About UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It’s known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus’s DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.
Department Overview
University Advancement supports the teaching, research, and public service of UC Santa Cruz by making and keeping deep, heartfelt connections. Building enduring relationships among students, alumni, faculty, donors, and others is the lifeblood of our work and helps to make UC Santa Cruz a thriving community of knowledge, inquiry, public service, and social mobility.
We are a welcoming group of ambitious and creative professionals pursuing our mission in support of the university’s overarching purpose. We take our work seriously because we care – but we don’t take ourselves too seriously! The University Advancement culture is lively and dynamic; we value collaboration; and our staff is resourceful, enthusiastic, and hard‑working.
We hope you are inspired by what we do and are excited to contribute to our mission. We aspire to build an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
More information can be found at
Job Summary
The Director of University Marketing is a key leadership role within Communications & Marketing, responsible for developing and driving integrated marketing strategies that elevate the UC Santa Cruz brand, expand its audience reach, and support the university’s enrollment and institutional goals.
This position requires both a visionary mindset and a hands‑on, nimble approach. The director leads a skilled team of creative professionals, develops data‑informed campaigns across digital and traditional channels, and collaborates closely with campus partners—including academic divisions, University Advancement, and Enrollment Management—to help achieve UCSC’s institutional priorities. The director helps translate the campus’s academic strengths and student experience into compelling, audience‑relevant stories and campaigns. The right candidate brings professional confidence, strategic clarity, and a collaborative hands‑on approach.
Appointment Information
Budgeted Salary: $119,400–$135,000 per year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits.
Schedule Information: Full‑time, Fixed; 100% time, 40 Hours per week; Mon‑Fri; Day shift.
Employee Classification: Career appointment.
Job End Date: None.
Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus.
Union Representation: Non‑Represented.
Job Code Classification: (MARKETING MGR 2) – Grade 26.
Travel: Never or Rarely.
Job Duties
40% – Marketing Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive strategic marketing plan that advances UCSC’s brand visibility, institutional reputation, enrollment goals and philanthropic initiatives; serve as the central marketing thought leader for Communications & Marketing and University Advancement, helping leadership prioritize, resource, and evaluate marketing efforts; establish and monitor KPIs across channels; use data and analytics to guide strategy and optimize campaign performance; stay current on higher education marketing trends, digital platform shifts, and best practices.
30% – Team Leadership & Management
- Lead a team that includes a creative director, a manager of social media and digital engagement, and a digital marketing manager; provide clear direction, mentorship, and professional development support to direct reports; foster a collaborative, high‑performing team culture; maintain strong coordination across the team to ensure creative output is strategically aligned, on‑brand, and on‑schedule; serve as an engaged, contributing leader who participates actively in the work.
20% – Campaign Development & Execution
- Lead development of integrated marketing campaigns from concept to execution, working across video, social media, email, digital advertising, and web channels; collaborate with the creative director to ensure creative work reflects strategic intent and brand standards; partner with the digital marketing manager to ensure email campaigns are properly scheduled, reviewed, and optimized for deliverability and engagement; oversee campaign timelines and budgets, balancing competing priorities with clear communication to stakeholders.
10% – Brand & Communications Alignment
- Champion UCSC’s brand identity across all marketing touchpoints, ensuring consistency and quality in tone, design, and messaging; collaborate with campus partners, colleges, departments, and student‑facing units to provide marketing guidance and support; represent Communications & Marketing and University Advancement in cross‑divisional committees, working groups, systemwide meetings, and external forums as needed.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
- Thorough knowledge of current and emerging digital marketing trends and best practices.
- Excellent skills in strategic planning, resource organization, stakeholder engagement, and priority setting.
- Excellent staff‑management skills, including selection, training, evaluation, and mentoring at all levels; ability to take disciplinary action as necessary.
- Excellent interpersonal communication and political acumen to work effectively with internal customers and external constituencies.
- Excellent market research, analytical thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
- Ability to produce results and achieve predetermined goals within budget and time constraints.
- Strong knowledge of applicable university policies and state and federal laws regarding copyright and licensing issues.
Preferred Qualifications
- Thorough knowledge of the campus and health system, including its achievements, mission, goals, vision, infrastructure, products and services.
Special Conditions of Employment
- Pass a pre‑employment criminal history background check.
- Pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
- Work onsite the first six months before transitioning to a hybrid schedule.
- Work long periods at a computer with or without accommodation.
- Work a hybrid work schedule and comply with the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
- Work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
- Travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
- Maintain professional appearance and conduct.
- Complete required training, including UC compliance training, within established time frames.
- Comply with the University of California vaccine program.
- Report child abuse or neglect per CANRA and sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse before commencing employment.
- Exercise discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of employment; safeguard confidential data; follow organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment must disclose any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years that determined misconduct; any notice of allegations; current or past administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; or an appeal of such findings.
“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy
- Abusive Conduct in the Workplace
Safety Statement
All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.
Notice of Availability
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available at The report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the previous three calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department or by calling 831‑459‑2231 Ext. 1.
EEO/AA
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti‑Discrimination Policy. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti‑discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr