Executive Director, Strategic Brand & Communication - Possible Hybrid

Title: Executive Director, Strategic Brand & Communication - Possible Hybrid

Employee Classification: Exec Dir Strategic Brand & Com

Campus: University of North Texas - System Administration

Division: SYS-Communications and Marketing

SubDivision-Department: SYS-Communications and Marketing

Department: SYS-Communications and Marketing-970000

Job Location: Dallas

Salary: Commensurate with experience

FTE: 1.000000

Retirement Eligibility: ORP Eligible

About Us - Values Overview

Department Summary

The UNT System Office of Marketing & Communications leads both external and internal communications for the University of North Texas System in support of its three member institutions – the University of North Texas, UNT Health Fort Worth and UNT Dallas. As the only university system based in the robust Dallas-Fort Worth region, we have incredible stories to share in support of our vision to transform lives and create economic opportunity through education. The Office of Marketing & Communications helps tell these stories to both internal and external audiences, shining a light on UNT System's impact on DFW, Texas and the world.

The UNT System Office of Marketing & Communications works collaboratively with the marketing and communications teams at each of our three universities to help highlight the incredible leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni and supporters that bring the missions of UNT, UNT Dallas and UNT Health Fort Worth to life. We serve the UNT System Chancellor, Board of Regents and UNT System Administration teams – overseeing internal and external communications, brand management, strategic content, advertising, graphic design, web presence, social media, photo/video, media relations and external relations.

Position Overview

The Executive Director of Strategic Brand and Communications is a senior system-level leadership role responsible for shaping, advancing, and protecting the UNT System brand across all external channels and audiences. Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications, this role provides strategic direction for brand leadership, external messaging, executive communications, and social media strategy while building efficiencies and shared best practices across the system’s colleges and institutions.
This position serves as both a strategic leader and consultative partner to campus marketing and communications teams, supporting recruitment, reputation management, and system-wide storytelling through scalable frameworks, tools, and governance. The Executive Director does not own day-to-day campus execution but enables success through strategy, alignment, and operational clarity.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, graphic design or related field; and 10 years of related experience; or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

- Strong competencies in written and oral communication, graphic design, strategic social media, publication design, web sites, basic photo/video/audio recording and editing.
- Ability to develop and execute strategic marketing/communications plans.
- Ability to manage large projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Demonstrated experience leading social media strategy, brand governance, and external messaging at scale.
- Experience working with marketing technology platforms and building integrated, sustainable marketing systems.
- Proven ability to collaborate across decentralized teams and influence leaders at multiple levels.
- Operate as a self-starter who can independently identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and move initiatives forward in a complex, decentralized environment.
- Influence and align senior leaders and peers across the system without direct authority through strong relationships, credibility, and strategic thinking.
- Take a consultative, problem-solving approach to supporting campus teams and leadership within the discipline of marketing and communications.
-Demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, and confidence in protecting the brand and advising on sensitive or high-stakes matters.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, a university system, or similarly complex public institution.
• Familiarity with CRM, marketing automation, and analytics tools such as Salesforce and Marketing Cloud.
• Experience supporting recruitment, enrollment, or audience growth strategies.

Required License/Registration/Certifications

Job Duties 

System Brand Strategy and Reputation Management

• Lead the development and stewardship of the UNT System brand strategy, ensuring consistent positioning, voice, and visual identity across all colleges and system initiatives.

• Protect and strengthen the system’s reputation by establishing clear brand standards, governance models, and escalation protocols.

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the VC of Marketing and Communications on brand health, reputation risks, and long-term external positioning.

Executive and System Leadership Communications

• Manage and guide the external communications strategy for UNT System leadership, including messaging frameworks, narrative development, and high-visibility moments.

• Ensure alignment between system leadership messaging and broader institutional priorities, campaigns, and brand narratives.

• Support on system-level communications to ensure clarity, consistency, and credibility. 

Social Media Strategy and Brand Monitoring

• Develop and lead a comprehensive system-wide social media strategy that elevates the UNT System brand, supports recruitment goals, and strengthens engagement with key audiences.

• Establish frameworks for brand monitoring, social listening, and sentiment analysis to proactively manage reputation and identify opportunities or risks.

• Guide the integration of social strategy into the student recruitment funnel, including persona development for prospective students and families. 

Strategy and System Efficiencies

• Serve as a system-level resource and center of excellence for brand, communications, social media, and MarTech best practices.

• Convene and collaborate with campus MarCom leaders to align strategy, share insights, and drive adoption of system frameworks and tools.

• Build toolkits, playbooks, templates, and training resources that empower campus teams while maintaining system-wide consistency. - 

Physical Requirements

Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Hazards

No adverse environmental conditions expected.

Work Schedule

M-F 8-5 and as needed

Driving University Vehicle

No

Security Sensitive

This is a Security Sensitive Position.

Special Instructions

Applicants must submit a minimum of two professional references as part of their application. If needed, additional references can be added after the application has been submitted. 

Benefits

For information regarding our Benefits, click here.

EEO Statement

The University of North Texas System is firmly committed to equal opportunity and does not permit –and takes actions to prevent – discrimination, harassment (including sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking), and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application, employment practices, and facilities; nor permits race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or sex discrimination and harassment in its admissions processes, and educational programs and activities. UNT System Administration promptly investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation and takes remedial action when appropriate. System Administration also takes actions to prevent retaliation against individuals who oppose any form of harassment or discriminatory practice, file a charge or report, or testify, assist, or participate in a related investigation or proceeding.