Excelsior University is a nonprofit, regionally accredited institution based in New York focused on flexible, career-oriented education. It offers online and hybrid undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in areas including business, health sciences, nursing, liberal arts, public service, and technology. Its academic model supports transfer students and credit for prior learning, with frequent eight-week terms and dedicated resources for military and veteran learners. The university also provides career readiness services and specialized pathways in fields such as cybersecurity and nursing.
Chief Marketing Officer, Enrollment Marketing – Excelsior University (Albany Hybrid)
Lead enrollment marketing, brand expansion, and qualified student pipeline growth for Excelsior University. Oversee shared-services marketing teams, partner relationships, budget management, and performance across the enrollment funnel.
United States
New York$190,000 – $210,000 / year
HybridFull-timeLeadEnglish RequiredChief Marketing OfficerDescription
- Direct Excelsior University's enrollment marketing strategy, lead generation, brand development, and student pipeline growth
- Expand awareness and demand for degree and non-degree offerings
- Create marketing strategies, campaigns, and channels that produce qualified inquiries
- Manage teams spanning digital marketing, content and brand, product marketing, marketing operations, and analytics
- Deliver Enrollment Marketing as an agency-style shared service for members of the University network
- Source and onboard new network partners while expanding services for existing partners
- Manage the shared-services P&L, including pricing, delivery costs, profitability, and performance reporting
- Set targets for inquiry volume, lead quality, application conversion, and acquisition costs, and present results to executive leadership
- Plan and deliver integrated enrollment campaigns across digital, content, paid, organic, and offline channels
- Coordinate with Admissions on lead routing, scoring, service-level agreements, and conversion measurement
- Work with Academic Affairs and Deans to connect marketing plans with program priorities, enrollment goals, and academic standards
- Shape brand architecture and value-proposition messaging across academic products
- Oversee audience research, segmentation, market assessment, and competitive intelligence
- Lead SEM, SEO, paid social, organic social, and content programs with a focus on return on investment
- Establish marketing KPIs and achieve quarterly and annual lead-generation and pipeline objectives
- Direct relationships with marketing and advertising agencies and other vendors
- Administer a multimillion-dollar marketing budget
- Counsel the President and executive team on marketing results, market developments, and competitive openings
- Coordinate with Strategic Partnerships, IT, Analytics & Business Intelligence, Communications, the Project Management Office, and other functions
- Apply audience insights and analytics to improve marketing effectiveness continuously
- Report to the President, work extensively from the University's main Albany, New York offices, and travel periodically to regional offices and centers across the United States
Requirements
- At least seven years of progressive leadership in enrollment marketing, higher education marketing, demand generation, or lead generation
- Strong command of digital marketing tools, platforms, and emerging strategies
- Proven ability to generate qualified digital leads and convert inquiries into a robust applicant pipeline
- Record of creating and directing brand campaigns with measurable results
- Experience with marketing automation and CRM platforms, including lead scoring, nurture programs, and funnel reporting
- Ability to collect and interpret marketing and funnel data to improve lead volume, quality, and conversion
- Background managing marketing programs, plans, budgets, market research, and performance against pipeline objectives
- Experience recruiting, leading, and developing marketing teams
- Experience applying marketing technologies, including AI, to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and increase ROI
- Substantial experience in digital and brand marketing, including agency and advertising partner management
- Ability to understand and respond thoughtfully to the educational needs of adult learners and varied student communities
- Ability to guide organizational change and engage stakeholders through collaboration
- Ability to tailor marketing approaches to different geographic markets
- Excellent analytical, verbal, written, and presentation skills
- Experience working within an agency, consulting, or shared-services operating model
- Demonstrated success winning new clients or partners and increasing existing-account revenue through expanded services
- Experience with service pricing, scope definition, and P&L ownership
- Bachelor's degree required
- High emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal judgment
- Ability to build lasting professional relationships and earn trust
- Ability to motivate, inspire, direct, and manage through supervision, influence, collaboration, and clear communication
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively across all levels of the University
- Ability to serve as an internal consultant and facilitate cross-functional partnerships
- Demonstrated integrity and commitment to complying with applicable state and federal regulations
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management capabilities
- Preferred: extensive marketing experience with adult learners and/or online education audiences
- Strongly preferred: university enrollment marketing leadership, experience with diverse prospective student populations, knowledge of higher education marketing trends and marketing technology, B2B or B2C services sales or business development, and shared-services agreements