Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

Edtech.com's Summary

University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hiring a Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. This senior executive role involves providing strategic vision, leadership, and counsel to advance the university's reputation and mission. The officer leads communication and marketing professionals, manages branding and crisis protocols, and collaborates with university and external partners to align messaging and enhance national and international awareness.

Highlights

Lead strategic marketing, communication, brand management, and crisis communication for the university.

Supervise professionals in public relations, social media, digital marketing, photography, broadcast services, and special events.

Develop and execute communication plans, recruitment campaigns, and reputation-building strategies.

Collaborate with senior administration, Academic Services and Enrollment Management, Student Life, Athletics, University of Nebraska system, Alumni Association, and University Foundation.

Partner with the Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network for reputation and inclusion initiatives.

Require mastery in managing integrated communications across multiple platforms: social media, newsletters, video, and print.

Minimum qualifications: Master’s degree in communications-related field, 10+ years in communications leadership, 5+ years managing multidisciplinary teams, and proven consensus-building skills.

Preferred: Experience in higher education communications leadership.

Responsible for budget management and fostering a culture of inclusion, openness, and ethical leadership.

Position reports to Vice Chancellor for External Relations and serves on Chancellor’s executive leadership team.

Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Full Description

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Employment Website

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Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Click “Apply for this Job” and complete the faculty/administrative information form. Attach the following required documents:

A letter of interest.
A detailed resume or CV.
A list of three (3) references.

Position Information

Working Title	Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
Department	Office of University Communication-0852
Requisition Number	F_260037
Posting Open Date	04/16/2026
Application Review Date: (To ensure consideration, please submit all application materials before review date)	05/18/2026
Posting Close Date
Open Until Filled	Yes
Description of Work	The University of Nebraska–Lincoln invites applications and nominations for the position of Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO), a senior executive leader who will provide strategic vision, integrative leadership, and trusted counsel to advance the university’s reputation, mission, and priorities. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), chartered by the Nebraska Legislature in 1869, is a top 50 national public research university and is the campus of the University of Nebraska system that serves as both the land-grant and comprehensive public research university of the state of Nebraska. UNL works cooperatively with the other four campuses and central administration to provide for its student body and all Nebraskans the widest array of disciplines, areas of expertise, and specialized facilities of any institution within the state. University Communications and Marketing (UComm) is the central public voice for UNL, accountable for communication and marketing strategies that advance the university’s goals. UComm advises administration and units throughout UNL regarding communication, marketing, and reputation. UComm works in collaboration with university leaders to create strategies and tactics to further the university’s objectives, using social and digital marketing, message platforms, communication plans, issue and crisis management, and standards that portray the university in accordance with its goals and mission. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for External Relations and serving as a member of the Chancellor’s executive leadership team, the CCMO unites university leaders, campus communicators, and other partners to achieve shared goals. The CCMO leads professionals in strategic marketing, news and issue management, public relations, photography, broadcast services, brand management, digital and social media, and special events. The CCMO is responsible for UComm team leadership and development, budget management, and exemplifying the university’s character as a servant leader, empowering and enabling people across UNL to participate in creating the university’s desired reputation. UNL seeks a strong leader with a proven record of consensus-building, collaboration, and cross-institutional partnership, capable of aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals and a unified institutional narrative. Specific Responsibilities Further the goals of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln by leading strategic marketing and communication and by contributing to the direction of UNL, advising on matters that impact reputation. Enhance national and international awareness and positive notoriety to continue to build UNL support and enrollment. Create an understanding of and appreciation for reputation-building strategies and initiatives, aligning UNL leadership, marketers, and communicators in unified and powerful messaging and reputation-building initiatives. Partner with senior administration and units within Academic Services and Enrollment Management (ASEM) and Student Life on the development of marketing and recruitment materials as well as national recruitment campaigns. Lead the university’s social media platforms. Develop and execute strategic communication and marketing plans, with staff accountable for public relations, printed and electronic publications such as newsletters, news releases, email announcements, videos, and other multimedia to highlight faculty, staff, student, and university accomplishments. Lead brand development and standards for the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Work with Nebraska Athletics Communications and Marketing to appropriately protect licensed assets of the university. Create connections across the University of Nebraska system to ensure cohesion of brand expression and collaboration on messaging. Work with Nebraska Athletics to promote university academic content through athletic communications channels, including athletics programs and HuskerVision spots. Collaborate with counterparts and leaders within the Big Ten to leverage inclusion, best practices, and reputation, including working with the Big Ten Network to produce and place programming and spots to represent UNL academics, research, engagement and other remarkable attributes. Lead and unite all aspects of UNL communication and marketing, requiring close collaboration with the University of Nebraska system administration, Alumni Association, and the University of Nebraska Foundation on brand initiatives and message alignment. Maintain and coordinate crisis and emergency communication protocols and readiness. Promote and maintain a culture of inclusion, openness, and progressive accomplishment. The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.
Minimum Required Qualifications	Master’s degree in a communications-related field. Prior experience serving as a Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, or in an equivalent senior-level executive communications leadership role within a complex organization. At least ten (10) years of proven communications experience, with a demonstrated record of leading integrated communications and marketing strategies that advance organizational reputation and strategic goals. At least five (5) years of progressive management experience, including supervision of multidisciplinary communications and marketing teams. A proven record of consensus-building and collaboration, including the ability to unite diverse stakeholders, work across organizational boundaries, and align distributed teams around shared priorities. Experience advising senior executives on communications strategy, reputation management, and high-visibility or high-stakes issues. Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, openness, and ethical leadership. Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications	Prior experience working in a higher education role.
Work Location (City, State)	Lincoln, NE
Pre-Placement Driving Record Review Required
Criminal History Background Check Required	Yes
Posted Salary
How to Apply	Click “Apply for this Job” and complete the faculty/administrative information form. Attach the following required documents: A letter of interest. A detailed resume or CV. A list of three (3) references.
For questions or accommodations related to this position contact	Gina Kroger GINA.KROGER@UNL.EDU
Job Category
Job Category (old)	Administrative
Job Type	Full-Time
Position funded by grant or other form of temporary funding?	No
If Temporary, indicate end date
Planned Hire Date
Appointment End Date
Organizational Location	Default Location

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Required Documents

Required Documents

Letter of Interest
Resume
List of References

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Original Job Description