Senior Vice President

Position Summary Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as its next Senior Vice President for University Communications and Marketing (SVP UCM). This is a pivotal moment for Rutgers, as new presidential leadership, strong momentum, and ambitious aspirations position the university to elevate its national standing and expand its impact. Rutgers is one of the nation’s most distinctive public research universities, combining the strengths of an AAU institution, a land‑grant university, and a comprehensive academic health system, with campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden. As a leader in research, innovation, and public service, Rutgers stands at the forefront of higher education. The Rutgers Edge is defined by a relentless drive to push boundaries, solve real‑world problems, and empower communities through knowledge and discovery. While its scale, academic excellence, and research enterprise position it among the nation’s leading institutions, its story is not yet fully articulated or consistently conveyed. The SVP UCM will play a critical role in shaping and amplifying that narrative in ways that resonate across local, national, and global audiences and strengthen the university’s overall reputation and impact. The SVP UCM will serve as Rutgers’ chief brand strategist and reputation architect, responsible for developing and executing a unified communications and marketing strategy across a highly decentralized university. Working closely with the president, cabinet, chancellors, and leaders across enrollment, advancement, research, and athletics, this individual will bring an enterprise‑wide perspective to align messaging, elevate visibility, and strengthen institutional identity. In doing so, the SVP UCM will lead the evolution of a cohesive Rutgers identity while fostering alignment across campuses and honoring their distinct strengths and markets. This role presents a rare opportunity to modernize and integrate communications at scale. The next SVP UCM will build a high‑performing, coordinated communications ecosystem; advance the university’s digital and media presence; and leverage data, technology, and emerging platforms to sharpen strategy and measure impact. Equally important, the SVP UCM will strengthen internal communications and cultivate a deeper sense of pride and connection among Rutgers’ more than 600,000 alumni and its broader community, transforming awareness into affinity and engagement. Operating in a highly visible and complex public environment, the SVP UCM will also lead proactive, sophisticated crisis communications and serve as a strategic advisor on issues related to brand strategy, reputation, constituent engagement, and public trust. This work takes place within a dynamic context shaped by faculty governance, political engagement, media scrutiny, and the realities of a large, unionized public institution. The successful candidate will bring a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, and personal leadership qualities suited to this scale and complexity. They will be an exceptional communicator and storyteller, capable of framing a compelling narrative for Rutgers and translating it across audiences. They will demonstrate strong political and organizational acumen, experience navigating complex stakeholder environments, and the ability to build trust and foster collaboration across a decentralized system. They will be data‑informed, digitally fluent, and experienced in managing reputation in complex, fast‑paced, and high‑stakes settings. Above all, Rutgers seeks a leader who combines confidence with humility, decisiveness with diplomacy, and boldness with discipline, who can lead through complexity, interrogate the status quo, and execute at a high level. This individual will embrace Rutgers’ public mission, understand its unique culture and context, and bring the energy, creativity, and resolve required to position the university for its next chapter of national prominence and impact. Role of the Senior Vice President for University Communications and Marketing The Senior Vice President for University Communications and Marketing (SVP UCM) serves as Rutgers’ chief reputation strategist and brand architect, responsible for shaping, advancing, and protecting the university’s identity as a leading public research institution. Reporting to the president and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the SVP UCM will bring an enterprise‑wide perspective to communications, marketing, and engagement across Rutgers’ highly complex, multi‑campus system. This is a defining moment for Rutgers. With new leadership, upward national ambition, and strong institutional momentum, the SVP UCM will have the opportunity (and expectation) to build a modern, integrated communications and marketing function that operates at scale, aligns messaging across the university, and amplifies Rutgers’ impact locally, nationally, and globally. The SVP UCM will lead a newly evolving model that brings together central communications, Rutgers–New Brunswick, and Rutgers Health through a hub‑and‑spoke structure, while strengthening coordination and alignment with Rutgers‑Camden and Rutgers‑Newark as part of a broader university‑wide communications and marketing strategy. This leader will partner closely with chancellors, enrollment management, advancement, athletics, research, and academic leadership to ensure that Rutgers speaks with clarity, consistency, and purpose while honoring the distinctiveness of its campuses and constituencies. The role demands a leader who can operate simultaneously as strategist, operator, advisor, and communicator – someone who can align decentralized teams, navigate a highly visible and politically complex environment, and translate institutional priorities into compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. At its core, this is a reputation management and storytelling role: one that requires bold vision, diplomatic dexterity, and disciplined execution. Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership The following interrelated leadership opportunities should feature prominently in the new senior vice president’s first few years at Rutgers: Establish a Cohesive, Enterprise‑Wide Brand Strategy Rutgers presents a rare opportunity to unify a powerful but underleveraged brand. The SVP UCM will lead the development of a clear, compelling institutional narrative that defines what Rutgers stands for, differentiates it nationally, and aligns messaging across all Chancellor‑Led Units, schools, and divisions. Success will be defined by moving from a decentralized, unit‑driven approach to a coordinated, unified communications model that enhances institutional cohesion and impact. Legal Notice Rutgers is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse environment. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr