Senior Director of University Marketing and Digital Strategies

Telecommuting

The selected candidate will be required to work in person for the first six months. After that period, the position will be eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

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/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information: Full‑time, Fixed; Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week; Days of the Week: Mon‑Fri; Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non‑Represented

Job Code Classification: 000472 (MARKETING MGR 2) – Grade 26

Travel: Never or Rarely

Job Duties

• 40% – Marketing Strategy & Leadership: Develops and oversees a comprehensive strategic marketing plan that advances UCSC's brand visibility, institutional reputation, enrollment goals and philanthropic initiatives; serves as the central marketing thought leader for Communications & Marketing and University Advancement, helping leadership prioritize, resource, and evaluate marketing efforts; establishes and monitors key performance indicators across channels; uses data and analytics to guide strategy and optimize campaign performance; and stays current on higher education marketing trends, digital platform shifts, and best practices, bringing fresh thinking to the team on a consistent basis.
• 30% – Team Leadership & Management: Leads a team that includes a creative director (who manages a video production team), a manager of social media and digital engagement, and a digital marketing manager; provides clear direction, mentorship, and professional development support to direct reports; fosters a collaborative, high‑performing team culture; maintains strong coordination across the team to ensure creative output is strategically aligned, on‑brand, and on‑schedule; and serves as an engaged, contributing leader who participates actively in the work.
• 20% – Campaign Development & Execution: Leads development of integrated marketing campaigns from concept to execution, working across video, social media, email, digital advertising, and web channels; collaborates with the creative director to ensure creative work reflects strategic intent and brand standards; partners with the digital marketing manager to ensure email campaigns are properly scheduled, reviewed, and optimized for deliverability and engagement; and oversees campaign timelines and budgets, balancing competing priorities with clear communication to stakeholders.
• 10% – Brand & Communications Alignment: Champions UCSC's brand identity across all marketing touchpoints, ensuring consistency and quality in tone, design, and messaging; collaborates with campus partners, colleges, departments, and student‑facing units to provide marketing guidance and support; represents 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, including new and emerging strategies and technologies.
• Excellent skills in strategic planning, effectively organizing resources, engaging stakeholders, and setting and establishing priorities.
• Excellent skills in managing staff including selection, training, evaluating and mentoring staff at all levels, including skills to take disciplinary action as necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and political acumen to effectively work with internal customers and external constituencies.
• Excellent market research, analytical thinking, and problem recognition, avoidance and resolution skills.
• Excellent skills 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 other licensing issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of the campus / health system, including its achievements, mission, goals, vision, infrastructure, products and services.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre‑employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• The selected candidate will be required to work onsite for the first six months before transitioning to a hybrid schedule.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work a hybrid work schedule and must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.
• Ability to travel to multiple work locations on and off campus.
• Ability to maintain appearance and conduct suitable for working in a professional setting.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.
• Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non‑public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work‑related information obtained from any source on any work‑related matter is a violation of these expectations.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• 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. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
• 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 Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) is available at:

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.