Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

Job Profile Title

Director C, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing

Job Description Summary

The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications is a senior member of the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) team responsible for leading integrated marketing and communications efforts that strengthen student and alumni engagement and advance DAR priorities. This role provides strategic and creative leadership across digital media, marketing communications, design, content, and campaign execution, translating organizational priorities into compelling and coordinated experiences for students, alumni and other audiences.


Working closely with teams across DAR, the position serves as a key partner in advancing communications strategies within Penn's broader digital engagement ecosystem. A strong understanding of student and alumni audiences, digital communications, creative development, and emerging engagement practices is essential to ensuring communications are relevant, effective, accessible, and aligned across channels.


The Senior Director leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for design and branding, digital media, and marketing technology support, providing direction and prioritization while fostering creative, solutions-oriented approaches across Alumni Relations.

The position works closely with The Penn Fund, Central Development, DAR Marketing and Communications, schools and centers, and other University partners to develop integrated communications strategies and campaigns.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Marketing & Communications Strategy

• Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies that advance student and alumni engagement and DAR priorities, translating organizational goals, audience insights, and program needs into coordinated communications plans, campaigns, and digital experiences.
• Develop communications strategies, messaging approaches, channel plans, and timelines for student and alumni programs, events, initiatives, and campaigns in collaboration with partners across Alumni Relations and DAR.
• Provide strategic counsel to DAR leaders and colleagues on messaging, audience engagement, channel strategy, and communications opportunities.
• Establish goals and measures for communications initiatives and use performance data and engagement metrics to evaluate effectiveness, refine strategy, and improve outcomes.
• Monitor evolving practices in digital communications, alumni engagement, social media, content strategy, and creative development to identify opportunities for innovation and improved audience engagement.

Digital Media & Content

• Provide strategic leadership for student and alumni digital communications across websites, email, social media, and other digital channels, ensuring a coordinated and consistent audience experience.
• Lead the development and execution of digital content and campaigns, including audience strategy, messaging cadence and channel selection.
• Ensure digital communications are timely, accurate, accessible, brand-aligned, and responsive to audience needs.
• Collaborate with partners across DAR to leverage digital platforms and emerging capabilities in support of communications and engagement goals.
• Provide communications leadership for major organizational initiatives, including time-sensitive, high-profile, and crisis communications as needed.

Creative Direction & Brand

• Provide overall creative direction for student and alumni-facing marketing and communications, ensuring consistency with University and DAR brand standards while advancing strong storytelling and audience engagement.
• Direct the conceptualization, design, and production of digital and print marketing materials, including campaign creative, event communications, web and social media assets, invitations, and other collateral.
• Guide the development of visual identities and creative approaches for major alumni programs, initiatives, and campaigns, balancing creativity with accessibility, usability, and audience needs.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team that includes the Assistant Director of Art & Design, Assistant Director of Marketing Technology, and Associate Director of Digital Media.
• Establish priorities, workflows, standards, and expectations across creative, digital media, and marketing technology functions to support a responsive, collaborative, and sustainable communications operation.
• Provide staff direction and performance management, supporting professional development, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate resources and priorities across the team's portfolio to ensure projects are effectively planned and delivered.

Collaboration, Project & Resource Management

• Build strong partnerships with Alumni Relations, The Penn Fund, Central Development, DAR Marketing and Communications, schools and centers, and other University partners to develop coordinated communications strategies and advance shared priorities.
• Manage use of and process for the integration of various technical tools to facilitate alumni and student engagement and communications including broadcast emails, event registration, website development and maintenance, and community management platforms and systems.
• Manage multiple complex communications and creative initiatives, balancing priorities, timelines, resources, budgets, and stakeholder needs from planning through execution and evaluation.
• Manage the communications and marketing budget and relationships with external partners and vendors, ensuring effective use of resources.
• Develop and continuously improve processes, workflows, and tools that strengthen the quality, consistency, efficiency, and sustainability of the team's work.

**Please provide a resume and cover letter in order to be considered for this role. Please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of the application prior to submitting.**

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7 to 10 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Development and Alumni Relations

Pay Range

$110,907.00 - $124,125.30 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay