Executive Director of Marketing and Communications

Warner Pacific University’s Mission:  Warner Pacific is a Christ-centered, urban, diverse, minority-serving, Hispanic-serving, liberal arts University dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds with an education that prepares them to engage actively in a constantly changing world. Our hiring practices reflect our missional commitment to being a Christ-centered institution.
 
Warner Pacific University’s Commitment to Diversity: Warner Pacific University is committed to hiring staff and faculty with an intentionality that demonstrates the importance of having an employee community that reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of the students we serve. Persons of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
 
Summary Description: The Executive Director of Marketing and Communications is a full-time, benefit eligible position reporting to the President.  This role will strategically promote the University’s mission and identity by developing and managing marketing strategies including written content to be used in various forms of communications, print, audio/visual media, and web based applications.  This energetic and creative individual will use innovative communication skills to engage target audiences on behalf of the University in order to generate support, highlight key distinctive values, features and benefits, build a positive reputation, and maintain beneficial relationships. The individual serving in this position has primary working relationships with the Office of the President, the VP for Enrollment, the Executive Director of Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS), and the Advancement Team.  Outside the University, the position interfaces primarily with other writers and journalists, local media, newsfeed services, creative designers, and marketing partners.
 
The Executive Director of Marketing and Communications is responsible for communicating Warner Pacific University’s dedication to serving a uniquely minority and first generation student population among traditional and adult age groups. The Executive Director should be able to articulate the organizations commitment to access and equity in a culturally competent way.
 
Essential Functions:

• Provides creative direction, integration and implementation of marketing and communication initiatives as defined by annual marketing and communications strategic plans.
• Oversees the areas of marketing and communications including responsibilities such as campaign development, content development/management, public relations, publications, advertising, social media, brand management, digital/online communications, marketing automation and print services.
• Cultivates media and community relationships through regular contact with targeted constituencies.
• Oversees the creative development and placement of general advertising.
• Participates in the development, implementation and management of university social media plans to strategically market internally to students, faculty and staff and externally to prospective students, parents, alumni, friends, and influential leaders.
• Develops marketing and communication strategies for online and other web-based programs/platforms including digital advertising.
• Conducts marketing research to develop and refine strategy and tactics in support of priorities identified in the University marketing and communications plan.
• Serves in an advisory capacity for the planning and execution of major and special events and activities that will create a favorable image of the university.
• Ensures brand messaging is consistent across university communications and effectively tailored for relevant audiences.
• Works with the departments of University Advancement, Office of the President, Admissions, Academic Affairs, and other areas across campus to develop effective marketing and communication strategies and materials and special projects.
• Acts as an internal consultant to bring attention and solutions to institutional priorities.
• Writes news stories for release to media and general public.
• Supervises, edits, and approves stories written by staff members.
• Provides direct and proactive advice, consultation, and assistance to senior leaders, as well as the University community, regarding public information matters, to include providing direct assistance in researching, providing information and developing messages.
• Serves as a designated spokesperson for the organization and its affiliates, if applicable.
• Supervises and directs the marketing department staff.
• Organizes and delegates work and work assignments.
• Communicates and works with the university community, including students, faculty, staff, potential students, alumni, donors, community, and media through traditional and electronic tools.
• Serve as editor for the University’s alumni magazine, The Experience. Maintain high standards of feature and news writing in a voice that is consistent with our mission and urban identity.
• Serve as the project manager – oversee the intake, scheduling, editing, and delivery of projects on timelines and budgets and establish job priorities according to institutional goals.
• Assist the Vice President of Enrollment with the successful implementation of crisis communication plans, serving on the institutional CIRT team as needed. 
• Contribute to the support and implementation of the University’s Strategic Plan.
• Participate in professional development opportunities.
• Adhere to University policies and procedures.
• Exhibit commitment to inclusiveness and sensitivity in areas of national origin, ethnicity, culture, gender and disabilities.
• Demonstrate commitment to a Christian liberal arts education by upholding to the mission of the University and abiding by the Employment Standards and Lifestyle Agreement.  Warner Pacific is affiliated with the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana).
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required (Masters’s Degree preferred) in Marketing, Communications, English, or Journalism.
• Minimum five years professional experience in the marketing and communications environment. Preference given for those who have hands-on experience within a marketing team, journalistic, and/or college setting.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Effective project management and organization skills. Detail oriented.
• Strong customer service ethic.
• Can work collaboratively and efficiently as a team player as well as work independently and be self-motivated to meet ongoing deadlines.
• Communicate with excellence in verbal and in writing with all kinds of people. Should be able to deliver creative and innovative ideas.
• Has a demonstrated track record of meeting and exceeding department goals.
• Trustworthy. Able to hold confidential and sensitive data.
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-task environment.
• Proficient in computer and design programs including Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Wordpress, and web-based email marketing platforms. 
• Demonstrated commitment to higher education.
• Experience working with diverse populations.

