Marketing Director Jobs in South Carolina

Description

The Executive Director of Marketing provides strategic leadership for Columbia International University’s centralized Marketing & Strategy function, aligning Admissions, Advancement, Ben Lippen School, and Communications around a unified, mission-driven marketing strategy. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive marketing initiatives that strengthen the university’s brand, drive enrollment growth, increase donor engagement, and support institutional priorities.

The Executive Director of Marketing establishes a strategy-led, data-informed, and production-driven marketing model that ensures all communications and campaigns are intentional, audience-focused, measurable, and aligned with the mission, vision, and values of Columbia International University. This role serves as a key strategic partner to the Vice-President of Enrollment, Senior-Vice President of Alumni and Advancement, other executive leadership, providing direction for integrated marketing efforts that advance the University’s long-term goals.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the centralized Marketing & Strategy function for Columbia International University and Ben Lippen School.
• Partner with the Senior Vice-President of Alumni and Advancement, and the Vice-President of Enrollment to implement a comprehensive institutional marketing strategy that supports enrollment, advancement, brand awareness, and organizational growth.
• Translate institutional priorities into integrated marketing initiatives with clear objectives, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with executive leadership to align marketing strategies with the University’s strategic plan and annual priorities.

Marketing Strategy & Campaign Management

• Develop and oversee an integrated campaign planning process that aligns marketing efforts across departments.
• Create audience-centered marketing strategies for prospective students, current students, alumni, donors, churches, ministry partners, parents, and other key stakeholders.
• Define campaign goals, messaging, positioning, channel strategies, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Ensure campaigns effectively support:
  • Undergraduate, graduate, online, and seminary enrollment goals.
  • Advancement and fundraising initiatives.
  • Institutional reputation and brand awareness.
  • Community engagement and event promotion.
• Oversee annual marketing calendars and campaign schedules to maximize organizational effectiveness and resource utilization.
• Use analytics and market insights to continuously improve marketing effectiveness and return on investment.

Brand Management

• Partner with University Communications to steward the Columbia International University and Ben Lippen School brands.
• Ensure consistency in messaging, visual identity, and brand standards across all print, digital, social media, advertising, and public-facing communications.
• Lead efforts to strengthen institutional reputation and market positioning through strategic storytelling and compelling content.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify emerging opportunities and trends.

Digital Marketing & Audience Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight for digital marketing initiatives including:
  • Website strategy and optimization
  • Search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Search engine marketing (SEM)
  • Email marketing
  • Social media strategy
  • Paid digital advertising
• Guide customer journey mapping and lifecycle marketing strategies that improve recruitment, engagement, and retention.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the strategic marketing partner to:
  • Admissions (enrollment growth)
  • Advancement (fundraising and donor engagement)
  • Communications (creative execution and storytelling)
  • Executive Leadership
• Facilitate collaboration among departments to ensure marketing initiatives are aligned, coordinated, and effectively executed.
• Build strong partnerships across the University to identify communication opportunities and support institutional initiatives.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing marketing team.
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, and professional development opportunities.
• Foster collaboration among marketing, communications, creative services, digital media, and external partners.

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the annual marketing budget.
• Allocate resources strategically to maximize organizational impact and marketing return on investment.
• Evaluate marketing technologies, software platforms, and vendor partnerships to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Communications & Content Strategy

• Partner with the Communications team to ensure all creative assets and communications reflect institutional priorities and brand standards.
• Guide strategic content planning across print, digital, video, social media, advertising, and publications.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible marketing leadership experience, preferably in higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success developing integrated marketing strategies that drive measurable organizational outcomes.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong knowledge of digital marketing, branding, marketing analytics, CRM platforms, and marketing automation tools.
• Excellent strategic planning, communication, leadership, and project management skills.
• Ability to analyze data, interpret trends, and make informed strategic decisions.
• Commitment to the mission, values, and Christian identity of Columbia International University.
• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.

CIU provides a benefits package that includes:

• Health Plan;
• 401(k) plan with match opportunity;
• Employer provided group life insurance;
• Long term disability insurance;
• Vacation days, holidays, sick leave, family leave;
• Educational benefits: tuition reduction for PreK3-Graduate.