Colorado State University · 2 hours ago
Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing
US
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$115K/yr - $135K/yr
9+ years expColorado State University is seeking a Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing to lead the marketing strategy for the University. This role involves optimizing the digital ecosystem, managing marketing efforts to increase enrollment, and providing leadership across various marketing initiatives.
Education
Responsibilities
In collaboration with executive and senior leadership, lead University planning and execution of strategies to increase enrollment and University growth
Manage all agency and vendor partners with a shared responsibility to strategize, plan, and execute effective multi-channel enrollment-driven marketing efforts designed to attract new students to the University
Serve as senior leader over the Marketing Department, lead the implementation of enrollment-driven lead generation strategies, including, but not limited to, marketing vendors/partner(s) selection and readiness, communications campaigns, text campaigns, enrollment marketing campaign development, messaging strategies and scripts, awareness campaigns, and other methods to meet or achieve annual goals
Hold direct management responsibility for the University's paid digital advertising budget ($28M+), strategy, and execution across all platforms (including search, display, social media, and programmatic advertising)
Work closely with agency partners and internal stakeholders to develop campaign strategies, allocate budgets effectively, optimize performance, and ensure advertising efforts align with enrollment and institutional priorities, which includes monitoring ROI, conducting A/B testing, and making data-driven recommendations to maximize advertising effectiveness
Design and launch campaigns for new programs, product types, and offerings at CSU Global, ensuring University-wide launch plans, including the development of compelling website content, marketing materials, campaigns, and advertising strategies that drive goal attainment
Responsible for direct oversight and management of the University’s main website, ensuring an optimal user experience, driving engagement, and supporting conversion goals across all prospective student populations, requiring analyzing digital performance metrics, user behavior, and emerging trends to continuously improve the user experience
Stay current on marketing technologies, with special consideration of AI developments, evaluating tools and platforms for potential approval by the AI committee
Lead marketing operations, oversee dashboards, and track and monitor relevant KPIs across all marketing, digital media, social media, and engagement functions
Ensure quality management over all lead data in CRM, ensuring compliance and data integrity for effective segmentation, communication, outreach, and reporting
Responsible for the University’s social media channels, ensuring cohesive messaging, brand consistency, and engagement across platforms, monitoring performance metrics to drive brand awareness, and in support of positive reputation management
Responsible for the management of the University’s SEO and AI-optimization, requiring regular evaluation, monitoring, and response strategies to ensure CSU Global maintains its content authority
Lead enrollment-driven advertising and creative campaigns, relationship marketing strategies, incorporating messaging that deeply resonates with CSU Global’s prospective student audience
Direct the development, production, and distribution of marketing collateral and assets, and source and manage external partners in project-based creative executions related to campaigns, events, or media placements where appropriate
Lead strategy for one-time and ongoing/automated direct email and text messaging campaigns designed to increase completion of both interest forms and student application completion, and, ultimately, new student enrollment
In collaboration with reporting units, operational partners, and in alignment with the University strategic plan, develop an annual strategic marketing plan that achieves or exceeds University goals
Provide direct oversight of reporting units and leadership, as well as additional related units or functions as assigned
Annually review and update all University marketing policies and forms
Oversee marketing vendors and negotiation of contracts
Collaborate with the leadership and management of CSU Global to drive the culture and values of the organization and establish mission-aligned marketing practices to support the success of the organization
Engage in marketing research on audience demographics and geographics, as well as competitive audits, to ensure effective lead targeting and strategic planning
Keep abreast of industry trends both in higher education and digital marketing, ensuring best practices are followed, and emerging trends, channel performance and tactics are evaluated, tested, and implemented where proven effective
Remain current with all campus and program information, including new or complex program offerings
Inform the leadership team and relevant unit representatives on new project initiatives and core marketing messages
Ensure all marketing tickets are completed in a timely manner
Coordination, supervision, and leadership of all staff, office functions, and services for reporting departments
Provide coaching, mentoring, and oversee professional development of leaders
Collaborate with department leadership, where applicable, to design and implement specific key performance indicators (KPIs) and scorecards for all reporting team members to drive best practices and support CSU Global vision, mission and core values
Perform personnel functions such as selection, training, evaluation, goal setting, performance management, corrective action, coaching, and mentoring
Fiscal management of all reporting departments to ensure that the University achieves financial and operational goals, requiring:
Participating in the annual budgeting cycle process and monthly budget reviews
Managing expenses and oversees contracts for reporting departments and functional units to ensure that departments stay at or below budget
Providing accurate expense forecasting
Communicating to accounting monthly expense accruals and review of budget-to-actual summaries for accuracy
Ensuring timely invoice submission, payment approvals, and procurement card statement reconciliations
Develops and executes strategic plan contributions, objectives, and measurable outcomes to achieve new enrollment and university growth targets
Other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Management, Marketing, Communications, or a related field
At least nine (9) years of related work experience in enrollment performance marketing, or other related field
At least five (5) years of direct management of multi-channel marketing campaigns with budgets of over $5M, inclusive of digital marketing, OTT/CTV, search, and display
At least three (3) years of direct supervisory experience
Strong working knowledge of best practices in enrollment, current marketing trends, and issues in higher education
Advanced organizational skills and attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to work effectively, independently and as a member of a team, especially in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage relationships with external vendors and related parties
Experienced in coordinating significant marketing budgets and in the use of a CRM system
Proven ability to work well in a confidential fast-paced environment
Demonstrated ability to work with, understand, and make decisions from CSU Global- and partner-generated data
Proven Ability to work within a team environment
Proven Ability to work with and report quantitative and qualitative information
Proven Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately
Proven Ability to interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community and the public
Proven Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
Proven Ability to effectively supervise personnel and complete all associated personnel actions in a timely and accurate manner
Proven Ability to prepare and monitor operating budgets
Proven Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures
Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
Benefits
Employer contributions to medical, dental, group life, AD&D coverage
Wellness benefit and training & development opportunities
Vision, FSA/HSA, voluntary life, and voluntary AD&D coverage, critical illness and accident insurance
401a retirement account with a generous employer match
100% tuition assistance for CSU Global programs (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)
Paid sick time
Paid vacation time
10 holidays per year
Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) resources
Discounted pet insurance
Company
Colorado State University
Colorado State University, home of the Rams, where green & gold pride runs deep.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Colorado State University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (87)
2024 (75)
2023 (81)
2022 (60)
2021 (44)
2020 (41)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$11.66MKey Investors
Pivot EnergyCargillOpportunity Now Colorado
2025-08-20Grant· $0.06M
2024-07-16Grant· $1M
2024-03-19Grant· $0.05M
Leadership Team
Candace Mathiason
Co-Founder and Director Women in Science (WiSCI) Network
Antonella Torres Peralta
Belly Dance Club President/Founder
Recent News
Hartford Business Journal
2025-12-08
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2025-10-21
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