Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible marketing and communications leadership experience in large, complex, and matrixed organizations with at least five (5) years in a leadership role. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Creates and executes strategic communication and marketing plans aligned with Dell Medical School’s mission, vision, and values.
• Builds execute a comprehensive brand implementation strategy and plan.
• Develops and leads comprehensive marketing strategies supporting faculty recruitment, clinical program growth, student enrollment, philanthropy, and research visibility.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on communication strategy, reputation management, and complex issue navigation.
• Positions the organization as a leading force in academic medicine, education, research innovation, clinical excellence, and organizational impact.
• Collaborates with leaders across UT Austin, UT Health Austin, and key external partners (Ascension) to ensure unified, impactful messaging across all platforms.
• Oversees creative direction for multimedia campaigns, organizational storytelling, and digital presence.
• Cultivates and maintains positive relationships with media outlets and influencers.
• Serves as a senior organizational spokesperson and prepare university leaders for media engagement.
• Leads proactive media strategies and issues management, including the development of crisis communication plans and transparent communication during crises.
• Responds swiftly to mitigate negative impacts on the organization’s reputation.
• Provides guidance to senior leaders during crises.
• Ensures employees are informed and engaged with the organization’s mission, values, and initiatives.
• Fosters a culture of collaboration, transparency, and shared purpose through consistent internal communications to faculty, staff, learners, and clinical partners.
• Oversees leadership messaging and organizational updates to strengthen internal alignment.
• Develops internal newsletters, announcements, and other communication materials.
• Leads the adoption of advanced technologies: Implement AI and automation tools to enhance communication and marketing efficiency and impact.
• Develops and oversees upskilling programs to ensure the team stays current with industry trends and best practices.
• Encourages the exploration and integration of digital tools and platforms to improve outreach and engagement.
• Monitors technological advancements: Stays informed about emerging technologies, assesses opportunities to drive real impact on communication and marketing strategies, and implements as appropriate.
• Collaborates with IT and other departments: Works closely with IT and other relevant teams to ensure seamless integration of new technologies and tools.
• Plans and executes marketing campaigns to promote services and initiatives.
• Utilizes market research, data analytics, and audience insights to continually refine digital strategy.
• Drives innovation across digital channels, including the website, social media, video content, and digital storytelling platforms.
• Collaborates with external agencies and vendors.
• Allocates resources efficiently to support various communication initiatives.
• Promotes a lean, cost-effective structure focused on organizational integration and continuous improvement.
• Oversees budgeting, financial planning, and vendor relationships to optimize operations and maximize investments.
• Monitors budget performance, addressing variances as needed.
• Provides training sessions for staff on effective communication practices, developing necessary training materials and resources.
• Represents the organization at Events.
• Attends industry conferences and events as a representative of the organization.
• Networks with industry professionals and stakeholders.
• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency while supporting department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; Serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff.
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Performs related duties as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field.
• Fifteen (15) years of experience in marketing and communications, with at least seven (7) years in a leadership role.
• Experience in academic healthcare or clinical settings.
• Expertise in navigating university and medical center domains.
• Knowledge of philanthropic communications and collaboration with advancement teams.
• Proven success in leading change and building inclusive, innovative teams.