Chief Marketing

Department:
University Communications - 540000

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism,public affairs, or a related field; advanced degree (Master's orMBA) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 12-15 years of progressively senior marketing and communications experience, with demonstrable leadership at the executive or near-executive level.
• Proven cross-sector experience: substantial track record inboth commercial/corporate environments AND public, government, ormission-driven institutional settings.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop large,multi-disciplinary teams of creative and strategicprofessionals.
• Significant experience bridging creative and strategyfunctions.
• Proven crisis communications experience with demonstrablejudgement under pressure.
• Fluency in digital marketing tools, analytics platforms, and content management systems at a strategic and supervisorylevel.
• Meaningful, hands‑on experience with AI tools in a professional communications or marketing context, including generative AI for content, image, or workflow applications, and the ability to setstrategic direction and policy for their use.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and visual communication skills;persuasive presenter to diverse audiences.

• Direct experience in higher education, healthcare, government,or other publicly accountable institutional environments.
• Experience managing communications through political or legislative scrutiny, including testimony, FOIA/open-records, orpublic accountability processes.
• Familiarity with enrollment marketing, alumni engagement, and development/fundraising communications.
• Track record of successful brand repositioning, institutionalreputation management, or multi-year strategic communications campaigns.
• Experience with marketing technology stack assessment and procurement.

The CMCO will oversee University Communications, guide strategies that strengthen App State's brand and reputation, and foster collaboration across the university to advance institutional priorities. The role also provides leadership for crisis and executive communications, digital engagement, creative services,internal communications, and emerging technologies.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Provide strategic communications and marketing counsel to the Chancellor, Cabinet, and university leadership.
• Direct university-wide marketing and communications planning insupport of institutional priorities.
• Oversee the development and management of App State's brand across channels, audiences, and university units.
• Guide creative, digital, media, and internal communications strategies and establish expectations for quality and consistency.
• Strengthen coordination among communicators across colleges,divisions, departments, and campuses.
• Lead communications planning and response for significantinstitutional issues, major announcements, and crises.
• Use research, analytics, and audience insights to informstrategy, evaluate effectiveness, and guide investment.
• Oversee external agencies, vendors, partnerships, and resourcessupporting university marketing and communications.
• Recruit, develop, and support a talented multidisciplinary teamwhile fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and establish responsible approaches to their use in university communications.

Work Schedule/

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 8:00-5:00pm

Suggested Salary Range:
Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Open Until Filled:
Yes

Evaluation of Applications Begins: 10/13/2026

Appalachian State University is an Aff... The University does not discriminate inaccess to its educational programs and activities, or with respectto hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basisof race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status,genetic information or sexual orientation.