Vice President for Strategic Growth, Marketing, and Communications | Mount Mercy Campus

St. Ambrose University invites nominations and applications for a bold, mission-driven Vice President for Strategic Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications. This is a rare opportunity for an innovative enrollment and brand leader to shape the future of two Catholic universities (St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy) in strategic combination and to help build the enrollment engine for an evolving network of colleges in Catholic higher education.

The Opportunity

The Vice President will serve as the senior executive responsible for an integrated, enterprise-wide strategy that grows enrollment, strengthens reputation, and advances mission impact across both campuses. Reporting to the President and CEO and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the VP will unify enrollment management, marketing, brand stewardship, and communications while honoring the distinct Catholic identities, charisms, and histories of each institution.

This role is designed for a leader who thrives in complexity and change. As SAU and MMU continue the work of alignment across programs, systems, and services, the Vice President will lead the enrollment strategy for a combined and increasingly integrated university. The VP will bring disciplined strategy, knowledge and demonstrated application of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, market insight, and compelling storytelling to move beyond transactional recruitment toward a student lifecycle approach that supports access, formation, and long-term institutional vitality. 

• Set a bold vision and deliver measurable enrollment growth
• Translate market intelligence into clear priorities and decisive action
• Build an integrated, high-performing team in enrollment and marketing across two campuses
• Strengthen brand clarity and effectiveness across the recruitment cycle
• Communicate with credibility, creativity, and mission-grounded purpose
• Navigate the opportunities and tensions of an evolving network model
• Integrate emerging technologies into the recruitment and marketing processes of the combined university.

Enterprise Strategic Enrollment Leadership

• Lead undergraduate, graduate, adult, online, and emerging enrollment pathways across both universities
• Design and execute multi-year strategies aligned with mission, academic priorities, workforce needs, and financial sustainability
• Oversee the full recruitment lifecycle including recruitment, yield, deposits, and enrollment
• Partner with academic leadership, athletics, student life, and finance to align program mix, modality, pricing, and capacity with market demand and institutional values
• Use analytics, forecasting, and scenario planning to guide decisions and resource allocation
• Manage key vendor and partner relationships supporting enrollment, marketing, and communications

Marketing, Brand, and Mission Stewardship

• Serve as chief steward of both institutional brands, ensuring clarity, consistency, and appropriate differentiation grounded in Catholic mission and campus experience
• Develop a compelling enterprise narrative that highlights student outcomes, academic excellence, service, faith formation, and community impact
• Ensure enrollment messaging is cohesive and persuasive across channels and throughout the recruitment journey
• Oversee the marketing strategy (including the website, video, digital strategy, print media, and other communications) for the combined university.
• Translate the Catholic intellectual tradition into accessible messaging that resonates with contemporary students and families, including those of other faith traditions or none

Communications and Change Leadership

• Provide strategic oversight for internal and external communications, including presidential communications, media relations, and crisis communications
• Ensure transparent, consistent, values-based communication during integration and organizational change
• Partner with mission leadership to ensure Catholic identity and founding charisms are expressed with integrity

Market Intelligence and Innovation

• Lead market research and competitive analysis to identify opportunities and risks
• Support innovation in program development, delivery models, and recruitment approaches that expand access while sustaining quality and mission integrity

Leadership and Collaboration

• Build, lead, and mentor high-performing enrollment, marketing, and communications teams across both campuses
• Foster a culture of collaboration, hospitality, accountability, and shared purpose
• Collaborate with Advancement to align institutional storytelling and campaign-related marketing
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and Cabinet on enrollment strategy, reputation, and mission-aligned growth

•  Significant senior leadership experience in enrollment, marketing, communications, or related fields; master’s degree or higher preferred
• Demonstrated success leading integrated enrollment and marketing strategies, ideally in complex or multi-unit environments
• Strong data literacy and ability to translate analytics into strategic decisions
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrated appreciation for Catholic higher education and the Catholic intellectual tradition

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings plan with employer match
• Tuition remission benefits
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• A supportive and collaborative work environment
• Access to campus amenities, cultural events, and recreational facilities

St. Ambrose University and its affiliate campuses are an inclusive, Catholic and diocesan community of learners empowering all members of that community to act courageously, to seek wisdom through faith and reason, to work for justice and mercy, and to lead lives of service. St. Ambrose is an equal opportunity employer.