Executive Director, Marketing and Communications

Description

The Executive Director of Marketing and Communications drives the marketing and communication strategy for the CSU Foundation (CSUF) which includes the CSU Alumni Association (CSUAA) and is responsible for managing its execution in consultation with organization leadership. In addition to high level marketing and communications strategy, this role provides oversight to the creative services, media relations, content production and brand management of CSUF.

The role operates within a highly collaborative environment in which annual giving, donor engagement, stewardship, alumni engagement, events and fundraising teams maintain responsibility for their respective audience strategies and engagement objectives. The Executive Director and members of the Marketing and Communications team partner with these teams to translate strategic priority into compelling communications, marketing campaigns, stewardship materials, proposals, digital content, publications and storytelling assets that advance institutional goals.

Success requires balancing long-term strategic planning with responsiveness to evolving opportunities and leadership priorities.

As an experienced marketing and communications professional and leader of creative teams, the Executive Director must combine strategic vision with operational excellence and efficiency with demonstrated sound judgment in complex stakeholder environments. Key attributes include the ability to demonstrate diplomacy, creativity and accountability, and the ability to work with key partners across the University in planning and creating communication strategies that educate, cultivate, and inspire alumni and donor engagement and philanthropic support with Colorado State University.

This position will be located in Fort Collins, Colorado with the possibility of hybrid work based on performance.

• Position Title:
  
  Executive Director, Marketing & Communications
• Organization Name:
  Colorado State University Foundation
• Employment Type:
  
  Full-time
• FLSA Status:
  Exempt
• Location:
  
  Fort Collins
• Salary Range: $125,000 – $145,000 annually
• Priority Considerations date: 11/01/2026

Located in the beautiful town of Fort Collins, Colorado State University is a premier land-grant university with world-class programs in education, outreach, and research. CSU has a student body of over 34,000 students, 271,911 living alumni, and annual research expenditures exceeding $613 million.

The Colorado State University Foundation (CSUF) was founded in 1970 and is the official non-profit perpetuity partner for Colorado State University. The CSU Foundation is in the midst of exciting growth as the University Advancement division of CSU recently transitioned to the Foundation, growing the organization to 170 employees. This merger has allowed us to more effectively serve our donors, alumni, and stakeholders with a unified structure, strengthen accountability, and build the capacity to scale our fundraising enterprise.

With one of the leading development teams in the country, we most recently achieved our highest fundraising year to date at $231 million.

The CSU Foundation Marketing & Communications team drives the planning and creation of communication strategies that educate, cultivate, and inspire philanthropic support and alumni and donor engagement in support of Colorado State University.

• Drives the overall marketing and communication strategy for the CSU Foundation and is responsible for managing its execution in consultation with organization leadership.
• Leads the Marketing & Communications team including hiring, training, mentoring and managing performance of multiple roles, including oversight…