Senior Director, Marketing and Communications

POSITION SUMMARY:

The American Council on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for the nation's colleges and universities - a membership organization that mobilizes the higher education community to shape effective public policy and foster innovative, high-quality practices. With a diverse base of nearly 1,700 member institutions, ACE is the only major higher education association representing all types of U.S. accredited, degree-granting institutions. ACE's work reaches 280 minority-serving institutions, 25,000 higher education professionals, and 7.7 million students enrolled in colleges and universities across all 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and 21 other countries.

The Senior Director of Marketing and Communications reports to the Vice President of Communications and serves as a strategic thought partner in shaping ACE's marketing and brand vision - from ideation through execution to measurement. This role leads and coordinates ACE's marketing activities, ensuring they are rooted in organizational priorities and connected to the Council's mission.

The Senior Director develops and oversees cohesive, forward-looking campaigns designed to reach key audiences and strengthen ACE's standing as the leading voice in higher education. They provide counsel to senior leadership on Council-wide initiatives, storytelling, business development, and advancement campaigns - and own the visual and editorial brand standards that guide the Council's work. This role also serves as a key strategic partner to the Vice President of Communications, bringing deep marketing expertise and the capacity to workshop new ideas, challenge assumptions, and help move strategy into action. The Senior Director manages and develops a five-person team made up of one editor, two marketers, one designer, and one web manager.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES OR TASKS:

Strategy and Brand Leadership

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of ACE's brand and marketing strategy, with a creative vision grounded in the Council's mission and long-term priorities.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated marketing plan that incorporates market research, competitive analysis, audience segmentation, and measurable digital outcomes.
• Serve as a strategic counsel to senior leaders across the Council, advising on content strategy, product and program launches, membership marketing, and audience engagement.
• Champion brand integrity across all Council touchpoints - ensuring consistency in voice, visual identity, and tone across digital properties, publications, and communications.
• Translate complex data and research into compelling visual stories that increase accessibility and deepen audience engagement.

Marketing Execution and Campaigns

• Oversee the planning, execution, and measurement of marketing campaigns across multiple channels - including email, social media, web, and events - with a focus on audience growth and retention.
• Lead social media strategy, including platform-specific approaches, content calendars, and performance analysis; understand how different audiences engage across platforms and apply that knowledge to campaign planning.
• Drive marketing efforts in support of ACE's membership growth goals, HEBA (Higher Education Builds America) initiative, and event and product launches.
• Oversee the editing, layout, and design of all external-facing materials - including ACE's flagship reports and digital properties - ensuring all work upholds brand standards in clarity, consistency, voice, and visual impact.
• Manage relationships and budgets with external vendors, agencies, and partners.

Technology and Innovation

• Champion the thoughtful adoption of AI and emerging marketing technologies to improve team workflows, content quality, and campaign performance - modeling a growth mindset and genuine curiosity about new tools.
• Leverage HubSpot and other marketing platforms to develop, track, and report on KPIs; use data to inform decisions and continuously improve outcomes.
• Stay current on industry trends, tools, and best practices and bring relevant innovations to the team.

Team Leadership and Development

• Manage, mentor, and develop a five-person team - including setting goals, supporting professional growth, and fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and accountability.
• Lead with emotional intelligence, balancing empathy, accountability, and clear communication while supporting a highly engaged team with diverse perspectives and working styles.
• Maintain intentional communication and connection practices for a primarily remote team, ensuring all direct reports feel engaged, visible, and supported.
• Oversee scheduling and project prioritization across all marketing and creative content work, from conception through final delivery.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Build and sustain relationships across ACE's departments - including membership, research, advancement, government relations, and others - to understand business goals, target audiences, and operational context.
• Collaborate across all communications department teams on tactical execution of ACE's marketing strategy.
• Serve as a steady, solutions-oriented partner to colleagues across the Council, including stakeholders who may have competing priorities or limited visibility into the scope of marketing work.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience; minimum of 8 years in communications, marketing, or a related field. A graduate-level degree may be considered in lieu of some experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing a team, with responsibility for goal setting, career development, and building a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Broad expertise in marketing strategy, brand development, campaign planning and execution, and market research.
• Experience developing and managing marketing campaigns across multiple channels, including email, social media, web, and events.
• Proficiency with HubSpot or a comparable marketing platform; comfort with KPI development, reporting, and data-driven decision making.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a clear and compelling communicator across formats and audiences.
• A discerning eye for visual design and user experience, with working proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (including Acrobat Pro) for design review, document workflows, and project and client management - serving as a capable backup to the design function when needed.
• High emotional intelligence and the ability to work effectively across a range of personalities, working styles, and organizational contexts.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working in higher education, associations, nonprofits, think tanks, or government - or demonstrated familiarity with the higher education policy landscape. Knowledge of ACE's membership community or flagship publications is a plus.
• Background in membership marketing, audience retention, or marketing in support of revenue-generating or mission-driven programs.
• Experience leading or supporting event and product launch campaigns.
• Comfort with AI-enabled marketing tools, content workflows, or technology adoption - and genuine curiosity about how emerging tools can help a team do more with what it has.
• Experience with data visualization tools and translating research into accessible, engaging content for non-specialist audiences.
• Editorial or copyediting background; familiarity with long-form content production.
• Track record of building credibility and managing relationships with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:

This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. Team members work on-site at ACE's One Dupont Circle NW office three days per week (Tuesday through Thursday), with remote work on Mondays and Fridays.

TARGETED SALARY RANGE: $127,000 - 145,000.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please submit a resume and cover letter with your application for consideration. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Applications will be accepted through August 1, 2026, or until we receive a minimum of 300 applications, whichever comes first. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible, as the posting may close ahead of the listed deadline based on volume.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 403B with matching incentive + employer contribution
• Short term disability/Long term disability/Life insurance
• Generous PTO package
• Paid Parental Leave
• 13 paid holidays + week between Christmas Eve & New Years Off
• Professional Development Opportunities
• ....and more!

For a full summary of our benefits, please reach out to the Recruiting Team.

Please Note: ACE does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate referrals from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies. Any resumes submitted without a prior signed agreement will be considered the property of ACE, and no fees will be paid.