Senior Director of Marketing & Communications (54292)

The Senior Director of Marketing and Communications provides leadership for Mitchell Hamline’s marketing, communications, brand, and reputation strategy while overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Marketing and Communications function. The Senior Director serves as a principal advisor to the Law School’s leadership on brand positioning, communications, reputation, and audience engagement.

Grounded in Mitchell Hamline’s mission and strategic priorities, the Senior Director leads a forward-looking, data-informed approach to strengthening the Law School’s position in legal education, reaching prospective students, engaging key audiences, and telling the Mitchell Hamline story.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Senior Director works closely with the President and Dean, Admissions, Advancement, academic leadership and other partners to translate institutional priorities and effective marketing and communications strategies.

• Develop and execute an integrated marketing and communications strategy that advances the School's Mission, strategic priorities and strengthens its reputation.
• Lead marketing initiatives that elevate the Law School's academic programs, faculty expertise, Centers and Institutes, student and alumni experience, events, and other institutional priorities.
• Use market research, audience insights, competitive intelligence, and emerging trends to inform strategy and investment.
• Develop annual marketing and communications plans that align priorities, resources, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
• Establish and maintain marketing performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting to measure campaign effectiveness, enrollment outcomes, brand awareness, digital engagement, and return on investment.
• Use data and analytics to continuously optimize marketing strategies and resource allocation

• Lead enrollment marketing strategy in partnership with Admissions, developing campaigns that build awareness, generate interest, and support application, enrollment, and yield goals.
• Develop audience segmentation, messaging, and digital strategies that improve engagement with prospective students and other priority audiences.
• Use marketing and enrollment data to evaluate performance and continuously improve campaigns, channels, and resource allocation.
• Partner across the School to develop coordinated marketing strategies for programs and  priorities.

• Lead communications, including media relations, internal communications, executive communications, reputation management, and crisis communications.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to Leadership.
• Develop proactive communications strategies that elevate faculty expertise, institutional achievements, academic innovation, and strategic partnerships.
• Consult with departments across the Law School to identify marketing needs, establish priorities, and deliver effective communications solutions.
• Serve as steward of the Mitchell Hamline brand, ensuring consistent and compelling messaging, visual identity, and brand standards.
• Lead communications planning and response during significant institutional issues or crises.

• Provide strategic direction for the Law School's website and digital presence, ensuring content strategy, user experience, accessibility, search engine optimization (SEO), and analytics support institutional goals.
• Advance an integrated approach across web, search, email, social media, paid media, content, and other relevant channels.
• Establish meaningful marketing performance measures and reporting to assess audience engagement, enrollment marketing, digital performance, and return on investment.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and marketing practices, including appropriate uses of automation and artificial intelligence, to improve effectiveness and audience experience.

• Lead, develop, and prioritize the work of the Marketing and Communications team by establishing clear goals, workflows, performance expectations, and accountability.
• Build strong partnerships across the Law School to identify needs, establish priorities, and deliver effective marketing and communications solutions.
• Coach and mentor team members while fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, establish project priorities, and oversee agency relationships, vendor partnerships, and other external resources to ensure the effective delivery of marketing and communications initiatives. Develop annual marketing and communications plans that align departmental initiatives, staffing, budgets, and institutional priorities.

An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Influencing & Collaboration: Builds trust, secures buy-in, and works effectively across teams and levels of the organization, including without direct authority.
• Team Leadership: Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate high-performing teams.
• Strategic Thinking: Sets long-term direction, identifies opportunities, and adapts to changes in higher education and marketing.
• Results Orientation: Highly motivated, accountable, and focused on achieving measurable results.
• Data & Analytics: Uses marketing, digital, and enrollment data to evaluate performance and inform decisions.
• Communication: Clear, persuasive communicator who can advise leadership, articulate priorities, and drive execution.
• Judgment & Resource Allocation: Balances competing needs and directs resources toward the highest-value opportunities for the school.
• Adaptability & Problem-Solving: Navigates ambiguity, solves complex problems, and adjusts plans as circumstances change.
• Independence & Initiative: Works independently, takes initiative, and follows through.

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible marketing and communications experience, including experience building and leading teams.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing marketing, communications, and brand strategies.
• Strong knowledge of digital and social media marketing, including experience creating integrated campaigns and audience experiences.

• Experience in higher education, legal or professional services, or another mission-driven organization.

• Works in a climate-controlled office setting. 
• Standing, sitting, stooping, walking, talking, seeing, hearing, typing, filing, and other similar physical motions and activities are required, unless discussed with the supervisor for available accommodations.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Typical office hours, with occasional evening or weekend hours as required by special needs or events.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

Notice of Nondiscrimination re: Title IX Sex Discrimination

Mitchell Hamline School of Law prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions about sex discrimination or harassment to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination and information about reporting concerns is located on our website (https://mitchellhamline.edu/students/title-ix/).