Search Prospectus Chief Marketing Officer

Search Prospectus Chief Marketing Officer

Southwestern University announces the search for a Chief Marketing Officer Southwestern University (SU), a distinctive, residential, undergraduate liberal arts college, announces a search for its first Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Under the leadership of President Edward B. Burger, Southwestern is seeking to build on its success as a national liberal arts institution. Reporting directly to the President and as a member of the executive team, the CMO will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive, creative and strategic marketing and communications plan (internal and external), in order to advance the institution s vision and academic mission, contribute to attaining enrollment goals, and enhance Southwestern s overall national and international reputation. The CMO will design and direct a new Office of Marketing and Communications. With this team, the CMO will create clear, compelling and consistent messages disseminated through innovative and integrated methods that leverage Southwestern s distinguished reputation, outstanding students, excellent faculty, engaged alumni and parents, and dynamic executive leadership. Southwestern offers an accomplished marketing and communications professional a rare legacy opportunity for significant institutional influence and highly visible career-enhancing achievement. What Others Are Saying About Southwestern One of the 100 top values in liberal arts colleges Kiplinger s 1st in Texas liberal arts colleges on contributions to the public good Washington Monthly 8th in the country for Career Services Princeton Review 7th in Texas, America s Top Colleges; and Rated A- for Financial Health Forbes One of 40 Colleges that Change Lives Colleges That Change Lives (newest edition) Strong in Business and Strong in Art or Design Fiske Guide to Colleges 1st in Texas among National Liberal Arts Colleges US News & World Report

About Southwestern University Southwestern is Texas oldest institution of higher learning, originally chartered under the Republic of Texas in 1840. Located in Georgetown, where the quality of life is exceptional, Southwestern is just 25 miles north of Austin, the state capital and one of the nation s most vibrant cultural and hi-tech centers. Georgetown is located in Williamson County, where employment has increased by 73 percent since 2000, the third highest rate in the country. Southwestern is a community of learning, grounded in meaningful relationships. SU s small size and independent character afford a distinctive way of engaging broader worlds of social and political life. Participants in this community are global citizens. Each has a stake in the whole and all play parts in the decisions that shape the common life. SU s Core Purpose, Fostering a liberal arts community whose values and actions encourage contributions toward the well-being of humanity, reflects the University s values and underscores its historic connection with the United Methodist Church. The University offers 38 majors that lead to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Small class sizes, close interaction between students and faculty known for their teaching, scholarly and artistic abilities, and an emphasis on experiential learning coalesce to form the extraordinary academic character of the University. Southwestern has created a dynamic and evolving academic environment. The faculty recently enacted the most sweeping curricular changes in Southwestern s history, with two initiatives reshaping the way students engage with global challenges: Paideia (www.southwestern.edu/paideia) Paideia moves student and faculty understanding beyond the disciplines and enhances connections between learning experiences as they seek creative solutions to the global challenges of today. Courses are organized as Paideia Clusters around thematic questions and help students become more aware of the disciplinary considerations of the questions. Interdisciplinary exploration begins in the Paideia Seminar, where students and faculty integrate various perspectives. Inquiry Initiative (www.southwestern.edu/departments/ hhmi) The Inquiry Initiative is an innovative move to implement inquiry-based problem solving across the spectrum of the science and mathematics division and at every level of coursework from beginning to advanced study. Its success is manifested in summer student/faculty research opportunities, for which one-third of student summer researchers are recruited from underrepresented groups. Outside the classroom, students at Southwestern enjoy and sustain a vibrant program of campus life activities. More than a third of all students study abroad at least once and most take advantage of leadership and service opportunities by participating in Southwestern s 100+ student organizations. Studentathletes compete on one or more of 20 NCAA Division III varsity teams, with football and women s lacrosse being the most recent additions to the intercollegiate program. Largely due to student initiative, Southwestern was the second university in Texas to sign the Talloires Declaration, a formal commitment to sustainability in higher education. Beyond the campus, students are civically engaged and volunteer in the community at more than twice the national average. More than half of all Southwestern students complete at least one internship experience and roughly 90 percent find employment or are accepted to graduate/professional schools within 10 months of graduation. For the third year in a row the University s Office of Career Services has been ranked in the top 10 Best Career/Job Placement Services in the U.S. and the first in the state by The Princeton Review.

About the Department Southwestern s CMO will develop and direct a new department comprised of professionals from several offices who provide a variety of communication and marketing services at Southwestern. Staff in the Communications Office maintain the integrity of the Southwestern brand and tell the stories of Southwestern through multi-channel communications (print, Web, email and social media), including the bi-annual print magazine, Southwestern and the monthly digital magazine, Southwestern Online. They also disseminate information about the University, its students, faculty and staff, and its academic programs to local and national media outlets. The Sports Information Office provides statistics, team and player notes, and other information about the University s sports teams to the news media, general public, and conference office. Content for the athletics website and social media accounts, historical records, and game-day operations are also overseen by this office. The Sarofim School of Fine Arts creates all fine arts marketing publications, including advertising, electronic communications, print pieces, promotions and website content. The Admission Communication Office creates all content (print, Web, email and social media) associated with recruitment and recruitment-related activities for the Enrollment Services division.

The Agenda for the CMO The Chief Marketing Officer will be a significant contributor to Southwestern s future. This person is expected to be an energetic leader with a background in strategic planning and brand management, and to demonstrate evidence of effective management of an integrated marketing and communications team. He or she will be responsible for managing the University s brand and leading collaborative efforts among all constituencies to ensure unified, strong and clear messaging. The specific expectations for the CMO include: Southwestern s new CMO will have a unique opportunity to both shape and tell Southwestern s story in a dynamic way which informs the world about the University s transformative power. President Edward Burger Enhancing Southwestern s Brand There is both a need and an opportunity to expand and increase the University s visibility, and President Burger holds this among his highest priorities. The CMO will develop multiple methods of widely communicating and showcasing the accomplishments and achievements of Southwestern s talented faculty, students, staff and alumni. Expanding the Enrollment Universe While one often hears that all things are bigger in Texas, Southwestern seeks to ensure that prospective students from across the country and around the world understand that smaller can mean better. Working in close collaboration with Enrollment Services, the CMO will design and implement marketing programs that result in a growth in applications and yield rates. Creating a Vision and Measuring Success The CMO will be expected to bring vision and strategic thinking to the table by establishing high expectations for the effectiveness and quality of Southwestern s marketing and communications efforts. In order to elevate SU s rankings and achieve recognition for the quality of its academic program, the CMO will professionally challenge his/her team members to raise the visibility of the University. Unifying Marketing Efforts Through the design and development of a new Office of Marketing and Communications, the CMO will educate the campus community about the roles and effective uses of communication and marketing methods. He/she will effectively manage resources for maximum impact and efficiency, establishing clear priorities aligned with implementing a culture of performance metrics for marketing initiatives. Addressing all components of the marketing mix and focusing on target constituencies is key to ensuring message alignment. Partnering with the President and Senior Administration The CMO will work closely with the President and members of the senior leadership team to create the vision and strategic direction for Southwestern s visibility efforts. Serving as both a strategic thought leader and creative tactician, the CMO will participate in broad decisions affecting Southwestern as a whole, as well as act as the primary spokesperson in public and media communication.

How to Apply The Southwestern University Search Committee will be accepting nominations and evaluating application materials on a rolling basis, and will begin to narrow the candidate pool in early February 2015. Although applications will be accepted until the time a new Chief Marketing Officer is selected, candidates are encouraged to submit their materials as early in the search process as possible. Final selection will be made in spring 2015, and the new CMO will be invited to begin work no later than July 1, 2015. Materials should include a letter of candidacy, a complete CV or resume, and the names and contact information (phone and email) for three references, none of whom will be contacted until later in the search nor without formal permission of the candidate. All inquiries and applications will be received and evaluated in full confidence. Please mail your materials to Chief Marketing Officer, Job #598, Southwestern University, Office of Human Resources, P.O. Box 770, Georgetown, TX 78627-0770 or FAX: 512-863-1880 or e-mail to: hrjobs@southwestern.edu. To view the official Southwestern advertisement, please visit www.southwestern.edu/hr/jobs.php Southwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EOE/M/F