Senior Director, Growth, Marketing and Engagement

Department

UChicago Professional

About the Department

Innovative, career-driven learning experiences define University of Chicago Professional. In our commitment to spread the University's knowledge as broadly as possible, we offer impactful and flexible programs and courses that introduce individual and corporate audiences to up-to-the-minute research, the latest standards in their field, a new professional network, and the University of Chicago's rich intellectual community. Our instructors, all seasoned professionals, deliver unparalleled expertise drawn from years of industry experience. We give our students the tools to succeed in our fast-moving, interconnected world and achieve a competitive edge at any stage of their careers.

Job Summary

The Senior Director of Growth, Marketing and Engagement leads UChicago Professional’s (UCPro) integrated strategy for market growth, audience development, learner engagement, and brand visibility in support of the University of Chicago’s professional, executive, and lifelong learning portfolio. Reporting to the Managing Director, this role develops and executes a comprehensive, data-informed growth strategy that supports enrollment, revenue generation, partnership development, alumni engagement, and market positioning across a diverse portfolio of non-degree and executive education programs.

The Senior Director oversees marketing, communications, enrollment strategy, and audience engagement functions while identifying new pathways for growth through employer partnerships, alumni and learner communities, thought leadership, referral strategies, and innovative digital engagement. This role leverages modern marketing technologies and emerging tools, including AI-enabled workflows, marketing automation, video storytelling, analytics, and experimentation, to expand UCPro’s reach and impact.

The Senior Director serves as a strategic partner across academic divisions, central administration, faculty leadership, and external organizations to strengthen UCPro’s national reputation and advance sustainable portfolio growth.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes an integrated growth strategy aligned with UCPro’s strategic and financial goals, including enrollment, revenue, audience expansion, and market positioning.
• Identifies and develops new growth opportunities across B2C, B2B, alumni, employer-sponsored, and executive education audiences.
• Partners closely with program strategy, academic units, and enrollment teams to assess market demand and optimize program positioning, pricing, and go-to-market strategies.
• Establishes measurable performance indicators and dashboards to evaluate campaign effectiveness, audience engagement, enrollment conversion, and portfolio performance.
• Leads and mentors a cross-functional team responsible for marketing, communications, digital engagement, and enrollment support.
• Fosters a culture of creativity, innovation, experimentation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manages agency, vendor, and technology relationships, ensuring strong performance and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Oversees departmental planning, budget development, resource allocation, and operational priorities.
• Develops and executes integrated marketing strategies across all channels, utilizing segmented audience approaches to effectively reach professionals, executives, employers, alumni, and lifelong learners.
• Expands UCPro’s digital presence and competitive differentiation through innovative engagement, personalized communications, referral and community-building programs, and compelling messaging for new and existing offerings.
• Develops targeted marketing and engagement strategies to support corporate partnerships, custom learning initiatives, enterprise education opportunities, and employer outreach, increasing visibility and participation in UCPro offerings.
• Collaborates with University and divisional partners to deepen alumni engagement, strengthen lifelong learning pathways, and build relationship-based campaigns for key institutional and professional audiences.
• Positions UCPro, its faculty, and programs as thought leaders by leading content and communications strategies that highlight expertise, learner impact, program outcomes, and industry trends.
• Strengthens audience engagement and brand visibility through consistent messaging, brand alignment, and expanded use of multimedia storytelling across all marketing initiatives.
• Manages adoption and effective use of modern marketing tools, technologies, and practices, including AI, automation, CRM, analytics, A/B testing, and multimedia engagement. Continuously evaluates emerging technologies and best practices.
• Partners with analytics and systems teams to improve data integration, audience insights, and reporting capabilities.
• Partners with enrollment and student support teams to optimize the learner journey from awareness through enrollment, participation, and alumni engagement.
• Develops lifecycle engagement strategies that transform learners into repeat participants, advocates, and ambassadors.
• Plans, develops, designs and implements strategic and tactical marketing plans for a department or program. Directs, monitors and evaluates marketing communication and research programs.
• Provides leadership and supervision to staff, including selection and development of staff.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree.

Experience:

• Background in higher education, executive education, professional learning, or mission-driven organizations.
• Leading integrated marketing, growth, or audience engagement functions.
• Demonstrated success developing strategies for both direct-to-consumer and business-to-business audiences.
• Familiar with marketing automation, CRM systems, digital analytics, AI-enabled marketing tools, and modern growth practices.
• Building thought leadership, content, and executive audience engagement strategies.
• Leading organizational or functional transformation.

Preferred Competencies

• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset with strong business acumen.
• Strong understanding of adult learners, executive audiences, and lifelong learning markets.
• Expertise in modern digital marketing and audience growth strategies.
• Translate data and analytics into actionable strategy.
• Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building skills across complex organizations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
• Strong people leadership and change management capabilities.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)
• References Contact Information (3) (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Communications

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$130,000.00 - $160,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.