Career Center

Vice President, Communications & Marketing


About College of the Holy Cross:

The College of the Holy Cross ('Holy Cross'), a highly selective Jesuit, Catholic, undergraduate liberal arts institution, seeks a best-in-class communicator to serve as its next Vice President, Communications & Marketing. One of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, Holy Cross offers an exceptionally rigorous undergraduate experience defined by cura personalis, or 'care for the whole person.' A college known for its singular identity, intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, and commitment to social justice, Holy Cross inspires and challenges its students to live and learn with meaning, purpose, and truth. Founded in 1843 on a hill overlooking the city of Worcester (about 40 miles west of Boston), the Holy Cross community encompasses the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of 3,100 undergraduate students, over 340 full- and part-time faculty, 1,100 full and part-time staff, and nearly 40,000 alumni. At Holy Cross, close and life-long bonds flourish. Community members are united in pursuit of a life as 'people for and with others.' The College environment is simultaneously nurturing and demanding, with faculty and students working together closely.

Holy Cross is one of 27 Jesuit institutions of higher education in the United States, and the only one that is exclusively an undergraduate liberal arts college.

The College of the Holy Cross was established in Worcester in the mid-nineteenth century through the efforts of Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J., the second Bishop of Boston, in response to Protestant resistance to the founding of a Catholic college in Boston, making it the first Catholic college in New England. The Society of Jesus, a religious order founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola, is defined by its spirituality, commitment to education and service, and active engagement with the world. The order values intellectual curiosity and deep academic inquiry. This history and these values are fundamental to the College's purpose and identity.

A Holy Cross education is academically intense and takes place in an intellectual environment that emphasizes freedom and mutual respect. The student-faculty ratio is 10 to 1, and approximately half of the College's classes have fewer than 20 students. Most students (87 percent) live on campus. Ties formed on the Hill persist well after college. This highly personalized approach yields excellent results: the first-year retention rate is typically around 96 percent, and the six-year graduation rate is around 93 percent. Holy Cross has been recognized as one of the nation's best colleges by The Economist, Niche, U.S. News & World Report, and the Wall Street Journal, among others.

Admission to Holy Cross is highly competitive. The student body hails from 43 U.S. states and territories and 22 other countries; 55 percent are women, 22 percent are students of color, 3 percent are international, and 16 percent are the first generation in their families to attend college. In 2021, 69 percent of first-year students identified as Catholic, with the remainder either identifying with another faith tradition or not indicating any faith background. About one in seven students is a Pell Grant recipient. The College recently joined the American Talent Initiative and QuestBridge, with the goal of expanding access for low-income and first-generation students.

As the nation's only Jesuit undergraduate college, Holy Cross nourishes intellectual and spiritual inquiry, ethical values, curiosity, compassion, appreciation for the world, and the foundational skills needed to live meaningful personal and professional lives. Holy Cross is more complex than many other liberal arts colleges, with a broader array of academic programs, a wealth of experiential and community-based learning opportunities, NCAA Division I athletics, and a diverse urban setting that presents opportunities to engage meaningfully with the communities of a major New England city. Students benefit from the vast array of offerings at Holy Cross, and they graduate not only as skilled leaders, but as compassionate citizens.

Holy Cross has a strong school spirit and a robust athletic tradition. The College sponsors 27 NCAA Division I varsity sports and is a founding member of the Patriot League, a group of 14 higher education institutions committed to academic excellence and athletic achievement. Approximately one in four students participates in intercollegiate competition; the most recent graduation success rate for Holy Cross student-athletes is 99 percent.

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

The academic program is structured to provide students with intellectual depth and breadth across the full range of the liberal arts and sciences. Students can choose from 41 majors, 30 minors, and 6 concentrations. The College also hosts the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies through which students can design their own major or minor in a field of study that lies outside the current discipline-based options, as well as the J.D. Power Center for Liberal Arts in the World through which students can engage in community-based learning opportunities, academic internship programs, and semester away programs in Washington D.C. and New York. In addition, there are several preprofessional Career Programs designed to support students interested in exploring business, engineering, health professions, law, and education.

Currently the Holy Cross community is actively engaged in the work of imagining and reimagining the distinctive power of a Jesuit liberal arts education in today's world. The Faculty Assembly recently voted to update the Common Area requirements of the curriculum. Increasing interdisciplinary and cross disciplinary teaching and learning are topics of significant interest; for example, Fall 2022 will see the opening of the Prior Performing Arts Center, which will provide not only dedicated spaces for the fine and performing arts but also resources to support creative interactions between the arts and other disciplines.

