Director of Brand Strategy
Director of Brand Strategy
Marketing and Communications, Lincoln Center
Fordham University
Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City. Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools.
- Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents
- A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan.
- As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
- As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.
- University employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.
Hybrid Policy:
Please review the Hybrid Policy here.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Sr. Director, Strategy, Research, and Performance, the Director of Brand Strategy is responsible for strengthening Fordham’s brand through innovative trademark and licensing management. The Director will safeguard Fordham’s intellectual property by meticulously overseeing all aspects of Fordham’s trademark and licensing program, collaborating closely with athletics and legal counsel. The strategist will manage the University’s relationship with CLC, while working closely with licensees to deliver on licensed products that elevate the Fordham brand through consistency and distinction. This involves managing the approval process for the use of University trademarks, enforcing usage guidelines, and collaborating with legal counsel to ensure compliance with trademark laws.
Essential Functions
- Develops and implements comprehensive brand strategies that resonate with diverse audiences and align with Fordham University’s mission, values and institutional priorities.
- Collaborates with internal stakeholders to ensure consistent brand messaging and identity across all marketing and communication channels.
- Accountable for leading the development, execution and optimization of brand awareness campaigns, activations and experiential engagements in collaboration with UMC colleagues.
- Collaborates with strategists, marketing performance analysts and agency partners to conduct market research and analyze competitive landscapes to continuously sharpen brand strategies to distinguish Fordham in the marketplace.
- Leads the evolution of the Fordham master brand, adapting to changing market trends and ensuring relevance in the higher education landscape.
- Provides strategic guidance on brand architecture and brand portfolio management, while being accountable for maintaining Fordham’s brand guidelines supporting Fordham’s parent and sub-brands.
- Manages all aspects of Fordham’s trademark and licensing program, including the approval process for the use of the University’s trademarks with close collaboration with legal counsel to ensure compliance with trademark laws and regulations. Develops and enforces trademark usage guidelines to protect the integrity and consistency of Fordham’s brand assets.
- Negotiates licensing opportunities and partnerships to generate revenue and expand Fordham’s brand presence, and tracking and reporting of licensing royalties.
Essential Functions Note
This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.
Management Responsibilities
Guides work of other employees who perform essentially the same work and/or student workers. Organizes, sets priorities, schedules and reviews work, but is generally not responsible for final decisions in hiring, performance management or compensation.
Additional Functions
- Establishes an annual marketing and promotion strategy to drive merchandise sales in line with key drive times, collaborating with stakeholders to establish, deploy and optimize.
Required Qualifications: Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, brand management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in brand strategy or brand management.
Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills
- Proven track record developing and implementing successful brand strategies and campaigns that have shown measurable impact on brand health.
- Excellent project management and time management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities at a time in a matrixed environment.
- Strong understanding of trademark and licensing principles.
- Must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.
- Experience in development, implementing and/or supporting brand health measurement.
- Minimum 2 years of experience working in trademark, licensing, retail marketing or merchandising.
- Demonstrated success in crisis communication management on social media platforms.
Minimum Starting Salary: $95,000
Maximum Starting Salary: $110,000
Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.
START DATE: ASAP
APPLY HERE: https://careers.fordham.edu/postings/7303
ABOUT FORDHAM
Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its 9 colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.
Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.
Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories
