Director of Marketing and Communications
University of Colorado Boulder
Job Summary
To apply, please visit the Kind World Collective website. Applications submitted here on the CU Boulder Job Site WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
Announcement:
The Renée Crown Wellness Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute committed to promoting the mental health and wellness of children, youth, and the families and educators who support them. The Crown Institute serves young people and the adults who support them, through nurturing their inner capacity to be well and connect with others. This requires research that is grounded in evidence, care, compassion, and action – a combination of science and love.
We are seeking a Director of Marketing and Communications to lead and evolve a cohesive, strategic approach to communications across the Crown Institute. This role sits at the intersection of mission, research, and real-world impact, ensuring that the Institute’s work is not only visible and understood, but felt, trusted, and acted upon.
Reporting to the Deputy Director, this is a leadership role for someone who can think expansively and build practically, as the Crown Institute transitions from our start-up phase to a new chapter of growth. The Director of Communications is a “builder” with an entrepreneurial spirit—someone who can drive strategy, strengthen internal capabilities, and shape the systems and teams needed to deliver consistent, high-quality work.
Importantly, this is not a purely production-focused or brand-only role. We currently operate with a lean, start-up communications function: a strong brand foundation, an established visual identity, a small internal team, and external partners. We are ready to evolve -- building a more mature, strategic, and integrated communications function that can match the ambition and impact of our work. We need a leader who can connect vision to execution and build the infrastructure that allows both to scale.
Who We Are
As a research institute, we have a new paradigm: our work is grounded in science, shaped by many perspectives, and designed to create real tools for real change. We work across disciplines and co-design every step with young people, their families, and educators. Together, we identify dilemmas, seed solutions, and harvest what works.
With over 50 research projects underway or completed, our work leads to practical tools, skills, and programs for schools, healthcare systems, and communities across the country.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Strategic Communications and Leadership
- Lead the development of a comprehensive communications strategy that aligns the Institute’s mission, research, and real-world impact with clear, measurable outcomes.
- Serve as a strategic thought partner to leadership, particularly in scaling flagship programs and extending their reach and impact.
- Ensure communications efforts are aligned across teams and reflective of the Institute’s priorities.
- Prioritize all communications initiatives – strategic, creative, operational – to drive the highest impact towards our goals and ambitions while balancing constraints.
- Set clear priorities and support the team in delivering meaningful, aligned work.
- Guide leadership in planning for the future structure and resourcing of an advanced communications function.
- Work with leadership, all internal teams, campus-wide communication teams, and external partners to clarify the role and potential of strategic communications within the Institute’s work.
Brand and Marketing
- Translate complex ideas into compelling, accessible narratives for diverse audiences.
- Evolve foundational tools such as brand strategy, audience definition, core messaging, channel strategies, constituent/CRM management, communications policies, and multi-year communications planning.
- Lead a strong differentiated brand strategy that reflects the Institute’s mission, values, and impact through voice, visual identity, and narrative.
- Be responsible for audience segmentation and positioning strategies to strengthen visibility, relevance, and engagement with priority constituencies.
- Guide the creation and distribution of high-impact content that translates research, programs, and insights into compelling, accessible stories.
- Direct integrated, multi-channel campaigns that expand reach, deepen engagement, and advance organizational priorities.
- Use data, analytics, and audience insights to inform strategy, optimize performance, and continuously improve brand and outreach efforts.
- Ensure alignment between brand strategy and all external-facing communications, including digital presence, media, events, and partnerships.
- Build and manage systems, tools, and processes (e.g., CRM, content calendars, campaign tracking) that support coordinated and effective outreach.
- Monitor trends, innovations, and best practices to strengthen brand positioning and marketing effectiveness continuously.
- Balance strategic ambition with operational execution, prioritizing initiatives that deliver the greatest impact within available resources.
Management, Operations & Execution Infrastructure
- Build, develop, and manage a high-impact communications team, combining internal and external contributors.
- Create a collaborative, creative, and thoughtful team culture that balances strategic thinking with strong execution.
- Design and implement systems, tools, and standard operating procedures that enable clear, timely decision-making and consistent, high-quality execution of communications.
- Set clear priorities and support the team in delivering meaningful, aligned work.
- Create a structure where needed, ensuring efforts are coordinated, efficient, and aligned across teams.
- Continue and strengthen practices such as editorial planning, production timelines, and performance reporting.
- Support integration across all communications channels – internal and external – including collaboration with campus-wide communications teams and external partners.
- Build processes that support both immediate needs and long-term scalability.
- Build communications fluency across the organization by upskilling all Institute staff on messaging, priorities, and the reasoning behind communications decisions.
- Provide guidance and tools that help the Institute’s research, program, and operational teams contribute optimally to shared communications goals.
What We Can Offer
The annual hiring range for this position is $100,000-$140,000. A signing bonus and moving allowance are available for eligible candidates.
Benefits
At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.
Be Statements
What We Require
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field. Four years of related experience, including supervisory responsibility.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
What You Will Need
- Alignment with the Crown Institute's mission, vision, and values.
- Strategic problem solver who can connect mission to action, and action to outcomes.
- Comfortable operating as both a builder and a translator: shaping vision while making it executable. Strong design-thinking orientation paired with data-informed decision-making.
- Experience working across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
- Demonstrates confidence with humility - the ability to lead while staying open and collaborative. Operates with high integrity and sound judgment, especially in complex or ambiguous environments. Skilled at navigating institutional structures while also expanding what’s possible beyond them. Strong organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
- Ability to balance long-term strategy with day-to-day responsiveness.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Master’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field.
- 10 years of communications experience.
- 5+ years of experience in strategic communications, brand, or social impact leadership.
- Experience in CSR/ purpose-led teams within brands or organizations is strongly preferred.
- Experience working in cross-sector settings is valued, particularly where communications drove measurable impact.
- Experience in leading the creation or evolution of a communications function within an organization.
- Software Used: Microsoft Office Suite; database management and data manipulation; Cvent, Salesforce, Zoom, Teams, Academic Impressions, Asana, LinkedIn, Marketing Cloud, Marketplace, Google Workspace.
- Proficiency in digital advertising channels such as Google Ads, SEM, Display, social media, Metasearch, SEO, Email, Web Content, Website Feature Development, and other digital channels.
Special Instructions
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications and responsibilities of the position.