Vice President for Marketing Communications in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania at Gwynedd Mercy University

Summary:

Gwynedd Mercy University, one of only 17 Mercy institutions of higher education in the United States, invites inquiries, nominations and applications for an experienced and innovative executive to join the leadership team of President Deanne H. D’Emilio as the Vice President for Marketing Communications (VPMC). This is an exciting opportunity to build on the University’s rich history of excellence and help guide the strategic direction of the university with a goal of achieving its vision of becoming the Catholic university leader in professional and healthcare education. The University is seeking a visionary and driven leader with knowledge of trends affecting higher education, and a proven ability to execute on strategic plans with successful outcomes.

Since its founding in 1948 by the Sisters of Mercy, Gwynedd Mercy University has grown from a small junior college with just 48 students to a nationally ranked private Catholic university with more than 25,000 alumni. The University serves about 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, and offers a mix of traditional, on-campus and fully online, accelerated options across more than 40 programs within the College of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies and the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions.

GMercyU is a place where students not only gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their careers but also become part of a mission-driven community that embodies its core values of integrity, respect, service, and social justice. Located on a 145-acre parklike campus just 30 minutes outside Philadelphia, GMercyU is large enough to provide rich academic, athletic, and real-world learning experiences of a larger university, but small enough that professors know each student by name. It’s why the University was named an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Foundation and recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a top performer on Social Mobility; ranked as a Best Value College by Niche; selected for the FirstGen Forward Network; and a multi-year Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award winner.

In recent years the University has embarked on multiple campus transformation projects, including the opening of the 63,000 square-foot Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center, complete renovation of its oldest residence hall, addition of a newly renovated baseball and softball field complex, and new outdoor gathering space for students, and new dining facilities, to name just a few. GMercyU’s Mercy in Motion comprehensive fundraising campaign, which exceeded its initial goal of $25 million nearly by more than $10 million, focused on further enhancing the University’s nationally recognized leadership in healthcare education, investing in student success through additional scholarship funding, and sustaining the University’s Mercy mission.

Reporting to the President, the VPMC is responsible for developing, executing, and assessing strategic marketing, communications, and growth initiatives that build brand awareness, increase in enrollment and revenue, support fundraising and donor stewardship, and contribute to long-term financial sustainability. The VPMC will lead all aspects of marketing and communications, including digital and OOH advertising, brand messaging and stewardship, creative services, crisis communications, email marketing, public relations, recruitment search, search engine/answer engine optimization, social media and website design and content management. The VPMC shall represent these areas to the Board of Trustees and be a member of the President’s Executive Council.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with Academics and other University departments to develop, prioritize, market and launch new and innovative academic and non-academic initiatives that drive revenue growth and diversification
• Partner with appropriate stakeholders to develop an institutional value proposition that supports the acquisition and onboarding of new students and external partners to grow and diversify revenue
• Lead the development, implementation and measurement of a strategic marketing communications plan that supports institutional goals
• Align and manage budget to support key performance indicator goals and ensure efficient use of resources

Recruitment Marketing and Revenue Generation

• Partner with the VP for Enrollment and external partners on enrollment search strategies designed to grow the inquiry and application funnel for undergraduate and graduate programs; support application conversion and yield efforts through email marketing and other engagement strategies
• Negotiate partner contracts, and set, monitor and evaluate initiatives against clearly defined key performance indicators
• Develop strategic email marketing and advertising campaigns to grow the enrollment funnel; customize content based on audience and other characteristics. Advertising will include a mix of digital, outdoor, print, radio, direct mail, streaming and other tactics designed to grow specific market segments.
• Provide strategic direction and support for University events, including recruitment, donor stewardship, and other on-campus events designed to drive enrollment, fundraising and revenue diversification

Brand Management and Stewardship

• Serve as the primary steward of the GMercyU brand and brand messaging strategy
• Ensure the marketing plan reflects the distinctiveness of the University, and honors and highlights its mission
• Serve as a primary resource for messaging that impacts students, faculty, staff, donors, and other university stakeholders; prepare Office of the President and other University-wide communications, as needed
• Oversee in-house Creative Services functions, including the design and production of University-branded materials
• Develop and maintain a robust Crisis Communications strategy and serve as the primary crisis communications messaging steward
• Partner with University Advancement on the design, content creation and production of the University’s alumni magazine, and other fundraising and donor stewardship materials
• Develop a compelling brand message and onboarding process to support potential partnerships that grow and diversify University revenue

Digital Content Management

• Manage the design, content development and maintenance of a mobile-friendly University website; optimize the website site for lead capture and conversion
• Develop a robust search engine/answer engine optimization strategy to drive inquiries and applications
• Manage the University’s digital content strategy, including the creation and delivery of customized content based on audience, funnel stage, and engagement behavior
• Oversee the University’s official social media presence, including the development of an editorial calendar to boost engagement levels and support the goals of specific departments, such as Admissions, University Advancement, and Student Life

Public Relations

• Develop a comprehensive approach to Public Relations, including the development of thought leadership and other media pitches that result in a steady flow of positive media attention; manage agency support and strategically use University website and social media to extend media reach and impact
• Respond quickly to media inquiries and prepare talking points and detailed responses to reporters’ questions within specified deadlines
• Prepare standby statements and Q&A documents, as needed, to address issues that have the potential to have a significant impact (positive or negative) on University brand

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 15 years of progressive success as a collaborative and innovative Marketing Communications leader required; five or more years of experience in higher education preferred
• Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and the ability to develop and implement new initiatives that support growth and revenue diversification
• Demonstrated success in the development and implementation of advertising, branding, promotion, and integrated marketing strategies including the use of social media and information technology to improve the recruitment and enrollment of traditional undergraduate, graduate and adult students
• Ability to fully understand enrollment models and apply best practice marketing strategies and solutions to assist the University in meeting institutional recruitment goals
• Ability to synthesize data and use information from multiple areas to develop, launch and assess initiatives
• Ability to hire, motivate, and develop high-achieving team members and work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community to achieve stated goals
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust with constituents
• Excellent listening, collaboration, communication, and presentation skills
• Computer literate with skill in using Customer Relationship Management systems, and data reporting and analysis tools; proficient in MS Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or related field; master’s degree preferred
• Leadership at Senior/Executive level required

In order to be considered for this position, please upload your resume and a cover letter explaining how your qualifications and experience align with our organizational needs. The deadline for all applications is October 22,, 2026.

EOE STATEMENT

Gwynedd Mercy University is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. Gwynedd Mercy University does not discriminate against any applicant for admission to or employment at the University because of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, color, marital status, veteran status, genetic characteristics, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law (“Protected Classes”). This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, financial aid, educational services, and student programs and activities, as well as to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, and termination. The University will not tolerate unlawful acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes, or related retaliation against or by any employee or student.