Associate Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Meharry Medical College

Job Info

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The Associate Vice President (AVP), Communications and Marketing in Institutional Advancement at Meharry Medical College has responsibility for overall communications, marketing and branding activity for the College. The AVP, Communications and Marketing represents and promotes Meharry, increasing its visibility and supporting the College's mission, vision and goals. The AVP, Communications and Marketing will collaborate with colleagues across advancement, admissions, and Meharry's five schools to develop and implement brand vision and marketing strategy to attract the best students, recruit high quality faculty and staff, and secure the resources needed to advance the College's mission. This will include oversight of communications and messaging to support Campaign 150, the College's $350 million capital campaign, which is scheduled to close in 2026, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of Meharry.
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement, the AVP, Communications and Marketing is responsible for direct oversight of the donor communications team and the college-wide communications and marketing team, with two direct reports. The role will work with colleagues across academic and administrative departments to understand Meharry's programs, constituencies, and funding priorities to convey the vision and impact of the College and create distinct and cohesive communications.

Daily Operations

• Develop and execute a comprehensive, long-term and proactive College-wide communications, marketing and branding strategy consistent with the strategic goals, plans, and aspirations of Meharry.
• Lead and direct marketing and communications staff and coordinate at the strategic and tactical levels with all College schools and departments.
• Utilize a research-based approach to identify key messages and audiences, work to tell the College's stories by weaving them together to create a consistent, unified message in support of the Meharry brand, and articulate the College's image and brand in the delivery of the College's messages to all constituents.
• Utilize a research-based approach to identify key messages and audiences, work to tell the College's stories by weaving them together to create a consistent, unified message in support of the Meharry brand, and articulate the College's image and brand in the delivery of the College's messages to all constituents.
• Serve as Meharry's brand manager, with the responsibility of positioning the College in the market, determining target audiences and maintaining the desired reputation.
• Plan and oversee the design and production of all marketing, public relations and advertising products.
• Elevate, preserve, and defend the College's reputation by developing and executing proactive and comprehensive issues management and crisis communications strategies, reputational risk mitigation measures, and offensive/defensive communications tactics.
• Communicate Meharry's position and policies on a variety of issues to specific media and various College constituencies, which includes serving as the College's spokesperson with the media as appropriate.
• Develop and oversee a successful social media strategy for the College, including the creation and implementation of an integrated content calendar for communications and organic/paid campaigns across social media platforms.
• Draft correspondence and talking points for the President and CEO; Senior Vice President, Institutional Advancement; and other senior leadership as needed.
• Develop deep content knowledge on Meharry's vision, programs, and funding priorities across campus.
• Build a strong network of collegial partnerships both within Institutional Advancement and across the College, including with deans, faculty, and administrative leaders, to consult on messaging strategies that inspire giving and coordinate communications projects.
• Ensure a fiscally sound Communications and Marketing operation of by exercising management practices and implementing income-generating activities which result in operations within allocated budgets.
• Create a collegial, team-building work environment, motivating the team and cultivating productive, collaborative relationships with all constituent groups.
• Provide guidance and strategic direction for the Communications and Marketing department, including structure, staffing, goals, and professional development-helping to grow the team and set up efficient and collaborative workflows over the next three to five years.
• Directly manage two professional staff members who have responsibility for development communications, proposal/grant writing, digital donor engagement, and college-wide marketing and communications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

The ideal Associate Vice President, Communications and Marketing will bring most of the following qualifications and skill sets

• Ten or more years of progressive marketing and/or communications leadership, preferably with proven success in a complex and dynamic environment such as a higher education institution, healthcare and hospital system, or voluntary health association.
• A collaborative and inspiring approach that is supported by data-centered rigor and a strong emphasis on accountability.
• Exceptional skills in communications, marketing, and interpersonal relations.
• Knowledge and experience in most of the following areas: owned, earned, and paid media; public relations; internal marketing; executive communications; brand and marketing communications.
• Creative and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Excellent management, planning, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership presence that is effective with a variety of constituencies, including trustees, faculty, senior administration, and high-level volunteers.
• Authentic appreciation for the role that Meharry Medical College plays as a premier medical college and a Historically Black College and University institution.
• The ability to travel 30%, independently and with advancement team members.
• A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience would be an advantage.

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