Director of Communications, Web, and Creative Services - Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, CO

About the Job

About the Job

The Director of Communications, Web and Creative Services is responsible for designing creative and effective ways to share the story, mission, and strategic priorities of Colorado Christian University with key internal and external stakeholders. This is a strategic leadership position in the Communications and Creative Services (CCS) department, providing communications support, expertise, and advice to internal clients and offices throughout the University. The department manages over 1,800 digital, print, and creative projects annually, from website initiatives to recruiting publications to University magazines, digital and print ads, and campus signage.

The director oversees multiple communications platforms, including the University’s public website, print, and digital communications, and supervises the University’s web and creative services teams. The director works to ensure that University communications safeguard and advance CCU’s brand reputation, raise awareness, and support recruitment, retention, and marketing goals, and oversees the integration of CCU’s brand into internal and external communications. The position also directly manages a portfolio of communications projects and serves as a strategic liaison with the University’s search engine optimization (SEO) vendor to oversee the implementation of CCU’s SEO strategy.

About CCU

Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit university is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth,” (ESV).

CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.

Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.

CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great Western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars — competence, character, and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.

A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2% of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had 11 consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

CCU offers more than 200 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges — the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 9,000 students attend the University on the main campus, in regional centers throughout Colorado, and online.

What is most appealing about working at CCU?

Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, His kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.

We’re looking for candidates who have:

A master's degree or equivalent managerial-level communications experience, preferably in large complex organizations.
At least ten years of experience building, motivating, and mentoring teams, leading multiple projects, or equivalent education and work experience.
Expertise in developing and implementing strategic communications and branding campaigns and best practices. Knowledge of current communications trends in higher education is a plus.
Ability to effectively prioritize and re-prioritize projects in a fast-moving environment.
Proven organizational, communication skills (oral and written), and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work cross-functionally and interact effectively with senior leadership, staff professionals, faculty leaders, and external constituencies.
Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze data and take appropriate action.
Set high standards for themselves and their employees and are willing to do whatever it takes to complete the job with excellence and high customer satisfaction.
Experience managing external vendors, such as print, photography, video, and other creative or web resources.
Ability to effectively juggle supervisory responsibilities with working on own project portfolio.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Key Job Duties:

Mission Contribution

Contribute to CCU’s mission: CCU provides Christ-centered higher education to transform students to impact the world with grace and truth. The Director of Communications, Web and Creative Services contributes to this mission by telling the CCU story by overseeing web and print projects that reflect our mission, values, and brand.

Leadership:

Develop and implement a long-term, informed communications vision, strategy, and execution, including identification of target audiences, development of key messages, distribution on relevant channels, and measurement of results.
Ensure high-quality, consistent communications across University channels and platforms.
Lead a collaborative creative team to develop compelling digital and print media that fosters awareness and adoption of CCU’s brand.
Collaborate extensively with departments across the university to develop communications initiatives that support enrollment and marketing goals and enhance the brand, influence, and impact of Colorado Christian University.
Lead and manage issues/reputational/crisis communications strategy and execution in coordination with the Office of the President and the Board of Trustees.
Collaborate with CCU teams, members, and partner organizations to translate strategy into integrated communications plans; deploy and facilitate organizational alignment.
Manages various external vendors, such as: print, signage, photography, and video vendors, and other creative resources.
Actively lead or participate in strategic University committees, projects, and initiatives.
Oversee and prioritize department projects to ensure timely, professional, and effective communications.
Foster an effective and positive team environment through proactive leadership and coaching.
Oversee the content marketing calendar that schedules all aspects of the creation and delivery of content throughout the year.
Develop and implement project management best practices to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of communications projects and promote process improvement.
Remain current on industry trends related to web, digital, and print communications.

Branding:

Serve as primary brand steward by aligning web, print, and digital communications with CCU’s brand, mission, and strategic priorities.

Website and Digital Communications:

Co-develop the strategy and implementation plan for ongoing improvements to CCU’s public website to ensure a compelling user experience and increase on-site conversions.
Develop and implement an ongoing review plan for web content accuracy and standards.
Co-manage the strategic relationship with CCU’s search engine optimization (SEO) vendor and oversee the implementation of SEO initiatives designed to increase traffic to CCU’s website.
In collaboration with CCU’s paid advertising vendor, develop compelling website landing pages for prospective students designed to increase qualified leads.
Collaborate with other web/digital team members on ways to improve the website’s user experience (UX) using heat mapping tools, Google Analytics, and conversion metrics.
Oversee daily tasks tied to web communication production, and troubleshoot issues.

Creative and Print Communications:

Oversee the creative/print communications team to ensure print materials and related communications are compelling and professional, and encourage a desired action.
Facilitate creative project kickoffs and lead brainstorming sessions.
Create and monitor production schedules and assist the team with design schedules and adherence to client budgets.
Oversee daily tasks tied to creative production, and troubleshoot issues that could slow down the process.
Foster effective relationships with vendors and contractors to ensure the best pricing, quality, and timing.

Supervision and Administration:

Provide daily management and oversight of Web and Creative Services staff members consisting of project managers, web content and technology staff, writers, and graphic designers to meet organizational and departmental goals.
Oversee the CCS department’s operations, staffing, budget, and priorities.
Oversee the hiring and management of contractors or freelance talent, including designers, writers, photographers, and videographers.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends.

What we offer our employees:

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings.

Colorado Christian University’s pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship. Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $85,000 - $95,000 annually. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate’s qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.

Application Status

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Source : Colorado Christian University