(Hybrid) Senior Marketing Strategist - Strategic Communications & Marketing

The Strategic Communications and Marketing department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Senior Marketing Strategist.

About the Opportunity

The Senior Marketing Strategist is responsible for leading internal and external communications and marketing efforts in support of multiple functions at the University, including:

• Strategic Communications and Marketing;
• Office of the President;
• WVU Presidential Search;
• Government Relations;
• Economic Innovation;
• And other units as assigned.

This individual will work closely with the executive director of Strategic Priorities, the interim vice president of Strategic Communications and Marketing, members of the Strategic Communications and Marketing, WVU leadership and administrators, and other colleagues across the University.

The Senior Marketing Strategist will be heavily involved in Strategic Priorities marketing and communications, responsible for the planning, execution and management of all aspects of communication strategies, plans and messaging that support the goals and objectives of the Strategic Priorities function and WVU.

The Senior Marketing Strategist will plan and execute a variety of Strategic Priorities communications ranging in levels of complexity, reach and implementation strategies while considering the overarching WVU brand and voice in all efforts.

This individual will serve as a primary communication development and strategy lead, working closely with the executive director of Strategic Priorities as well as members of the Strategic Communications and Marketing team.

The Senior Marketing Strategist also will serve as a lead for copywriting, editing, media relations and social media, a project manager for graphic design, web development and strategic support, social media consultation and other communication support as needed.

The Senior Marketing Strategist will play an essential role in promoting the University to students, faculty, staff and the general public through the strategizing, development and implementation of communications, marketing content and marketing material in support of WVU's Strategic Priorities and relevant divisions/units.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year
• 18 sick days per year, and the flexibility to use that time to care for immediate family members
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

Strategic Planning and Management

Develops and/or maintains cross-functional relationships with leadership across Strategic Communications and Marketing to lead marketing and communication plans and related messaging that support the stated goals and priorities of the division/unit.

Defines strategic communication goals and objectives in collaboration with the Strategic Priorities team.

Responsible for the planning, execution and management of projects from beginning to end and monitors progress based on set goals and deadlines.

Utilizes research tools, critical thinking and strong editorial capabilities in all communications.

Serves as an internal resource to coordinate centralized communications support from Strategic Communications and Marketing and other projects as assigned.

Leads division-/unit-specific and University-wide market research efforts, utilizing online market research, focus groups and audience surveys to guide the strategic direction and development of communications plans.

Creative Direction and Consultation

Assists Strategic Communications and Marketing leadership and colleagues with the creation of internal and external messages and leads the development of strategies to stimulate public awareness, understanding and support for Strategic Priorities programs and events.

Determines marketing tactics that are effective in both cost and impact, including internal communications, external communication, print pieces, websites, social media and video.

Coordinates and/or provides support for major events, campaigns or initiatives (e.g., key projects, employee celebrations, all-team meetings, etc.).

Stays current with emerging trends in marketing, web design, social media, etc.

Works with Strategic Communications and Marketing colleagues to support, strengthen and extend WVU's brand and clearly articulate the mission, goals and identity of the University through the look, feel and tone of communications.

Evaluation and Reporting

Determines and implements methods to accurately and regularly assess the effectiveness of communications/marketing tactics and makes adjustments as necessary based on results.

Establishes meaningful benchmarks to determine metrics for improvement and effectiveness.

Provides regular reports to key stakeholders regarding success of communication efforts, including analytics, survey results and other quantifiable and subjective measurements of effectiveness.

Prepares and manages budgetary expenses associated with programmatic activities.

Participates in department meetings, senior leadership meetings and other project meetings as required.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of related work experience
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong experience in leading, developing, executing and managing multichannel communications and marketing plans.
  
• Strong experience and expertise in marketing goal development, tracking and analytics.
  
• Provide marketing and communications leadership and expertise to teams.
  
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information with ease.
  
• Ability to communicate effectively with excellent command of the English language.
  
• Exceptional written communications skills.
  
• Strong experience with client management and collaboration.
  
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, oral communication and problem-solving skills.
  
• Ability to drive and manage discussions amongst groups of individuals.
  
• Strong attention to detail.
  
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and work under pressure.
  
• Ability to meet deadlines and adapt to new or changing situations, priorities and technologies.
  
• Ability to quickly learn new strategies, efforts, plans, goals and objectives.
  
• Ability to lead a group of colleagues and manage competing timelines and tasks.
  
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and cooperate with diverse groups or individuals as a contributing member of a team.
  
• Ability to handle time-sensitive tasks or tight deadlines that may extend beyond normal working hours on occasion.
  
• Skilled proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
  
• Skilled proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud and its related design tools.
  

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and received an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.