee organizational structure, resource allocation, and workflow processes to maximize effectiveness and impact. 

• Oversee and strategically utilize the unit’s budget to meet School objectives. 

• Integrate artificial intelligence and other marketing automation tools within the team workflow to maximize efficiency, readiness and responsiveness.

• Create and manage an organizational chart incorporating AI, then ensure the martech stack utilizes the most economic and effective tools for the roles it is fulfilling.

• Manage external agencies, vendors, and partnership relationships.

• Establish performance metrics, accountability structures, and continuous improvement practices.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration 

• Partner with W. P. Carey leadership, program directors, advancement, and other internal stakeholders to align messaging and priorities.

• Collaborate with ASU Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management and ASU Media Relations and Strategic Communications to ensure consistency with university-wide initiatives.

• Support alumni engagement and advancement efforts through targeted communication strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience in marketing and communication-related roles within a higher education setting.

• In-depth understanding of global business education markets and competitive dynamics.

• Experience supporting enrollment marketing for graduate, undergraduate, online, or executive education programs.

• Proven experience designing and/or optimizing human-AI collaborative workflows.

• Demonstrated success leading integrated marketing strategies for complex, multi-program organizations.

• Advanced understanding of digital marketing, CRM platforms, and marketing analytics.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and scale high-performing teams.

• Experience working in a matrixed or decentralized organizational environment.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Higher education landscape, particularly large, public research institutions

• Enrollment marketing strategies and student lifecycle management

• Brand strategy, positioning, and integrated communications

• Digital marketing channels, tools, analytics, and emerging AI applications

• Global business education markets, including MBA and specialized master’s program trends

• ASU Enterprise Brand Strategy and Management principles and standards

Skills

• Strategic planning and execution across multiple programs and audiences

• Data-driven decision-making and campaign optimization

• Leadership, team development, and performance management

• Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement

• Project and budget management

Abilities

• Ability to translate strategic priorities into effective marketing initiatives

• Ability to lead through complexity and organizational scale

• Ability to develop human-in-the-loop processes to maximize efficiency while maintaining human judgment, empathy and decision making.

• Ability to balance long-term brand development with immediate enrollment goals

• Ability to synthesize data into actionable insights

• Ability to guide AI and technology with ethical oversight by understanding risk (bias, privacy, fairness, etc.) and trust metrics

• Ability to build strong partnerships across academic and administrative units

Working Environment

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work in the State of Arizona.

Department Statement:

The W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University is the largest business school in the United States with more than 23,000 students and 120,000+ alumni worldwide. From our world-renowned faculty representing six continents to thousands of outstanding students who join us every year, the W. P. Carey School welcomes Inclusive Excellence and encourages global thinking. The W. P. Carey School is internationally recognized for its leadership in business education, groundbreaking research and innovation, and renowned faculty, making us one of the top-ranked business schools in the country.

W. P. Carey prides itself on being a place “where business is personal.” Business is personal means that kindness, courtesy, and respect lead our actions. We care for each other and support one another. We’re proud of that commitment, and look forward to it shaping your experience at W. P. Carey. Learn more at wpcarey.asu.edu.

All we do at ASU is guided and inspired by the University Charter, which reads:

ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

The W. P. Carey School of Business continually strives to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Driving Requirement:

Driving is not required for this position.

Location:

Campus: Tempe

Funding:

No Federal Funding

Instructions to Apply:

Current employees, student workers seeking staff opportunities, and students applying for student worker positions must apply directly through the Workday Jobs Hub.

Please use the link below to log in using single sign-on.

https://www.myworkday.com/asu/d/inst/1$9925/9925$26078.htmld

To be considered, your application must include all of the following attachments:

• Cover letter

• Resume or CV

Multiple documents may be uploaded in the attachments section. Alternatively, applicants may combine all required materials into a single PDF for submission. Please ensure uploaded documents are clearly labeled and include your name.

Please ensure your resume includes all employment information in month and year format, for example 6/04 to 8/14, along with job title, job duties, and employer name for each position. Your resume should clearly demonstrate how your experience and background meet the minimum and desired qualifications for this position. Incomplete applications or missing required materials may not be considered.

Important: Do not withdraw your application to make edits. Once an application is withdrawn, it cannot be edited, reactivated, or replaced with a new submission. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact The Office of Human Resources Talent Acquisition before the posting close date.

Graduate Assistant, Intern and part-time positions are counted as half time for experience equivalency, meaning one year equals six months of experience.

Only electronic applications will be accepted for this position. By submitting an application, you confirm that the information provided is accurate and complete.

ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

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Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Fingerprint Check Statement:

This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check.