Description

About the Role

At Purdue for Life, we help people who love Purdue stay connected, get involved, and give back. The Vice President of Marketing and Communications will be the strategic leader who brings this goal to life through innovative advancement and engagement communications. This senior leader will build and deliver strategies that elevate advancement and alumni engagement by deepening relationships with donors, alumni and friends while driving support for one of the nation’s leading universities. We are looking for a strategic thinker, team builder, and relationship-driven leader who can foster collaboration, prioritize effectively, and inspire both staff and partners. This role offers the opportunity to shape how Purdue alumni and friends experience their connection to the university while helping achieve ambitious advancement goals. 

What You'll Do

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for marketing and communications that includes all editorial, design, photography, videography, social media, and web development at the Purdue for Life Foundation. 
• Mentor and empower a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Partner with development, advancement and engagement leaders across the Foundation to align communications with organizational priorities.
• Lead marketing and communications for signature events and initiatives, including Purdue Day of Giving, Homecoming, Boilermaker Ball, Annual Week in Naples, and other signature foundation experiences.
• Drive communications for Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue, a five-year, $4 billion comprehensive fundraising initiative.
• Ensure consistent, compelling messaging, and brand alignment with Purdue Brand Studio.
• Innovate through emerging tools, including AI, to enhance efficiency, personalization, and engagement.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of 7 years of public relations or marketing experience, with emphasis on written communication responsibilities in non-profit or institutional settings.
• Experience developing high-profile communications that translate the vision of executive leadership.
• Supervisory experience required, with proven success leading and developing teams.
• Experience in post-secondary strategic development communications preferred.
• Equivalent work experience may substitute for a degree.
• Established leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across advancement and alumni engagement functions.
• Ability to coach, empower, manage, and motivate teams with a collaborative and service-oriented approach.
• Strong resource management skills, including effective oversight of departmental budgets.
• Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and sound judgment to advance Purdue for Life’s mission.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to inspire donors, alumni, and partners.
• Ability to perform under pressure and deliver results on tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work 50% of the week onsite in West Lafayette, Indiana. 

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of 7 years of public relations or marketing experience, with emphasis on written communication responsibilities in non-profit or institutional settings.
• Experience developing high-profile communications that translate the vision of executive leadership.
• Supervisory experience required, with proven success leading and developing teams.
• Experience in post-secondary strategic development communications preferred.
• Equivalent work experience may substitute for a degree.
• Established leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across advancement and alumni engagement functions.
• Ability to coach, empower, manage, and motivate teams with a collaborative and service-oriented approach.
• Strong resource management skills, including effective oversight of departmental budgets.
• Demonstrated creativity, innovation, and sound judgment to advance Purdue for Life’s mission.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to inspire donors, alumni, and partners.
• Ability to perform under pressure and deliver results on tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work 50% of the week onsite in West Lafayette, Indiana. 

Why Join Us

The Purdue for Life Foundation is the cornerstone for engagement, development, and stewardship at Purdue. In this role, you will help bring that vision to life by shaping communications that connect alumni and friends to Purdue, the university to its alumni, and alumni to each other. You will play a critical role in building community, inspiring giving, and advancing Purdue’s impact worldwide. This is more than a communications role, it is an opportunity to help define the future of advancement and alumni engagement at Purdue while leading a talented team and making a lasting impact on the Boilermaker community.

Job Level: Executive 1

Benefits Summary for eligible employees:

• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Accrue up to 22 vacation days a year.
• Traditional pre-tax 403(b) and Roth retirement plans available.
• 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan and immediate vesting.
• Health Savings Account- earn up to $450 annually towards medical expenses.
• Employer funded Preventative Dental and Vision insurance. 
• Tuition discounts on eligible programs at Purdue University and Purdue Global for qualified employees, spouses, and dependents.

About Purdue for Life Foundation

The Purdue for Life Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Purdue for Life views, evaluates, and treats all persons in all Foundation-related activities solely as individuals on the basis of their own personal abilities, qualifications, and other relevant characteristics.  All qualified applicants for employment will receive consideration without regard to race, religion, color, gender, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or status as a veteran.

Purdue for Life will not sponsor employment authorization for this position.

A criminal conviction check and negative controlled substance test are required for employment in this position.