Description
About RMU:
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) is a private, proprietary graduate-level healthcare university created in 1998 in Provo, Utah, to help meet the nation's healthcare workforce needs. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), RMU offers ten doctorate and 14 master's degrees, along with 20 certificates, residencies, and fellowships. Programs are provided through a blend of flexible online, hybrid, and on-campus residential programs. RMU's doors have opened and welcomed students and healthcare professionals from all 50 states for a quarter of a century. At RMU, education is about advancing knowledge and advancing healthcare to improve the human condition.
RMU's vibrant campus is nestled within the beautiful Wasatch Mountains and is close to activities and events everyone can enjoy. Learn more about Utah's scenic beauty, entertainment, sports, music, arts scene, and close-knit community at www.visitutah.com.
Brief Description:
Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Communications and External Relations, the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications fills a critical leadership role responsible for defining and executing marketing and communication strategies that amplify RMU's mission, vision, and initiatives and creative and strategic direction to all RMU's public-facing efforts. The AVP leads a centralized team and an integrated communications strategy that raises the profile and perception of RMU. The AVP oversees, develops, and leads a comprehensive strategic marketing and communications team to advance RMU at the national, state, and local levels, including leading and managing team members that support enrollment marketing, media relations, crisis communications, issues management, special events, executive communications, and internal communications. The AVP works closely with the University's senior leadership team, providing leadership and oversight to marketing, brand management, communications, and media relations across all areas of the institution. The AVP's functional responsibilities include marketing strategy and integration targeting prospective students, digital and interactive communications, visual identity and editorial standards, design and creative services, and media relations to promote the University's priorities, programs, and people.
Requirements
Core Functions:
Strategic Leadership:
Lead development and implementation of strategic marketing, communications, and media relations activities for the University.
Work in close collaboration with Enrollment Management to oversee the creation of a dynamic, multifaceted admissions marketing strategy that expands enrollment and enhances the reputation of each academic program.
Build trusting relationships with University leaders to understand the appropriate tone and language needed when shaping opportunities or responding to requests while using strategic thinking to align marketing and communications with institutional priorities.
Provide strategic planning and development of annual goals and objectives.
Work comfortably and confidentially with senior leadership in all areas of the University and be available to respond to critical requests for information in short timeframes.
Serve on essential university committees.
Strategic Implementation of Marketing & Communications:
Oversee the execution of the University's comprehensive brand and messaging strategy and ensure consistency across the University.
Provide creative and strategic direction for producing compelling content across various media (video, photography, written materials, etc.) and across channels, including the website, social media, and more.
Manage an annual lineup of print and digital publications for key audiences.
Create high-quality engagement materials for alums, the RMU Foundation, the annual fund, and fundraising campaigns, ensuring communication materials are well integrated with advancement objectives.
Maintain regular internal communications that keep students, faculty, and staff abreast of important campus news and priorities.
Oversee enrollment marketing strategy and development of targeted marketing strategies for each academic program, including but not limited to creative briefs, advertising, SEO, and SEM content.
Oversee the development of customer journey maps to align marketing efforts around unique personas to each academic program to ensure proper content, strategies, tactics, and conversions at each stage of the enrollment funnel.
Collaborate with faculty, students, and staff to foster coordinated University communications and marketing activities that promote faculty accomplishments and student achievements.
Generate positive media coverage about RMU and serve as an official spokesperson to the press.
Assure the integrity, high quality, and consistency of the university's image, tone, style, narrative, visual identity, and brand and style guidelines.
Oversee the University's website and work collaboratively with key campus stakeholders to develop and update content.
Public Relations & Community Engagement:
Represent the University on matters related to marketing and communications with external audiences and partnerships.
Represent the University to the public, including speaking; serving on community task forces, boards, and committees; leading events; advocating public policy (as applicable); developing business, community, higher education, healthcare, government, and media relationships.
Cultivate partnerships within the external community that reflect broad-based community involvement and promote the university's name recognition.
Ensure community engagement efforts and partnerships are fully leveraged and integrated into strategic marketing efforts.
Evaluate and propose executive communication opportunities and prepare RMU's president and senior leadership for successful public or media appearances.
Leads the university crisis communications response team, including establishing processes and policies for crisis communications, preparing communication plans, statements, and messages, and being a conduit for accurate and timely information to stakeholders.
Team Leadership & Development:
Work on campus to manage and mentor marketing and communications staff to be a high-functioning, integrated team.
Lead, mentor, and develop team members while establishing team priorities, goals, and accountabilities, and measure outcomes relative to performance.
Provide leadership and strategic direction to the various cross-functional teams to improve processes.
Provide oversight to ensure CRM integration, data analysis, workflow, and project management.
Manage and guide direct reports: 1) Director of Marketing & Digital Media, 2) Director of University Communications, 3) Director of Web Development and Operations, 4) Director of Events, 5) Art Director.
Budget & Resource Management:
Manage a comprehensive, data-driven assessment process using clear metrics to measure the efficacy of marketing activities. Assess University-wide investments in marketing and communications and advise senior leadership on the priority deployment of resources to maximize results.
Manage marketing and communications budgets, ensuring positive ROI, effective use of resources, and operations and expenses within budget.
Conduct market research and data analysis to inform and influence marketing and communications strategy, tactics, and budget spending.
Identify emerging trends and changes in the education and healthcare environment and recommend appropriate actions.
Background/Expertise:
The leader should have a service-first orientation.
Master's degree in marketing, public relations, journalism, or related field.
Ten (10) years of related management experience, extensive experience in a marketing and communications leadership role, managing cross-functional teams, overseeing all aspects of marketing strategy, and achieving performance results.
Deep knowledge and experience running successful national, multi-platform, media, and marketing campaigns.
Understand segmentation marketing and develop personas and target audiences with the goal of creating true customer-focused marketing and retention efforts.
Senior-level experience successfully building and leading teams, delegating and following through with team members and assignments, and meeting projects to meet deadlines.
Effective leader with experience managing marketing and communications teams responsible for various functions, including digital marketing, social media, brand management, websites, social media, video, photography, design, writing and editing, media relations, executive communications, special events, and project management.
Demonstrated track record of success in creating innovative and integrated marketing strategies within complex organizations with diverse stakeholder groups and utilizing new technologies and approaches to advance university priorities.
Ability to adapt, be nimble and creative, and thrive in a fast-growing organization.
Possess exceptional writing and oral communication skills, with high proficiency in editing.
Experience with a broad range of media: print, digital, broadcast, social.
A creative problem solver and results-driven catalyst for improvement.
Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and respond quickly and professionally under pressure.
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary commensurate with education and experience.
RMU offers a competitive benefits package that prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations, and professional growth. RMU's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development.
Complete comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans
Basic and voluntary life insurance
Short and long-term disability
Employment Assistance Program (EAP)
401(K) retirement plan with employer contributions
Financial wellness program
Generous paid time off (PTO) accrual and holiday pay
An onsite fitness center with 24/7 badge access
Education assistance program
How to Apply:
Applicants should provide a cover letter and resume
Samples of written communications will be requested from candidates brought in for an interview
RMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@rm.edu.
