Vice President of Marketing and Communication

Vice President of Marketing and Communication

Washington College invites applications for a seasoned marketing and communication leader to join its ranks as the college’s inaugural Vice President for Marketing and Communication. As a member of the President’s cabinet, the Vice President for Marketing and Communication will be a key member of the senior leadership team and reports directly to the president of the college. The Vice President will lead, organize, and set the vision for the newly created Office of Marketing and Communication.

Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest and first college chartered after the creation of the new nation. Washington College develops in their student's habits of analytic thought and clear communication, aesthetic insight, ethical sensitivity, and civic responsibility.  Washington College offers academic rigor and self-discovery in a supportive, residential community of well-qualified, diverse, and motivated individuals, preparing students for rich and fulfilling lives and a lifetime of learning, leadership, and productive endeavor.

Washington College is in historic Chestertown on the Chester River and within the environmentally important Chesapeake Bay region. The College’s setting on Maryland’s Eastern Shore has become an extension of the campus, serving as a laboratory for students’ intellectual, social, and personal growth. Established as a colonial port of entry in 1706, Chestertown is situated along the banks of the Chester River. Building on its rich history and its beautiful location, Washington College invites students to learn in a traditional liberal arts and sciences setting but compels them beyond the classroom to understand complexity, solve real-world problems, and make a profound difference in an ever-changing world.  

Reporting to the President, the Vice President for Marketing and Communication will serve as the College’s chief communications officer, acting as a strategic and tactical advisor to the President and senior staff in the development and execution of the College’s communications and marketing plans for promoting the College and its mission.

As the member of the senior staff overseeing the Office of Marketing and Communication, the Vice President will lead a team of ten to share and raise the awareness and reputation of Washington College as a top undergraduate liberal arts institution. The Office is responsible for the design and production of print and electronic publications, the College website, news and media relations, social media, photography, and video.  

The Vice President for Marketing and Communication will play a crucial role in articulating a differentiated value proposition to all key Washington College audiences, including prospective and current students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and friends of the college. The Vice President will also be responsible for strengthening and expanding the Washington College brand through diverse channels and geographies. The Vice President will be charged with hiring and leading an extraordinary team of creative and talented people who comprise the Office of Marketing and Communication (OMC). OMC will oversee the college’s suite of marketing and communication strategies and will be responsible for all aspects of creative services; digital marketing; social media management; features and publications; news, public relations, internal and crisis communications; and photography and videography. The OMC will centralize the Marketing and Communications staff that are currently located in the Enrollment Management area and College Communications in the President’s Office. A fully functional OMC is estimated to require 10 full-time positions with additional student support. Determination of the appropriate operating budget and the structure of the office, in consultation with the president, will be a critical part of the vice president’s early work.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of professional marketing and communication experience is required for appointment. An advanced degree and experience in higher education is preferred. The Vice President is an accomplished marketing and communication leader with demonstrated effective communications, negotiations, and public speaking experience. They will have a thorough understanding of media relations, including knowledge of social media and how it is used within public relations. The Vice President will have experience in higher education marketing and demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring marketing campaigns and budget allocations. The Vice President collaborates with both internal and external stakeholders and provides direction and guidance for Washington College Office of Marketing and Communication to effectively implement the communication and branding strategies of Washington College.

More information on the position can be found at: https://assets.storbecksearch.com/files/resources/washingtoncollege-vpmc-pd.pdf

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  Confidential inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be directed to:

Steve Leo, Managing Director

Jeffrey Alston, Senior Associate

Storbeck Search

WashingtonVPMC@storbecksearch.com

Washington College values diversity within our students, faculty and staff, and strives to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people. Washington College does not discriminate in employment on the bases of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and/or local laws. For information on Washington College’s Title IX compliance, please visit https://www.washcoll.edu/title-ix/.