Associate Vice-president, Marketing and Communications

**Job Description**:
**About the Department of Marketing and Communications**:
As part of The Office of University Advancement, Marketing and Communications integrates expertise, efforts and experience to help Mount Royal University meet its institutional goals. Marketing and Communications also collaborates with resources on and off campus to provide the best possible support to foster Mount Royal’s reputation and image as a premier Canadian undergraduate institution.

**About the Role**:
Mount Royal University is embarking on a new direction and community engagement is the strategic area of focus for the division of University Advancement. The Marketing and Communications team is vital to this institutional direction and divisional focus.

Marketing and Communications shares our MRU story across all communications platforms, and employs thoughtful marketing campaigns that evoke a deep understanding of who we are. We both protect and amplify our brand. In all our work, we welcome the community to join us, and we demonstrate our pride in being a part of the broader community, within Calgary and beyond.

We need a creative, thoughtful and strategic Associate Vice-President (AVP) to lead a centralized and integrated team of highly skilled marketing and communications professionals. This self-motivated leader will inspire and elevate the Marketing and Communications team, working across the division and throughout the University to tell our story and amplify MRU’s strategic plan, Vision 2030: Opening Minds and Changing Lives, in a way that is both cohesive and accessible.

MRU is on the cusp of exciting changes. The AVP will champion MRU’s brand story and strengthen it in new and creative ways. MRU is engaged with many audiences, including current and prospective students, current and prospective faculty and staff, donors, alumni, government, community organizations and other friends of the University. In our work, we consider all audiences, with messages that resonate.

Recognizing the complexities of a university, and that our institutional strength comes from the good work of many, this leader will be both a functional expert in marketing and communications best practices, and a strong collaborator who welcomes and values many voices.

The AVP will collaborate with division leaders in development, alumni relations and government relations to develop cross-functional teams that drive community engagement, and support our fundraising, alumni affinity and government partnerships. The AVP will work closely with the President’s Office, the Chancellor and the Registrar to elevate Convocation and other University ceremonies. Across the University, the AVP will connect with academic and department leaders to discern and distill marketing and communications priorities.

The AVP will assess current practices, review projects and identify new initiatives that most efficiently and effectively connect audiences to MRU. The AVP will join the division’s leadership team in our external relations work, actively participating in Calgary events and brokering community partnerships.

We welcome diversely-skilled applicants: leaders trained in the art and science of marketing and communications, as well as leaders who can demonstrate transferability of professional expertise from other sectors. If you can successfully lead us in our new direction, we want to meet you.

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree in a related field
- 15 years of increasingly responsible marketing, communications, public relations, or similar transferable experience
- Exceptional judgment and problem solving skills
- Proven experience working successfully within a complex and highly collaborative environment
- Expertise in motivating a high functioning team
- High energy, with a comfort juggling many competing priorities
- Extensive and practical experience leading a team in issues management and crisis communications
- Preference given to individuals with professional experience in post-secondary education

**Closing Date**: February 14, 2025

**A resume and cover letter should be submitted in one.pdf document. Please title your.pdf document as follows: [Last Name], [Requisition Number], [Document Title].pdf (ex. Smith, 999999, CV.pdf).