 
Work Environment: 
The position is located in a typical office environment.  Professional/business casual attire is required.
 
Employment and Lifestyle Standards:
Warner Pacific is a Christ-centered urban liberal arts University dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them to engage actively in a constantly changing world. The University was founded in 1937 by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) and maintains a covenant relationship with that body. Central to Warner Pacific’s identity as a Christ-centered higher education institution is the policy of hiring persons whose personal and professional lives reflect:
 
1.  A belief in the deity of and commitment to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith, as interpreted through the historic witness of Scripture and the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit.
2.  The practice of following Christ through day-to-day personal lifestyle choices.
3.  A vitality of Christian experience maturing in insight and application and appreciative of differing viewpoints.
4.  A commitment to life-long learning and service through personal and professional development.
5.  For teaching faculty, the expression of artful teaching, based on mastery of relevant subject matter and in an environment of purposeful and rigorous inquiry amongst a community of scholars who support one another.
6.  A capability, by temperament, preparation, and will, to support students as they confront the intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of their lives.
7.  A sensitivity to and support for the mission, core themes, vision, values, ethos and traditions of the Warner Pacific University community.
8.  A commitment to teaching and serving in harmony with the doctrines of the Bible as understood and generally held by the Church of God Reformation Movement.
 
Employee Agreement:
Mission-based hiring is of critical importance to Warner Pacific University. From its inception, the Church of God has resisted condensing the Scriptures into a formal creed, instead emphasizing salvation as the entrance into the body of Christ; unity in diversity; and a call to holy living as God’s people representing Christ in the world. Warner Pacific, rather than requiring subscription to an institutional doctrinal statement, asks each employee to affirm a personal faith in Jesus Christ by providing a statement articulating the ways in which faith informs the employee’s understanding of his or her vocation at Warner Pacific. Employees are expected to demonstrate and articulate a vital Christian faith and to live in a manner consistent with a Christ-centered lifestyle as informed by the Scriptures of the New Testament.
 
Further, to ensure orderly operations and provide the best possible work environment, all Warner Pacific University employees are expected to maintain the highest levels of ethics, professionalism, integrity, and judgment.  Employees must obey all laws governing the workplace and the business of the University, as well as treat others (students, suppliers, and co-workers) with honesty, respect, and personal dignity in all interactions.  Conduct that is malicious, abusive, threatening, dishonest or unlawful is not acceptable.  Employees who feel they are being subjected to conduct of this kind should bring the concern to Human Resources. The University environment is expected to be free from discrimination and harassment (including bullying). When an individual’s behavior has direct implications for others and/or the well-being of the University community, there may be cause for institutional involvement, regardless of where the situation occurs. 
 
Warner Pacific University desires to provide a safe and healthy environment for staff, faculty, students, visitors and guests. Therefore, smoking is not permitted on University property, in its vehicles, or at any University sponsored event. The use of illegal drugs or non-prescribed controlled substances is strictly prohibited. Use of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or marijuana is strictly prohibited on Warner Pacific University campuses.
 
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Warner Pacific provides equal opportunity for employment and advancement for all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status and any other status protected by laws and regulations to which Warner Pacific is subject.  All employment decisions, including hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, transfers, and terminations are made in a manner that does not discriminate against individuals in the categories discussed above.  Because Warner Pacific is a Christian liberal arts University, the University exercises its legal right to hire Christian employees to fulfill its mission and purpose.
 
Commitment to Diversity: 
Warner Pacific University is committed to building a culturally diverse faculty and a multicultural learning environment. Inquiries are encouraged from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and ethnic diversity of our University. Warner Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks a diverse workforce of committed Christians from all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

To Apply:
In order to be considered an applicant for this position, please submit your cover letter and CV/Resume to HR@warnerpacific.edu.  Applicants invited to participate in the interview process will be asked to complete WPU’s online employment application at a later time.