Description

The University of Denver (DU) is the oldest, private university in the Rocky Mountain region, serving approximately 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. DU is classified as an R1: Doctoral University.

At DU, we do higher education our way — grounded in the Rocky Mountain Wests confident optimism and pragmatic independence. It sets us apart. Through innovative teaching, research, and community impact, we equip students to be the solutions in their own stories, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and lead lives and careers of purpose.

We’re fiercely ambitious and forward-thinking, redefining success in higher education and how to achieve it. True to our mission as a top-tier private R1 institution, we are dedicated to making the world a better place, strengthening our communities, and making positive change in the world.

About DU Advancement

The Denver Difference campaign represents a transformative vision for the university experience. DU is setting the bar with our approach to higher education, developing and preparing students to be successful in life in every way. Inclusive of alumni engagement, development, operations, and communications leadership, DU is building an advancement enterprise that fosters lifelong engagement and philanthropic support aligned with the university’s bold ambitions.

Position Summary

The Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) of Advancement Marketing and Communications is the senior leader responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communications strategy to advance fundraising and alumni engagement goals.

Reporting to the Senior Vice Chancellor for Advancement, the AVC serves as the chief marketing and communications strategist for Advancement and is a member of the senior leadership team. This role oversees proposal writing, development materials, messaging, branding, storytelling, and campaign communications across all advancement initiatives, ensuring alignment with university-wide standards in partnership with University Relations and other communications professionals at DU.

The AVC leads a high-performing team responsible for delivering strategic, impactful, and timely communications, while fostering collaboration across Advancement and with campus partners. The AVC manages staffing, workflow, performance, and team development.

Required Qualifications
Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience
10 years of leadership experience in marketing or communications
5 years of experience managing personnel
Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic communications plans
Experience leading marketing or communications teams, preferably in advancement, fundraising, or a complex organizational setting
Experience working with senior and executive leadership to advance strategic priorities

Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree in communications-intensive discipline
Experience in higher education advancement or nonprofit fundraising

This position is eligible for hybrid work which includes the ability to work from an alternate work location up to two days per week.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement marketing and communications strategy aligned with development and alumni engagement goals
• Partner with Advancement leadership to support strategic priorities, including campaign initiatives and executive communications (Chancellor, Provost, and SVC for Advancement)
• Ensure alignment with University Relations on brand standards, messaging, and overall communications strategy
• Oversee creation of annual work plans, priorities, and budget for advancement communications
• Provide university-level leadership, counsel, and coordination for advancement marketing and communications strategy, and lead the team responsible for high-impact, multi-channel deliverables that support fundraising and engagement goals.
• Apply data-driven practices—including audience segmentation, analytics, market research, and continuous feedback loops—to inform strategy, optimize performance, and drive measurable results.
• Oversee marketing automation platform strategy and usage, including audience segmentation, journey building, campaign automation, performance tracking, data integrity, and coordination of necessary integrations with CRM, web, email, analytics, and other marketing systems.

Communications and Campaign Execution

• Oversee creation of key advancement marketing and communications efforts, including:
  
  • Case statements, proposals, and principal gift materials
  • Stewardship and donor relations communications
  • Alumni engagement and annual giving campaigns
  • Event-related communications
  • Digital content, newsletters, and web-based materials
  • Multi-channel digital campaigns including email marketing, paid media, social media, etc.
• Provide leadership for gift announcements and fundraising-related storytelling in partnership with University Relations
• Lead development of strategic, audience-centered content aligned with campaign goals, ensuring messaging, storytelling, and channel execution drive measurable engagement
• Use data and analytics to optimize marketing and communications performance and improve engagement outcomes
• Lead crisis and issues communications for Advancement audiences in partnership with University Relations: provide counsel to leadership and protect donor, alumni, and stakeholder relationships through accurate, timely, and unified messaging

Team Leadership and Operations

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of marketing, writing, and creative professionals
• Establish performance expectations, goals, and metrics for team members
• Oversee workflow, project management, and quality assurance across all deliverables
• Oversee staffing, team development, and operational processes
• Evaluate and implement tools and technologies to enhance communications effectiveness

Collaboration and Partnership

• Serve as a strategic partner to Advancement units, academic leadership, and campus stakeholders
• Collaborate across central and unit-based advancement teams to support fundraising and engagement goals
• Provide strategic guidance and coordination for marketing and communications initiatives across the university

Continuous Improvement and Innovation

• Monitor and apply industry trends and best practices from peer and aspirational institutions
• Develop feedback loops and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness
• Balance long-term planning with agility in responding to emerging priorities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in core marketing principles, strategies, and best practices, as well as marketing and communications mediums and technology
• Proven track record managing personnel, programs, and budgets, with the ability to inspire and influence across a complex organization
• Previous oversight of marketing automation platform strategy and usage in a complex organization, ideally in the higher education industry
• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management capabilities
• Strong ability to develop and optimize marketing and communications processes, lead change management initiatives, and drive adoption of new workflows, systems, and best practices across teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills with attention to brand consistency
• Experience using data and analytics to inform strategy and decision-making
• Ability to give guidance, share and receive constructive feedback, and integrate varying points of view
• Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and stakeholders
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion

Working Environment

• Standard open office environment
• Noise level is quiet to moderate
• Non-essential role. Note: essential employees are those individuals who must report to work, be “on call” to report to work, and/or work remotely if required in order to maintain the critical functions of the University during scheduled closures or an unscheduled suspension of normal operations due to emergencies, events, or other situations.

Physical Activities

• Ability to use a computer for an extended period
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs. with assistance
• This role is not required to operate an Automobile, Passenger Van, UTV/ATV, or golf cart

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 17, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 17.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $150,000-$200,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.