About the role

You will set out how the University benchmarks, measures and improves its regional, national and global reputation, brand presence and market position. You will encourage and empower the individuals and teams you lead to think strategically, work creatively and collaboratively, and build a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace culture.

As an experienced marketing professional, your strategic leadership will deliver measurable success in marketing, communications, student recruitment and development and alumni relations. Experience of at least one of the following additional areas: strategic communications, student recruitment, or fundraising, is a distinct advantage.

A successful, proven track record in Higher Education is highly desirable, but candidates without prior HE experience who demonstrate robust knowledge of the challenges facing the sector and an awareness of HE culture are encouraged to apply.

Strategic marketing and communications

• Define, distil and project the core market proposition and distinctive characteristics of the University.
• Conceive and implement practical and effective steps that make a tangible improvement to the reputation and image of the University regionally, nationally and especially internationally.
• Exploit and co-ordinate all channels that the University uses, in order to communicate effectively and consistently with stakeholders and customers with a digital first mind-set.
• Support this with a coherent narrative of the University’s strengths and achievements. Emphasise the depth and richness of the University’s research activity and other innovative work with practical illustrations.
• Apply this narrative and market proposition tightly and consistently across the range of the University’s communications activities thereby ensuring a coherent and compelling approach.
• Provide effective framework for Internal Communications, especially through supporting our People & Culture work.

Leadership and management

• To manage the six functional teams within the Directorate – Strategic Marketing; Global Engagement; Future Students and Marketing Operations; Brand, Digital and Creative Production; Corporate Communications; Philanthropy, Alumni and Supporter Engagement.
• To provide strategic marketing and communications, support, guidance and leadership to areas of the University, outside the immediate remit of the Directorate, but who are externally facing for significant parts of their work (eg Loughborough Sport, Research & Enterprise Office, Careers Network).
• Rigorously evaluate the performance of marketing, communications and development activity and adjust planning and operations in light of the results.
• As a senior leader in the organisation, model institutional behaviours and values, lead by example.

Student recruitment

• To effectively direct and co-ordinate the University’s home and international student recruitment communication activities and widening participation activities ensuring that targets are met with students of appropriate quality from as diverse an array of backgrounds as possible.

Analysis and performance

• Prepare accurate and insightful analysis of our markets, our opportunities for growth and other development opportunities.
• With senior colleagues establish realistic but demanding targets for marketing and advancement operations.
• Put in place a series of metrics that are used to monitor progress against goals. Evaluate the overall performance of the marketing and advancement activities using a range of quantitative and qualitative techniques and criteria.

Engagement with senior colleagues

• To advise the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer on institutional issues of strategic communication.
• Build outstanding working relationships with senior colleagues across the organisation. Be their trusted, authoritative strategic advisor on the broadest matters of marketing and advancement.

Service delivery

• To be a member of the University’s Professional Services Leadership Team and the University Leadership Group.
• To play an important role in improving services to stakeholders both routinely, and through the University’s change programme.

External engagement

• To play a role in professional organisations within the sector covering the areas included in the remit of this role. Through this ensure that Loughborough University remains as sector leading in its approach to marketing, communications, student recruitment and development work within the sector.
• To undertake other duties as may reasonably be required.

Organisational responsibility

• Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
• Responsible for around 250 staff in the Marketing & Advancement teams