Assistant Vice Chancellor, Advancement Marketing & Communications

Job no: 498900 Work type: Staff Full-Time Location: Denver, CO Categories: Alumni / Development / Fundraising, Business Operations / Services, Admin / Executive / Office Support, Advancement Division: Advancement

The University of Denver (DU) is an R1: Doctoral University located in Denver, CO. The Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) of Advancement Marketing and Communications is the senior leader responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications strategy to advance fundraising and alumni engagement goals.

Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement, the AVC serves as the chief marketing and communications strategist for Advancement and is a member of the senior leadership team. This role oversees proposal writing, development materials, messaging, branding, storytelling, and campaign communications across all advancement initiatives, ensuring alignment with university-wide standards in partnership with University Relations and other communications professionals at DU.

The AVC leads a high‑performing team responsible for delivering strategic, impactful, and timely communications, while fostering collaboration across Advancement and with campus partners. The AVC manages staffing, workflow, performance, and team development.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience

10 years of leadership experience in marketing or communications

5 years of experience managing personnel

Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic communications plans

Experience leading marketing or communications teams, preferably in advancement, fundraising, or a complex organizational setting

Experience working with senior and executive leadership to advance strategic priorities

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree in communications‑intensive discipline

Experience in higher education advancement or nonprofit fundraising

This position is eligible for hybrid work which includes the ability to work from an alternate work location up to two days per week.

Essential Functions
Strategic Leadership & Planning

Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement marketing and communications strategy aligned with development and alumni engagement goals

Partner with Advancement leadership to support strategic priorities, including campaign initiatives and executive communications (Chancellor, Provost, and SVC for Advancement)

Ensure alignment with University Relations on brand standards, messaging, and overall communications strategy

Oversee creation of annual work plans, priorities, and budget for advancement communications

Provide university‑level leadership, counsel, and coordination for advancement marketing and communications strategy, and lead the team responsible for high‑impact, multi‑channel deliverables that support fundraising and engagement goals

Apply data‑driven practices—including audience segmentation, analytics, market research, and continuous feedback loops—to inform strategy, optimize performance, and drive measurable results

Oversee marketing automation platform strategy and usage, including audience segmentation, journey building, campaign automation, performance tracking, data integrity, and coordination of necessary integrations with CRM, web, email, analytics, and other marketing systems

Communications and Campaign Execution

Oversee creation of key advancement marketing and communications efforts, including:

Case statements, proposals, and principal gift materials

Stewardship and donor relations communications

Alumni engagement and annual giving campaigns

Event‑related communications

Digital content, newsletters, and web‑based materials

Multi‑channel digital campaigns including email marketing, paid media, social media, etc.

Provide leadership for gift announcements and fundraising‑related storytelling in partnership with University Relations

Lead development of strategic, audience‑centered content aligned with campaign goals, ensuring messaging, storytelling, and channel execution drive measurable engagement

Use data and analytics to optimize marketing and communications performance and improve engagement outcomes

Lead crisis and issues communications for Advancement audiences in partnership with University Relations: provide counsel to leadership and protect donor, alumni, and stakeholder relationships through accurate, timely, and unified messaging

Team Leadership and Operations

Lead, manage, and develop a team of marketing, writing, and creative professionals

Establish performance expectations, goals, and metrics for team members

Oversee workflow, project management, and quality assurance across all deliverables

Oversee staffing, team development, and operational processes

Evaluate and implement tools and technologies to enhance communications effectiveness

Collaboration and Partnership

Serve as a strategic partner to Advancement units, academic leadership, and campus stakeholders

Collaborate across central and unit‑based advancement teams to support fundraising and engagement goals

Provide strategic guidance and coordination for marketing and communications initiatives across the university

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

Monitor and apply industry trends and best practices from peer and aspirational institutions

Develop feedback loops and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness

Balance long‑term planning with agility in responding to emerging priorities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Expertise in core marketing principles, strategies, and best practices, as well as marketing and communications mediums and technology

Proven track record managing personnel, programs, and budgets, with the ability to inspire and influence across a complex organization

Previous oversight of marketing automation platform strategy and usage in a complex organization, ideally in the higher education industry

Excellent organizational, planning, and project management capabilities

Strong ability to develop and optimize marketing and communications processes, lead change management initiatives, and drive adoption of new workflows, systems, and best practices across teams

Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment

Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with attention to brand consistency

Experience using data and analytics to inform strategy and decision‑making

Ability to give guidance, share and receive constructive feedback, and integrate varying points of view

Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders

Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information

High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion

Standard open office environment

Noise level is quiet to moderate

Non‑essential role. Note: essential employees are those individuals who must report to work, be “on call” to report to work, and/or work remotely if required in order to maintain the critical functions of the University during scheduled closures or an unscheduled suspension of normal operations due to emergencies, events, or other situations.

Physical Activities

Ability to use a computer for an extended period

Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance

This role is not required to operate an Automobile, Passenger Van, UTV/ATV, or golf cart

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 17, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number
17

Salary Range
$150,000 – $200,000

Benefits
Medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.

Advertised: July 13, 2026  Applications close: Open until filled

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

#J-18808-Ljbffr