Chief of Marketing, FAS

07-Mar-2025

Chief of Marketing, FAS

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

68096BR

Job Summary

Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) seeks a seasoned leader to shape the FAS’s marketing communications strategy while ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative operations. This inaugural role demands a visionary leader who can develop, execute, and measure marketing communications strategies to drive an affirmative, proactive narrative and foster community engagement, as well as oversee and enhance department operations to successfully achieve those goals. This position requires deep experience in measuring success, with advanced knowledge of capturing and interpreting data to inform marketing communications strategies and drive intentional outcomes. A deep understanding of the higher education landscape, coupled with a belief in the research and teaching mission of the FAS, is essential.

Reporting to the FAS Dean of Communications/Chief Communications Officer (CCO), the Chief of Marketing is a member of the Dean/CCO’s cabinet and the FAS Communications Senior Leadership Team.

Position Description

Marketing Communications Leadership & Strategy:

• Oversees, delivers, and measures the impact of marketing communications strategies and plans to support FAS priorities and initiatives.
• Serves as an advisor and partner on marketing communications to the FAS Dean and academic and administrative leaders across the FAS.
• Develops and promotes the FAS brand—its verbal and visual identity and the messaging and marketing communications approaches to tell its story to internal and external audiences. 
• Leads annual marketing communications planning, creating and overseeing the implementation and measurement of a proactive plan at the level of the FAS.
• Serves as the primary integrator for marketing communications strategies and planning across the FAS schools and major units, identifying and building collaborative and complementary strategies.

• Develops and implements internal communications strategies and tools to ensure that FAS faculty, staff, and researchers are aware of School priorities and to foster a strong sense of community, partnering with Director of Employee Communications.
• Develops internal communications plans and messaging to support FAS academic and administrative leaders, partnering with the Director of Employee Communications and Senior Director of Editorial and Content.
• Develops and executes a comprehensive digital strategy, enhancing understanding of the digital landscape, audience engagement, and analytics utilization, partnering with Associate Director of Digital Strategy, Harvard College and FAS, the Director of Employee Communications, and the Senior Director of Editorial and Content.

• Serves as a critical partner in designing and building a best-in-class communications and marketing department and strategy for the FAS.
• Develops long-term strategic and annual operating plans, budgets, and goals for the department and effectively manages the successful implementation of those plans, working closely with the Department Administrator. 
• Advises on and establishes best practices and policies that support operational excellence for the FAS Communications department.
• Evaluates, recommends, and implements new technologies and platforms to foster innovation and creativity, including the opportunity of generative AI.
• Oversees the FAS and Harvard College Communications budgets, working closely with the Department Administrator and Senior Director of Communications and Media Relations for Harvard College, as well as with FAS Finance partners.
• Establishes meeting routines and agendas, programs retreats and all staff meetings, and creates professional development opportunities for the department, partnering with the Department Administrator and FAS HR and CWD, as appropriate.
• Researches and hires outside vendors for special projects and initiatives, as needed, managing vendor relationships to ensure work is delivered on time and within budget.

• Initially oversees a complex portfolio and team of 6 (direct and indirect reports), that spans strategic initiatives and special projects, marketing communications, internal communications and engagement, and digital strategy, with the expectation that this portfolio will grow.
• Partners closely with Harvard College Admissions and Financial Aid and Harvard Athletics Communications Teams.
• Cultivates a strong culture of creativity and collaboration and provides mentorship and support to teammates.
• Collaborates with Communications leads across the FAS’s schools and units.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of communications and marketing experience with 5+ years managing teams.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

• Experience advising senior leaders in complex, highly matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, team building, relationship management; strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Expertise in interdisciplinary marketing and communications in the context of mission-driven organizations
• Must understand the complexity of higher education issues, the intellectual environment and decision-making process, tolerance for process, political savvy, and sense of humor.
• Skill at adeptly and diplomatically prioritizing and managing diverse requests from various stakeholders within a deadline-driven environment, ensuring efficient communication and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Demonstrated experience creatively leveraging integrated digital communications strategies.
• Experience appropriately handling confidential materials; consistently exercise sound judgment and possess strong skills in the areas of leadership, persuasion, negotiation, and people and fiscal management.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting.

Additional Information

A cover letter is strongly encouraged at time of application.

We regret that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There is an expectation of 3 in-office days per week. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

About Us

FAS Communications advances the vision and priorities of the FAS and its schools, divisions, and units through strategic planning, storytelling, media relations, and engagement communications across digital, social media, and multimedia platforms.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

Communications

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

CM0461 Communications Management Dir

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Salary Grade

061

Department

FAS Office of Communications

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Time Status

Full-time

Pre-Employment Screening

Criminal, Education, Identity

Schedule

M-F; 35 hours/week
3 days per week on campus required

Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify this excellence while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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