Job Description
JOB SUMMARY:
The Chief Strategic Engagement Officer (CSEO) is responsible for initiating, directing, and implementing a range of activities that build and strengthen a base of diverse business, community, education, and philanthropic stakeholders and engage them in advancing the organization’s mission, enrollment, and resources. The Chief Strategic Engagement Officer will provide leadership and strategic focus to further the University’s recruitment, marketing, communications, alumni, and community engagement initiatives.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Marketing & Student Recruitment
- Conduct data-driven market research and use institutional data to identify new markets and work with the University admissions team on recruiting strategies and advertising campaigns to reach targeted audiences based on the university’s competitive positioning, industry trends, and other data related to objectives that will increase both new enrollments and transfers
- Work closely with Academic Affairs to identify students, faculty, and programs for promotion and to create a compelling and unique narrative and value proposition for the University that will strengthen its reputation
- Develop an inquiry pool through the use of student search services, university outreach (college fairs, high school visits, etc.), high school and community college relations, campus visits and open houses, internet and emerging technology, publications, and correspondence
- Administer the University’s prospective and admitted student database and ensure that the integrity of the systems and data are maintained and that the systems are utilized productively in support of admissions and recruitment functions
- Oversee University Outreach and Inquiries staff and implement communication strategies for prospective students, including cold calls, emails, chat, on-campus, off-campus, international, and virtual meetings/events
- Create weekly reports on leads, applications, and enrollments
- Develop productive relationships with local and international schools, agents, businesses, and organizations to promote the university and seek opportunities for promotion and recruitment
- Develop and implement systems to use data to measure the effectiveness of all advertising and recruitment activities
- Manage the budget for student recruitment, including all recruiting events and advertising campaigns
Branding & Communications
- Oversee the public relations team to facilitate brand development and implementation; managing and overseeing the organization’s identity and brand, digital media relations, and internal and external communications
- Develop communication initiatives across various platforms, including oversight of the content, messaging, and updating of the organization’s websites and social media accounts
- Oversee the design and production of communication materials, including an annual report, newsletters, and other marketing materials and print publications, such as brochures, flyers, posters, banners, logos, and electronic media
- Advise in the planning and execution of special events and activities and establish a network of campus/community partners for the promotion of events
- Develop a robust media relations and strategic visibility program that gains local, regional, national, and international coverage
- Serve as the creative director and editor-in-chief of all of the organization’s communications
- Work closely with communications team to write speeches and articles and create compelling content
- Oversee the marketing and communication budget in ways that garner the best return on investment for marketing and communications expenditures
External Engagement & Partnerships
- Serve as an exemplary University advocate in the community and develop and manage positive and effective relationships with public, private, corporate, philanthropic, and nonprofit sector partners to advance the organization’s goals and link the community with the University
- Represent the organization through meetings and presentations to local, state, national, and international partners and stakeholders
- Identify mission-aligned opportunities for the organization to support and partner with external stakeholders
- Develop and implement a strategic business plan to increase collaborative academic partnerships in support of the organization’s strategic plan, including collaboration with local and international higher education institutions and organizations
- Maintain and expand strategic collaborative partnerships with community, corporate, and government entities on the local, national, and international levels, including involvement with local Chambers of Commerce, city councils, local government, non-profits, local business, and community committees
- Establish partnerships and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships in the areas of internships, service-learning, civic engagement, volunteerism, and community-engaged research
- Establish partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders who could contribute to organization conferences, publications, or other related initiatives
- Work with Academic Affairs to engage in conversations with local corporate and government entities to determine how the organization can make programs and curricula more relevant and of greater value for both students and employers
- Work with the Academic Affairs team to identify opportunities for service-learning initiatives and to support faculty with integrating community outreach and service-learning into curriculum
- Develop public and legislative support for higher education
- Participate on the T.I.G.E.R.S. Team committee by identifying opportunities for volunteer service initiatives and planning and coordinating opportunities in the community for students, faculty, and staff
Career Services
- Provide strategic leadership for the Career Services team responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating recruiting systems, programs, and events that connect employers with students, faculty, and alumni
- Solicit and utilize employer feedback to work with Academic Affairs on updating curricula and to create and implement academic programs that respond to the needs of business, industry, and organizations
- Develop new contacts with external organizations for the purpose of expanding employment opportunities for students and alumni
Assessment
- Conduct regular quality assurance checks to ensure policies, procedures, programs, and services are being carried out as planned and with the level of quality expected
- Evaluate the effectiveness of policies, procedures, programs, and services using data-driven analysis and formulate strategies for addressing concerns and overall improvement