Director, Marketing and Communications

Red Deer Polytechnic; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Deer Polytechnic is seeking a visionary Director of Marketing and Communications to lead strategy and operations across marketing, communications and student recruitment. You will translate institutional priorities into audience-focused campaigns, strengthen the RDP brand, and drive enrolment growth with data-driven insights.

As a senior leader, you will lead a high-performing team, oversee governance of the brand across channels, advise senior leadership, and build partnerships with

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team across integrated marketing, communications, digital, media, and creative services, overseeing performance management, workforce planning, and talent development.
• Act as the primary steward of the Polytechnic's brand, establishing governance frameworks and developing an institutional narrative that ensures consistency across all owned, earned, shared, and paid channels.
• Develop data-informed recruitment and marketing strategies that strengthen the prospective student journey, generate demand, and drive enrolment, utilizing research, analytics, and performance metrics to evaluate results.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to senior leadership, overseeing executive messaging, media relations, issues management, and crisis response, while serving as or designating the institutional spokesperson.
• Advance RDP's reputation by building and maintaining strategic relationships with government, media, industry, and community partners to position the institution as a leader in the post-secondary sector.
• Provide financial stewardship by managing division budgets and resources, driving innovation in digital engagement, and ensuring marketing efforts yield a strong return on investment for the institution.

Job description

Position Summary

People. Productivity. Purpose. They're at the heart of Red Deer Polytechnic. We're a vibrant community where people are empowered to lead, create and connect, and where education, applied research and partnerships turn ideas into meaningful outcomes. Now, we're looking for a visionary marketing and communications leader to help tell our story and inspire what comes next. If you're energized by bold ideas, strategic storytelling, data-driven recruitment and campaigns that make an impact, we'd love to meet you.

The Role

As the Director, Marketing and Communications, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for Red Deer Polytechnic's marketing, communications, and student recruitment functions. You will serve as a strategic advisor, translating institutional priorities and enrolment objectives into compelling, audience-focused campaigns. Your core mission is to strengthen RDP's brand and reputation, attract prospective students, support enrolment growth, and build meaningful engagement with key audiences across the Polytechnic and beyond.

Position Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team across integrated marketing, communications, digital, media, and creative services, overseeing performance management, workforce planning, and talent development.
• Act as the primary steward of the Polytechnic's brand, establishing governance frameworks and developing an institutional narrative that ensures consistency across all owned, earned, shared, and paid channels.
• Develop data-informed recruitment and marketing strategies that strengthen the prospective student journey, generate demand, and drive enrolment, utilizing research, analytics, and performance metrics to evaluate results.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to senior leadership, overseeing executive messaging, media relations, issues management, and crisis response, while serving as or designating the institutional spokesperson.
• Advance RDP's reputation by building and maintaining strategic relationships with government, media, industry, and community partners to position the institution as a leader in the post-secondary sector.
• Provide financial stewardship by managing division budgets and resources, driving innovation in digital engagement, and ensuring marketing efforts yield a strong return on investment for the institution.