Assistant Vice President, University Communications

Who We Are

Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community.

University Communications plays a central role in telling the story of Seattle Pacific University through strategic communications, marketing, digital engagement, and brand stewardship. Working collaboratively across the university, the team helps communicate SPU’s distinctive mission, support enrollment and advancement goals, strengthen institutional reputation, and engage key audiences through compelling, mission-centered storytelling.

The Assistant VP for University Communications position supports Seattle Pacific University’s mission by contributing to a Christ centered learning and working community committed to academic excellence, service, and engagement with the world. In this role, the employee brings their skills, gifts, and professional expertise to work that matters—serving students, colleagues, and the broader University community in ways that reflect SPU’s values and purpose.

To that end, all University employees are required to be aligned with and supportive of SPU's Statement of Faith and its derivative policies and lifestyle expectations.

Seattle Pacific University is seeking an experienced and strategic Assistant Vice President for University Communications to provide leadership for the university’s integrated communications, marketing, and brand strategy.

Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, this role provides leadership for a high-performing communications and marketing team responsible for institutional communications, digital and print marketing, website strategy, social media, content development, photography, videography, design, writing, and media relations.

The Assistant Vice President serves as a key strategic partner to Enrollment Management, University Advancement, the President’s Cabinet, and the Office of the President to advance enrollment, fundraising, and institutional engagement goals while ensuring consistent brand alignment with SPU’s mission, vision, and Christian values.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, collaborative leader, strong communicator, and experienced project manager who thrives in a mission-driven environment and is energized by helping shape the voice, visibility, and reputation of the university.

This is an on-campus position based in Seattle, WA.

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and supervision for the University Communications team
  Lead, mentor, develop, and evaluate a high-performing team responsible for communications, marketing, web, design, photography, videography, writing, social media, and media relations
• Foster a collaborative, customer-focused culture that partners effectively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and university stakeholders
• Ensure effective use of analytics and assessment tools to evaluate communication and marketing effectiveness

• Serve as principal leader for institutional branding, messaging, and communications strategy
• Partner with university leadership and the Office of the President to support strategic communications, executive messaging, crisis communications, emergency communications, and media relations
• Strengthen SPU’s visibility, reputation, and mission clarity through compelling storytelling and integrated communications efforts
• Help position SPU and the President within broader community and constituent contexts

• Partner closely with Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions to support enrollment goals through integrated digital and print communication strategies
• Help shape annual enrollment communications calendars and marketing campaigns aligned with institutional priorities
• Collaborate regularly with enrollment leadership and operations teams to optimize messaging, engagement, and conversion efforts
• Ensure digital marketing efforts and communications effectively support…