Senior Director, Marketing & Communications

University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Job Profile Title
Director C, Business and Finance, Communications and Marketing
Job Description Summary
The Senior Director of Marketing & Communications is a senior member of the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) team responsible for leading integrated marketing and communications efforts that strengthen student and alumni engagement and advance DAR priorities. This role provides strategic and creative leadership across digital media, marketing communications, design, content, and campaign execution, translating organizational priorities into compelling and coordinated experiences for students, alumni and other audiences.
Working closely with teams across DAR, the position serves as a key partner in advancing communications strategies within Penn's broader digital engagement ecosystem. A strong understanding of student and alumni audiences, digital communications, creative development, and emerging engagement practices is essential to ensuring communications are relevant, effective, accessible, and aligned across channels.
The Senior Director leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for design and branding, digital media, and marketing technology support, providing direction and prioritization while fostering creative, solutions-oriented approaches across Alumni Relations.
The position works closely with The Penn Fund, Central Development, DAR Marketing and Communications, schools and centers, and other University partners to develop integrated communications strategies and campaigns.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities
Marketing & Communications Strategy
Lead the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications strategies that advance student and alumni engagement and DAR priorities, translating organizational goals, audience insights, and program needs into coordinated communications plans, campaigns, and digital experiences.
Develop communications strategies, messaging approaches, channel plans, and timelines for student and alumni programs, events, initiatives, and campaigns in collaboration with partners across Alumni Relations and DAR.
Provide strategic counsel to DAR leaders and colleagues on messaging, audience engagement, channel strategy, and communications opportunities.
Establish goals and measures for communications initiatives and use performance data and engagement metrics to evaluate effectiveness, refine strategy, and improve outcomes.
Monitor evolving practices in digital communications, alumni engagement, social media, content strategy, and creative development to identify opportunities for innovation and improved audience engagement.
Digital Media & Content
Provide strategic leadership for student and alumni digital communications across websites, email, social media, and other digital channels, ensuring a coordinated and consistent audience experience.
Lead the development and execution of digital content and campaigns, including audience strategy, messaging cadence and channel selection.
Ensure digital communications are timely, accurate, accessible, brand-aligned, and responsive to audience needs.
Collaborate with partners across DAR to leverage digital platforms and emerging capabilities in support of communications and engagement goals.
Provide communications leadership for major organizational initiatives, including time-sensitive, high-profile, and crisis communications as needed.
Creative Direction & Brand
Provide overall creative direction for student and alumni-facing marketing and communications, ensuring consistency with University and DAR brand standards while advancing strong storytelling and audience engagement.
Direct the conceptualization, design, and production of digital and print marketing materials, including campaign creative, event communications, web and social media assets, invitations, and other collateral.
Guide the development of visual identities and creative approaches for major alumni programs, initiatives, and campaigns, balancing creativity with accessibility, usability, and audience needs.
Team Leadership
Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team that includes the Assistant Director of Art & Design, Assistant Director of Marketing Technology, and Associate Director of Digital Media.
Establish priorities, workflows, standards, and expectations across creative, digital media, and marketing technology functions to support a responsive, collaborative, and sustainable communications operation.
Provide staff direction and performance management, supporting professional development, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Coordinate resources and priorities across the team's portfolio to ensure projects are effectively planned and delivered.
Collaboration, Project & Resource Management
Build strong partnerships with Alumni Relations, The Penn Fund, Central Development, DAR Marketing and Communications, schools and centers, and other University partners to develop coordinated communications strategies and advance shared priorities.
Manage use of and process for the integration of various technical tools to facilitate alumni and student engagement and communications including broadcast emails, event registration, website development and maintenance, and community management platforms and systems.