FACULTY

The 342 dedicated faculty members form the heart of Holy Cross, serving the institution not only as scholars and educators, but also as mentors and administrative leaders. Eighty-nine percent of faculty are full-time, and 73 percent of full-time faculty are tenured or tenure-track. Nineteen percent are people of color, 6 percent are international, and 50 percent are women. This is a distinguished faculty body, with individuals recognized by the Guggenheim Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation (among others) and whose work is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY AND FINANCES

Holy Cross's finances and financial outlook are strong. The 2022 fiscal year operating budget totals

$213.6 million. As of May 2022, the endowment was valued at approximately $1.05 billion. The College recently moved to a need-aware admissions approach and remains committed to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated need. Institutional financial aid is primarily need-based, although a limited number of merit-based scholarships have also been recently established. The 2021 annual financial aid budget totaled $64.2 million, with an average aid award of $37,600.

Holy Cross alumni are exceptionally passionate, active and engaged. The College consistently ranks among the nation's top 10 colleges and universities for alumni participation. In 2020, the College successfully concluded its Become More campaign, raising over $420 million. Campaign priorities included creative teaching and learning; faith development; academic success, leadership, and citizenship; athletics; access, diversity, and affordability; and financial sustainability. Additionally, the College's Hope + Access Campaign, an 18-month effort to support Financial Aid, was completed on June 30, creating 90 new endowed scholarships and raising more than $56 million - 40 percent more than the campaign goal of $40 million.

FACILITIES

Holy Cross's 174-acre campus encompasses 35 major buildings, including 11 residence halls, 11 academic and administrative buildings, a campus center, a dining hall, and St. Joseph Memorial Chapel. In recent years, the College has invested in significant improvements to its facilities. In 2016, the College opened the Thomas P. Joyce '59 Contemplative Center on 52 acres of property near campus, providing 60 beds and expanded retreat programming for students, alumni, faculty, and staff. The year 2018 saw the completion of the renovation of the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex, greatly enhancing facilities available to athletics. In 2021, the College opened the Joanne Chouinard-Luth Recreation and Wellness Center, which serves the wellness goals of the community. This fall academic year will see the opening of the new Prior Performing Arts Center. Destined to be a campus focal point in the years to come, the ambitious and comprehensive performing arts center includes dedicated spaces for the fine and performing arts as well as spaces and technology to support creative interactions between the arts and other disciplines.

THE CITY OF WORCESTER

Worcester, the second largest city in New England, has a population of 205,000. Notably, Worcester's population grew at a rate of 14.1% from 2010-2020 making it the fastest-growing city with over 100,000 people in New England. A vibrant community, it combines the qualities of a diverse metropolis with the spirit of a smaller community-as demonstrated by its thriving new minor league baseball team, the Woo Sox. The city is known for its healthcare and biotechnology industries, as well as its strong commitment to education. Nine institutions of higher education (including Holy Cross) are located in the city.


Job Description:

The Vice President for Communications and Marketing will serve as a key member of the President's leadership team. Overseeing all aspects of communications, messaging, and government and community relations efforts, this leader will work to build awareness of the College, the excellence of its faculty, its strong academic programs, and the value and importance of a Jesuit liberal arts education. With the development of an integrated marketing plan, these activities, combined with the goals and priorities identified in the strategic plan, will enable the Vice President and the communications team to craft messages and themes that reflect the College's strengths and ambitions, raising Holy Cross' profile both nationally and globally, enhancing its reputation as a school of choice for potential undergraduates and their parents, and facilitating communications to and amongst faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents, community members and other key constituents.

This self-starter will work closely with the President and leadership team in setting priorities and devising communications as well as government and community relations strategies for college wide objectives. They will collaborate with trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni alike and will also ensure that Holy Cross' communications and messaging are effective and authentic. Understanding that the College's Jesuit and Catholic identity is one of its most distinct characteristics, this dynamic leader will develop and demonstrate substantive understanding of the tradition, which is critical in Holy Cross' mission, as well as its communications and marketing. The Vice President will embrace and live the Ignatian principles at the heart of the College; the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and the mission and purpose of Jesuit, Catholic higher education.

