🔹 Job Title: Vice President, Marketing Strategy
🔹 Company: Western Governors University
🔹 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah (United States)
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: 💡 Marketing Strategy & Planning
The Vice President, Marketing Strategy at Western Governors University (WGU) is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving brand awareness, audience engagement, and market growth across B2C and B2B audiences. This position leads brand, audience, and product marketing teams to enhance WGU's reputation while connecting prospective students with educational opportunities. Reporting directly to the Head of Marketing, this role shapes organization-wide growth strategies through audience insights, product-market analysis, and competitive intelligence. The position oversees a $200M+ budget and is accountable for brand and enrollment performance across various audiences, regions, and business entities.
ASSUMPTION: Based on the reporting structure to the Head of Marketing and the substantial budget responsibility, this appears to be a senior executive position within the marketing department, likely sitting in the top leadership tier of the university's administration.
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (MBA, MS Marketing, or other relevant graduate degree preferred)
Experience: 10+ years in multi-disciplinary marketing with increasing responsibility; 8+ years of leadership experience managing teams
Skills:
Preferred Experience: Higher education industry experience, client-facing agency experience
Salary Range: Not specified
Benefits:
Industry Comparison: The benefits package appears comprehensive and competitive for higher education institutions, particularly with the addition of flexible PTO, parental leave, and discounted tuition.
ASSUMPTION: While no specific salary range is provided, executive marketing positions at universities of WGU's size typically range from $180,000-$300,000+ depending on experience, with additional bonus potential. This estimate is based on industry standards for similar roles in higher education.
Industry Position: Western Governors University is a pioneering online, competency-based university focused on expanding access to higher education. It has received recognition from academic, industry, government, and media leaders for its innovative approach to learning in the 21st century.
Company Size: Large non-profit university with substantial national reach
Company Stage: Established institution in growth phase
ASSUMPTION: Based on the job description's reference to WGU being a pioneer in online, competency-based education and its substantial marketing budget, WGU appears to be a major player in the online education space with national operations and continued growth ambitions.
Career Level: Executive/Senior Leadership
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Head of Marketing
Team Size/Composition: Leads a large team of marketing leaders who manage brand, audience, and product marketers
Growth Opportunities: Potential path to CMO or other executive leadership positions in education or broader industries
ASSUMPTION: Given the significant budget responsibility ($200M+) and the requirement to partner with senior executives, this role likely sits near the top of the marketing organization with substantial influence on university-wide strategy and operations.
Office Type: Primarily in-person at WGU's Salt Lake City office
Geographic Context: Salt Lake City is a growing tech and education hub with a lower cost of living compared to coastal cities. It offers proximity to outdoor recreation and a strong quality of life.
Work Schedule: Standard full-time (40 hours) with occasional travel (up to 20%)
Regional Considerations: Salt Lake City has a growing technology and education sector with a moderately competitive executive talent market
ASSUMPTION: While WGU is an online university, this executive role requires primarily in-person presence, suggesting the importance of face-to-face collaboration at the leadership level despite the organization's virtual education model.
Typical Process: For executive marketing positions, expect multiple rounds including:
Key Assessment Areas:
Application Tips:
ATS Keywords: strategic marketing, brand development, marketing leadership, audience insights, product marketing, performance optimization, marketing analytics, team leadership, executive communication, cross-functional collaboration, budget management
ASSUMPTION: These insights are based on standard interview practices for executive marketing positions in education and similar industries, as specific interview details were not included in the job posting.
While specific tools aren't mentioned, executives in this role typically work with:
ASSUMPTION: These tools represent industry-standard marketing technologies typically used by marketing executives in higher education. The specific tech stack at WGU may vary.
Company Values: WGU emphasizes mission-driven work focused on expanding access to higher education, being student-focused, and creating a better future for individuals and communities. The organization values innovation, as evidenced by their pioneering approach to online, competency-based education.
Work Style: The role requires both visionary leadership and executional excellence, suggesting a balance of strategic thinking and operational capability. Strong collaboration skills are essential for working across functions with and without direct authority.
Self-Assessment Questions:
ASSUMPTION: These cultural elements are inferred from WGU's stated mission and the job responsibilities, which emphasize both visionary thinking and measurable outcomes, suggesting a culture that values innovation alongside accountability.
ASSUMPTION: These potential challenges are based on the role description and common challenges faced by marketing executives in higher education. Individual experiences may vary depending on specific circumstances.
| Role | Key Differences |
|---|---|
| Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) | Higher-level position with broader scope; typically sets overall marketing strategy for entire organization rather than executing within a strategic framework |
| VP Marketing (Corporate) | Similar level but often more focused on product marketing and direct revenue contribution than educational enrollment and brand building |
| VP Enrollment Management | More focused on admissions processes and student recruitment tactics rather than broader brand strategy |
| Director of Marketing Strategy | Lower-level position with smaller budget, team, and strategic scope |
ASSUMPTION: This comparison is based on standard industry role definitions and hierarchies in higher education and marketing organizations.
ASSUMPTION: These projects are illustrative examples based on the responsibilities listed in the job description and typical initiatives led by marketing executives in higher education.
ASSUMPTION: These questions are suggested based on typical areas of importance for marketing executive roles and may need adaptation for specific interviews or as the conversation develops.
⚠️ This enhanced job description was AI-generated based on the original job listing. Information has been organized and supplemented with industry-standard insights where details were not provided. All assumptions are explicitly labeled. Applicants should verify all details directly with the employer before making decisions based on this content.