Vice President for Strategic Growth, Marketing, and Communications
12 days ago
Davenport
Job Description St. Ambrose University invites nominations and applications for a bold, mission-driven Vice President for Strategic Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications. This is a rare opportunity for an innovative enrollment and brand leader to shape the future of two Catholic universities (St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy) in strategic combination and to help build the enrollment engine for an evolving network of colleges in Catholic higher education. The Opportunity The Vice President will serve as the senior executive responsible for an integrated, enterprise-wide strategy that grows enrollment, strengthens reputation, and advances mission impact across both campuses. Reporting to the President and CEO and serving on the President's Cabinet, the VP will unify enrollment management, marketing, brand stewardship, and communications while honoring the distinct Catholic identities, charisms, and histories of each institution. This role is designed for a leader who thrives in complexity and change. As SAU and MMU continue the work of alignment across programs, systems, and services, the Vice President will lead the enrollment strategy for a combined and increasingly integrated university. The VP will bring disciplined strategy, knowledge and demonstrated application of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, market insight, and compelling storytelling to move beyond transactional recruitment toward a student lifecycle approach that supports access, formation, and long-term institutional vitality. What We Are Looking For We are seeking a strategic and relational executive with capacity to do the following: • Set a bold vision and deliver measurable enrollment growth, • Translate market intelligence into clear priorities and decisive action, • Build an integrated, high-performing team in enrollment and marketing across two campuses, • Strengthen brand clarity and effectiveness across the recruitment cycle, • Communicate with credibility, creativity, and mission-grounded purpose, • Navigate the opportunities and tensions of an evolving network model Enterprise Strategic Enrollment Leadership • Lead undergraduate, graduate, adult, online, and emerging enrollment pathways across both universities, • Design and execute multi-year strategies aligned with mission, academic priorities, workforce needs, and financial sustainability, • Oversee the full recruitment lifecycle including recruitment, yield, deposits, and enrollment, • Partner with academic leadership, athletics, student life, and finance to align program mix, modality, pricing, and capacity with market demand and institutional values, • Use analytics, forecasting, and scenario planning to guide decisions and resource allocation, • Serve as chief steward of both institutional brands, ensuring clarity, consistency, and appropriate differentiation grounded in Catholic mission and campus experience, • Develop a compelling enterprise narrative that highlights student outcomes, academic excellence, service, faith formation, and community impact, • Ensure enrollment messaging is cohesive and persuasive across channels and throughout the recruitment journey, • Oversee the marketing strategy (including the website, video, digital strategy, print media, and other communications) for the combined university., • Provide strategic oversight for internal and external communications, including presidential communications, media relations, and crisis communications, • Ensure transparent, consistent, values-based communication during integration and organizational change, • Lead market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and risks, • Build, lead, and mentor high-performing enrollment, marketing, and communications teams across both campuses, • Foster a culture of collaboration, hospitality, accountability, and shared purpose, • Collaborate with Advancement to align institutional storytelling and campaign-related marketing, • Significant senior leadership experience in enrollment, marketing, communications, or related fields; master's degree or higher preferred, • Demonstrated success leading integrated enrollment and marketing strategies, ideally in complex or multi-unit environments, • Strong data literacy and ability to translate analytics into strategic decisions Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills This position sits at the center of the universities' future. The Vice President will help unify how SAU and MMU recruit, communicate, and compete in a fast-changing market while remaining anchored in a Catholic mission that forms students for lives of purpose. The right leader will bring courage, creativity, and operational discipline to build an enrollment and brand strategy strong enough for the next chapter and flexible enough for what comes next. Benefits • Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance, • Retirement savings plan with employer match, • Tuition remission benefits, • Paid time off and holidays, • Opportunities for professional development and training, • A supportive and collaborative work environment To Apply Interested individuals should apply online at by submitting a letter of application, resume, and contact information for three professional references. See for further information. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. EOE