REPORTS TO: President, Vincent D. Rougeau and dotted line to SVP, Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff, Heather Hayes

In July 2021, the College welcomed Vincent Rougeau as its 33rd President, Holy Cross's first lay and first Black President. A scholar of Catholic social teaching and the law, his research considers the relationships among religious identity, citizenship, and membership in highly mobile and increasingly multicultural democratic societies. Before joining Holy Cross, he was Dean of the Boston College Law School and inaugural director of the Boston College Forum on Racial Justice in America. President Rougeau received his A.B. magna cum laude from Brown University and his

J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is Past President of the Association of American Law Schools.

President Rougeau believes strongly in the mission-driven education Holy Cross provides. He is dedicated to the College's Jesuit, Catholic mission of building a diverse and respectful community and educating students towards seeking justice and making a meaningful difference in the world. President Rougeau's early focus has been on preparing for campus capital improvements; supporting the College's workforce and strengthening its organizational structure; and launching, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and the Speaker of the Faculty, a review of shared governance. In addition, the College is continuing strategic planning efforts that began with the identification of strategic themes (in 2020) and are now taking shape in future-focused strategies.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Vice President for Communications and Marketing will arrive at a particularly opportune moment, with energizing new leadership in several key roles and foundational work done and/or under way to shape the future of the College.

This is an opportunity to work with President Rougeau and other leaders to amplify a voice and vision for Holy Cross and to convey to local, national, and international audiences the distinctive power of a Jesuit liberal arts education in today's society.

Holy Cross occupies a position of distinction as the country's only Jesuit liberal arts college, and its value proposition is, in turn, distinct in its promise of nourishing intellectual and spiritual inquiry, ethical values, compassion, and a pursuit of justice in preparing students to lead in a complex and deeply divided world. Such distinctiveness provides boundless opportunities to position Holy Cross meaningfully and productively to the benefit of the College and the wider world.

The Vice President will lead a team of talented and dedicated professionals at a time of energy, optimism, and growth, with several recent hires and opportunities to fill vacant roles. They will build upon a strong foundation to develop a high-functioning and collaborative team working strategically to advance the mission of the College and realize its aspirations.

In implementing a comprehensive, integrated marketing plan, the Vice President will work closely with leadership across the College to develop and employ strategic efforts aimed at elevating the profile and enhancing the public reputation of the College.

The communications and marketing effort broadly should seek to attract an increasingly diverse and talented student body and world-class faculty and staff; grow support for the College among alumni and other constituents; advance equity and inclusion and build community, pride, and passion for Holy Cross both on campus and among the wider Holy Cross community.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and execution of an integrated brand strategy for Holy Cross that is authentic, compelling, and serves to advance the goals and objectives of the College.
• Systematically capture and assess data to drive informed decisions and conduct regular analysis of the value and effectiveness of marketing and communications efforts, strategies and efforts in service of the goals and objectives of the College.
• Develop, nurture, and lead an effective structure for marketing integration and optimization across the college, including the development of college-wide marketing priorities and deep collaboration with and counsel to the campus communicator community to leverage, integrate and promote engagement with institutional marketing priorities, alignment of messaging and tactics, and efficient and effective operations.
• As the College's chief communications officer, work in partnership with colleagues across the College to promote the institution, tell the many stories of Holy Cross to internal and external audiences, and oversee the College's owned media, media relations, and social media.
• Guide and support the President in his role as the leading voice for the College, serving as a coach, mentor, thought partner, and co-strategist on messaging and positioning. Ensure that the President is well briefed and that his time spent in communications-related activities is highly productive and personally rewarding. Similarly guide and support trustees, senior staff, faculty, and other community members in their roles as Holy Cross representatives.
• Actively build relationships across the College community with key stakeholders, including administrators, faculty members, and board members. Engage with external constituents, as prudent, including citizens, governmental leaders, potential students, alumni, and parents.
• Ensure that all government and community relations activities further Holy Cross' mission and Jesuit principles of service and serve to deepen ties with the city of Worcester; civic, corporate, and non-profit organizations in the Worcester area; and the College's state and federal partners.
• Lead reputation management for the College, anticipating and preparing for issues and events with the potential for reputational impact.
• Lead a dynamic team of communications professionals with a variety of responsibilities that promote and protect the Holy Cross brand, furthering a culture based on collaboration, strategy, efficiency, respect and compassion for each other.

Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree (advanced degree highly preferred) and record of exceptional leadership success, with a minimum 10 years developing, executing, and implementing a successful comprehensive communications program across an enterprise.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills to foster a cohesive team and promote a positive work environment. A commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational transformation, provide strategic vision and be a strategic advisor.
• Skilled at proactively building relationships with media, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high impact.
• Superior strategic skills with a strong grasp of industry best practices and a holistic understanding of all aspects of marketing, communications, positioning, and messaging, ideally in higher education. Substantial experience evaluating the strengths of existing communications and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Demonstrated ability in developing marketing and communications strategies across a wide range of platforms and audiences that have led to significant brand/cause visibility.
• Excellent management skills, including leading and mentoring. Ability to influence and engage supervisees, senior leadership, and staff across the organization.
• Ability to effectively engage with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, using strong interpersonal skills, persuasive presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to build consensus, manage relationships across a diverse group of internal and external constituents, and decisively problem-solve across a multifaceted, fast-moving organization.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with proven ability to translate complex concepts into succinct, clear, accessible language for multiple audiences.
• Significant experience and effectiveness in managing crisis communications.
• Proven ability to make strategic financial decisions and manage budgets.
• Extensive knowledge of marketing principles and industry trends, including in analytics and assessment; ability to build a culture of data-informed decision making and planning. Experience in higher education or journalism is valued but not required.
• Leadership style that is steadying, supportive, and collaborative, that inspires confidence and trust.
• Enthusiastic and natural collaborator and proactive results-oriented leader with strong communications skills and the ability to work with cross-functional, virtual, and diverse teams to develop plans and drive results.
• A desire to deeply engage in the College and local community. The ideal candidate will reflect and embrace Holy Cross' emphasis on academic excellence, focus on educating the whole person, and commitment to a diverse learning community.

To mitigate the spread and effects of COVID-19, and as an integral part of its public health and safety measures, College of the Holy Cross requires that all successful applicants show proof of full, up-to-date vaccination (including a booster dose once eligible) by an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine before beginning employment, unless an accommodation exempting the applicant from this policy has been granted. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation based on a disability or sincerely-held religious belief should inform Human Resources after an offer of employment is extended; please do not include any medical, genetic, or religious information in your application materials.


Additional Information:

This is a full-time, exempt level position. The College is committed to providing competitive market pay for its employees. The College also offers a competitive benefits package for full-time staff, including:

• 10% College contribution to the 403(b) Retirement Plan (1 year wait waiver available)
• Hybrid work
• NEW - condensed summer 4-day work week
• Tuition benefits
• Wellness programs & ongoing Training and Development opportunities
• Generous paid time off
• Free parking and free use of the athletic/fitness facilities.
• Click here to learn more.

College Description

The College of the Holy Cross is a private, Jesuit Catholic, undergraduate institution serving approximately 3,100 students. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England and has a tradition of academic excellence. It is located atop Mount Saint James in Worcester, Massachusetts. The picturesque, 174-acre campus is an award-winning and registered arboretum.

Region Description

Worcester is a city of approximately 200,000 people centrally located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is approximately one hour from Boston, Hartford, and Providence, and three hours from New York City. Worcester is known as the Heart of the Commonwealth. Worcester offers many cultural and recreational opportunities which you can read more about here.

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the workplace.

A member of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (HECCMA).

To review our Employee Benefit Options, please go to: https://www.holycross.edu/human-resources/benefits

Holy Cross Benefits at a Glance PDF for download: click here


Application Instructions:

Please direct all confidential applications, nominations and or inquiries electronically to Heyman Associates:

Stephanie Elmessaoudi Associate Client Partner (212) 784-2706

Kiah Cheatham Associate (212) 784-2715

holycross@heymanassociates.com

The College of the Holy Cross is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the workplace. For more information, please visit the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity's Policies and Procedures website.

The College of the Holy Cross is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action in the workplace. For more information, please visit www.holycross.edu/diversity.







To apply, visit https://holycross.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=150588

The College of the Holy Cross is a highly selective Catholic liberal arts college in the Jesuit tradition. It enrolls about 3,000 students and is located in a medium-sized city 45 miles west of Boston. The College seeks faculty members whose scholarship, teaching, advising, and on- and off-campus service demonstrate commitment to the educational benefits of a richly diverse community. Holy Cross aspires to meet the needs of dual-career couples, in part through its membership in Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts (http://www.heccma.org) and the New England Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (https://new-england.hercjobs.org/)







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