Director, Marketing and Communications

Red Deer Polytechnic; Red Deer; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental care

Health spending account

Pension plan

Employee & Family Assistance Program

Generous vacation allotments

Tuition waivers and professional dev.

Job summary

Red Deer Polytechnic is seeking a visionary Director of Marketing and Communications to lead branding, communications, and student recruitment across the institution. You will translate strategic priorities into audience-focused campaigns that strengthen the college’s reputation and support enrolment growth.

You will lead a multi-disciplinary team across marketing, communications, digital, media, and creative services, driving governance, analytics, and ROI-focused initiatives to advance the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business or related field.
• 10–15 years of progressive experience in marketing and communications
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role within a complex organization
• Demonstrated experience advising senior executives on complex, sensitive, or high-profile matters

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.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business or related field

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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business or related field.
• 10–15 years of progressive experience in marketing and communications
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role within a complex organization
• Demonstrated experience advising senior executives on complex, sensitive, or high-profile matters

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in post-secondary or public sector environment considered an asset

Benefits and Compensation Information

Red Deer Polytechnic offers a comprehensive benefits package including extended health and dental care through Blue Cross, access to a health spending account, pension plan, Employee & Family Assistance Program, generous vacation allotments, credit tuition waivers and opportunities for professional development funding. Additional time off due to Institution closures between Christmas and New Year general holidays.

Eligibility to access the above-mentioned benefits is dependent upon the EXEMPT Terms and Conditions of Employment and related RDP policies.

Desired Start Date

December 1, 2026

Hours of work

You will be employed on a full-time basis. It is understood that the hours of work involved will vary and be irregular and are those hours of work required to meet the objectives of your employment.

Normal hours of operation are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, M – F

Posting Close Date

Open until closed

Note to Applicant

Red Deer Polytechnic fosters an inclusive learning and working environment where everyone can bring their full selves and share their unique talents. We are committed to being responsive to the evolving needs and expectations of our diverse community.

To enrich the intellectual, economic, cultural, and social development of Central Alberta, we value the contributions of individuals with diverse perspectives and experiences. We encourage applications from Indigenous persons, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, individuals of all sexual orientations, and persons of any gender identity orexpression.

Red Deer Polytechnic will provide job applicants with accommodations in accordance withthe Alberta Human Rights Code. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail].

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.