Director of Marketing

The Director of Marketing leads marketing strategy and execution to support La Sierra University's visibility, reputation, and enrollment outcomes. Reporting to senior leadership, this role oversees the development and execution of comprehensive marketing and communication strategies to support recruitment, retention, and institutional branding. As a collaborative leader, the Director interfaces with internal stakeholders, including Admissions and Advancement, while building external relationships to promote the university's mission and goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned. 

Strategic Leadership and Branding

·       Develop and execute a comprehensive, research-driven marketing and communications plan aligned with the university's strategic goals and mission.

·       Strengthen the university’s reputation through consistent branding and innovative messaging targeted at internal and external audiences.

·       Partner with Admissions, Advancement, and academic units to align messaging and campaign execution.

Enrollment and Recruitment Marketing

·       Collaborate closely with Admissions to create data-driven marketing strategies that attract and convert prospective students.

·       Oversee CRM communications, including sequenced email campaigns, to support recruitment and retention initiatives.

·       Develop and promote targeted communication strategies for on-campus and virtual recruitment events, enhancing attendance and engagement.

Team Development and Operational Oversight

·       Lead and develop the Marketing team, supporting digital, print, and multimedia initiatives.

·       Oversee budget management, ensuring resource allocation supports institutional priorities and ROI objectives.

·       Supervise and coordinate the work of freelance professionals, printers, and other external partners to maintain high-quality outputs.

Community and Professional Engagement

·       Represent the university in professional communication organizations and community groups to enhance visibility and build strategic relationships.

·       Actively participate in professional development opportunities to stay current on trends and best practices in higher education marketing.

Content, Digital, and Media Strategy

·       Direct the creation of compelling content for print, digital, and social media platforms, ensuring alignment with the university’s brand identity.

·       Oversee website and social media strategy, collaborating with technical teams to enhance user experience and engagement.

·       Manage the production and distribution of publications and marketing collateral, supporting fundraising, recruitment, and community outreach efforts.

Continuous Assessment and Improvement

·       Implement data-driven assessment processes to measure the effectiveness of marketing initiatives, refining strategies for greater impact.

·       Stay informed of industry trends, enrollment data, and stakeholder feedback to guide decision-making and innovation.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Business, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, brand management, digital marketing, or related areas required, preferably within higher education or a mission-driven organization.
• Proven success in managing multi-channel marketing campaigns and driving enrollment outcomes.
• Experience supervising teams and managing external vendors or agencies.

Skills and Abilities

·       Exceptional leadership, project management, and organizational skills.

·       Strong interpersonal and collaboration abilities with demonstrated success in cross-functional roles.

·       Superior writing, editing, and presentation skills, with attention to detail and storytelling expertise.

·       Proficiency with marketing technologies, CRM systems (Slate preferred) and tools like InDesign and Photoshop.

·       Ability to analyze and interpret data to inform strategies and evaluate results.

Salary Range: $73,305 to $90,000, plus generous benefits.