Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Darden School of Business

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO)
The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business seeks a visionary, enterprise-level strategist to serve as Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO) .

Operating under the bold brand mantra "Not business school as usual", the CMCO will step into a high‑visibility, enterprise‑wide role.

This opportunity comes during a moment of historic momentum for the school as Darden welcomes its 10th dean, Yael Grushka‑Cockayne. The School is celebrating record enrollments, the growth of UVA Darden DC Metro in Rosslyn, Virginia, a triumphant $632 million campaign, the execution of an ambitious master plan, and a sustained position as the No. 1 global public Full‑Time MBA program.

Portfolio Responsibilities
Global Communications & Reputation Portfolio

Global Reputation & Positioning: Elevate Darden's intellectual capital and brand equity worldwide; strategically position the school within the highly competitive peer set and global rankings.

Executive & Strategic Messaging: Craft the foundational narrative for the school and its affiliated fundraising efforts. Oversee executive communications and global thought leadership platforms for the dean and other key leaders. Provide media training and ensure internal alignment.

Editorial & Media Transformation: Lead a high‑profile strategic initiative to merge Darden's flagship print magazine and two distinct digital publications into a single, AI‑enabled world‑class media asset. Oversee the editorial direction, content strategy and digital architecture of this new omni‑channel platform.

Digital & Social Ecosystem: Champion a cutting‑edge content strategy that leverages multi‑platform social media management, high‑impact video production, and influencer and content strategies tailored to diverse global audiences.

Public Relations & Stakeholder Engagement: Drive proactive, international public relations and media strategy. Partner with Advancement and Alumni Services to inspire philanthropic investment and lifelong affinity among a global network of 20,000 alumni across 90 countries.

Crisis & Change Management: Serve as the strategic architect for global issues management and crisis communications. Safeguard institutional equity across different regulatory and media environments.

Marketing & Growth Engine Portfolio

Global Brand & Creative Strategy: Champion the visual identity and overarching brand experience of Darden, ensuring absolute consistency and premium positioning across all marketing efforts.

Enrollment Marketing Engine: Lead a high‑velocity, full‑funnel marketing machine for degree programs powered by predictive data analytics, AI‑driven lead scoring and dynamic personalization to maximize quality lead generation.

Digital Experience & Web Presence: Oversee the evolution of Darden's digital ecosystem in the age of AI. Drive a sophisticated web and mobile strategy rooted in advanced UX, accessibility and high‑performing, multi‑region SEO strategy.

Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader of people, a culturally adept diplomat, and a sharp, metrics‑driven strategist who thrives in a collaborative academic environment.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of relevant professional experience required. Experience must include 5+ years of formal managerial experience.

Advanced degree (MBA, Master’s in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, International Relations, or a related field) is highly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Global Leadership Breadth: Proven track record of senior leadership experience directing integrated marketing and communications portfolios within higher education, professional services, corporate environments, or highly complex, multinational global organizations.

C‑Suite‑Level Experience: Demonstrated experience counseling and collaborating with executive boards, trustees and C‑suite leaders on high‑stakes branding and reputation matters.

Operational Excellence: Proven success establishing shared services models, internal agencies, or centers of excellence that scale operations through technology, standard operating procedures and clear ROI metrics.

Reputation & Advisory Acumen: Exceptional emotional intelligence, cross‑cultural competence and judgment, with a track record of serving as a trusted advisor to chief executives in navigating complex international reputation matters, global media and change management.

People Leadership & Talent Development: Proven ability to build, lead and inspire high‑performing, multidisciplinary teams by fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, continuous learning and professional growth.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree required.

Experience: 10+ years relevant professional experience, to include 5+ years of formal managerial experience required.

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings and programs.

Equal Opportunity Employer
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non‑discrimination and equal opportunity employment.

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