Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing

Company: State University of New York at Cortland

Job Location: Cortland, New York

Category: Administrative Vice Presidents

Type: Full-Time

Salary Range: $145,000-$165,000 (Depending on Experience)

Salary Determination

Starting salary rates are based on multiples factors which may include the position's major responsibilities, the applicant's background including education, work experience, and key competencies, the university's strategic priorities, internal peer equity and external market analyses, applicable federal, state, and local laws and negotiated labor contracts.

Is this a temporary position? No

Position Summary

The Associate Vice President (AVP) for Communications and Marketing provides strategic leadership for the institution's integrated communications and marketing efforts and serves as the senior communications strategist. The AVP for Communications and Marketing develops and implements comprehensive strategies to enhance the university's brand, reputation, and visibility while supporting enrollment, fundraising, recruitment and institutional priorities. The position serves as the Public Information Officer during crisis management situations.

The annual salary for this position is $145,000-$165,000 (Depending on Experience)

Watch to learn about careers at SUNY Cortland: https://vimeo.com/1038936490

Major Responsibilities

• Public Relations
• Serve as the primary media contact for the University and maintain a liaison role with news media, radio, and television to give the campus proper and fair external coverage
• Share college, faculty, and student achievements with local, regional, and national media outlets, tailoring each announcement to its specific audience
• Ensure thorough evaluation of how the University's initiatives and programs impact surrounding communities and the broader region
• Create media relations guidelines, compose news stories and scripts, launch specialized publications, write articles, and handle urgent communications needs
• Represent the university at various community events including meetings, town halls, celebrations, and formal dinners
• Comprehensive Content Creation
• Responsible for the Universities photography, video, social/digital media, website design, and content
• Oversee university-wide publications, including alumni magazine Columns, monthly internal and external newsletters, web content for Cortland.edu, presidential annual reports
• Responsible for shaping and implementing University marketing and advertising decisions across campus and including enrollment management, faculty/staff recruitment, campus event management
• Lead market research efforts that guide strategic decisions
• Responsible for the design and production of visual communications across numerous platforms including print, digital, multimedia and other mediums
• Responsible for budget oversight of communications, marketing, and sports information as well as the campus brand development operations
• Crisis Management
• Lead crisis communications planning and response in collaboration with university leadership; communicating information and updates as needed to internal and external audiences
• Collaborate with University leaders to devise swift responses to unexpected events and issues
• Serve on the university's Incident Management Team (IMT)
• Brand Management
• Ensure consistency of institutional brand identity across all platforms and materials
• Responsible for enforcing college policies regarding brand and style guidelines
• Lead innovative marketing campaigns that differentiate the institution in a competitive landscape
• Manage and enforce all Cortland related trademarks
• Campus Leadership
• Provide public relations counsel and recommendations to executive leadership
• Collaborate with and serve as a resource for senior University leaders with specific communications-related strategies and initiatives
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team on marketing, branding and communications matters and is a member of the President's Advisory Committee
• Foster positive collaborative relationships with campus and community constituents
• University Relations
• Responsible for coordinating and developing campus and community messaging
• Serve as a liaison with government representatives and represent SUNY Cortland during meetings with SUNY's government relations team
• Personnel Management
• Manage a team of marketing and communications professionals
• Direct the development of compelling content that effectively communicates the institution's value proposition
• Monitor workloads throughout the division and prioritize staffing needs accordingly
• Complete annual performance evaluations and performance plans for each direct report and provide guidance and direction for their personal and professional development
• Facilitate regular staff meetings, including communications and marketing personnel outside of Institutional Advancement
• Functional and Supervisory Relationships
• Reports to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement
• Supervises staff in marketing, communications and sports information
• Works closely with the Chief of Staff and Presidents Office, Admissions, Development, Alumni
• Required Qualifications
• A master's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or a related field
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in communications and marketing
• Minimum of 3 years in a leadership role with direct supervision of staff
• Experience with crisis communications and reputation management
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working in higher education communications or marketing
• Significant experience and success in working with the media
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• In depth understanding of higher education landscape and challenges
• Proven ability to communicate with a diverse constituent base
• Demonstrated ability to take an institution-wide perspective on priorities and resources and cultivate a common vision and collaborative culture to achieve goals
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to serve as a college representative and spokesperson in a variety of settings. Strong presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic communications plans
• Understanding of digital marketing, social media, and emerging technologies
• Analytical skills and understanding of marketing metrics and ROI

Posting Number: S23302

Review Start Date: 05/15/2025

Apply Now: https://jobs.cortland.edu/postings/10295