Description
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as its next Senior Vice President for University Communications and Marketing (SVP UCM). This is a pivotal moment for Rutgers, as new presidential leadership, strong momentum, and ambitious aspirations position the university to elevate its national standing and expand its impact.
Rutgers is one of the nation's most distinctive public research universities, combining the strengths of an AAU institution, a land-grant university, and a comprehensive academic health system, with campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden. As a leader in research, innovation, and public service, Rutgers stands at the forefront of higher education. The Rutgers Edge is defined by a relentless drive to push boundaries, solve real-world problems, and empower communities through knowledge and discovery. While its scale, academic excellence, and research enterprise position it among the nation's leading institutions, its story is not yet fully articulated or consistently conveyed. The SVP UCM will play a critical role in shaping and amplifying that narrative in ways that resonate across local, national, and global audiences and strengthen the university's overall reputation and impact.
The SVP UCM will serve as Rutgers' chief brand strategist and reputation architect, responsible for developing and executing a unified communications and marketing strategy across a highly decentralized university. Working closely with the president, cabinet, chancellors, and leaders across enrollment, advancement, research, and athletics, this individual will bring an enterprise-wide perspective to align messaging, elevate visibility, and strengthen institutional identity. In doing so, the SVP UCM will lead the evolution of a cohesive Rutgers identity while fostering alignment across campuses and honoring their distinct strengths and markets.
This role presents a rare opportunity to modernize and integrate communications at scale. The next SVP UCM will build a high-performing, coordinated communications ecosystem; advance the university's digital and media presence; and leverage data, technology, and emerging platforms to sharpen strategy and measure impact. Equally important, the SVP UCM will strengthen internal communications and cultivate a deeper sense of pride and connection among Rutgers' more than 600,000 alumni and its broader community, transforming awareness into affinity and engagement.
Operating in a highly visible and complex public environment, the SVP UCM will also lead proactive, sophisticated crisis communications and serve as a strategic advisor on issues related to brand strategy, reputation, constituent engagement, and public trust. This work takes place within a dynamic context shaped by faculty governance, political engagement, media scrutiny, and the realities of a large, unionized public institution.
The successful candidate will bring a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, and personal leadership qualities suited to this scale and complexity. They will be an exceptional communicator and storyteller, capable of framing a compelling narrative for Rutgers and translating it across audiences. They will demonstrate strong political and organizational acumen, experience navigating complex stakeholder environments, and the ability to build trust and foster collaboration across a decentralized system. They will be data-informed, digitally fluent, and experienced in managing reputation in complex, fast-paced, and high-stakes settings.
Above all, Rutgers seeks a leader who combines confidence with humility, decisiveness with diplomacy, and boldness with discipline, who can lead through complexity, interrogate the status quo, and execute at a high level. This individual will embrace Rutgers' public mission, understand its unique culture and context, and bring the energy, creativity, and resolve required to position the university for its next chapter of national prominence and impact. More information can be found at www.wittkieffer.com.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey has engaged WittKieffer to manage the search process. To be considered, candidates must complete the following two-step process to complete their application:
- 1. Apply to posting number 26ST1335 on the
- .
- 2. Send cover letter, reflecting the themes in this leadership profile, and resume to WittKieffer via their Candidate Portal by clicking
- . New users should select "Register Here" to create an account before proceeding. After logging in, navigate to "Open Positions," then locate the role by entering the institution's name and clicking the search wheel.
Review of candidates has begun and will continue until an appointment has been made.
Applications, nominations, and inquiries can also be directed to the WittKieffer consultants assisting Rutgers with this recruitment via e-mail to Zach Smith, Ph.D, Robin Mamlet, and Natalie Song through the desk of Natalie Song at [email protected].
The salary range for this position is $360,000 to $400,000, including benefits.
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