Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Director, Brand and Messaging

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Nashville • Tennessee • United States

Visit company website

Explore more

✨ AI Apply
Apply

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Translate Vanderbilt University’s institutional brand direction into clear messaging frameworks, narrative structures, and positioning guidance for use across communications and marketing efforts.
  • Partner with the Vice Chancellor and senior leadership to interpret institutional priorities and ensure they are reflected consistently in messaging and communications.
  • Maintain a clear articulation of Vanderbilt’s value proposition, messaging pillars, and institutional narrative for use across schools, departments, and initiatives.
  • Ensure messaging reflects institutional priorities while remaining relevant to key audiences and external context.
  • Develop and maintain the university’s messaging architecture, including institutional narrative, thematic messaging pillars, and proof points.
  • Ensure messaging coherence across major institutional initiatives, campaigns, executive communications, and storytelling efforts.
  • Translate complex institutional priorities into clear narrative frameworks that guide communications across schools, administrative units, and leadership.
  • Support senior leaders in articulating Vanderbilt’s story in ways that align with institutional direction and messaging.
  • Lead the development and execution of brand-focused initiatives that strengthen messaging clarity, institutional alignment, and consistent application of the university’s brand direction.
  • Own and drive key brand programs, which may include:
  • Development and rollout of messaging frameworks
  • Institutional narrative alignment initiatives
  • Brand education and enablement programs
  • Creation and adoption of messaging toolkits and resources
  • Cross-unit efforts to improve clarity and consistency of communications
  • Define scope, sequencing, and success measures for brand initiatives, and work across the division to activate and implement them effectively.
  • Partner with the Director, Enterprise Programs to ensure coordination with broader institutional initiatives and alignment with enterprise priorities.
  • Lead institutional brand research initiatives, including perception studies, audience research, and competitive analysis.
  • Interpret insights from brand tracking, focus groups, and market intelligence to inform messaging, narrative development, and communications priorities.
  • Translate insights into practical guidance that improves messaging clarity and effectiveness across the division.
  • Promote shared understanding of Vanderbilt’s messaging and narrative frameworks across schools, departments, and administrative units.
  • Convene and support institutional alignment mechanisms (e.g., brand forums, leadership workshops, cross-unit convenings) that improve narrative alignment, reduce fragmentation of institutional messaging, and improve coherence across the university.
  • Provide guidance to major institutional initiatives, ensuring alignment with Vanderbilt’s established messaging and narrative frameworks.
  • Support senior leadership in maintaining coherence across high-visibility communications and engagements.
  • Serve as the strategic brand partner across the division’s operating model capabilities:
  • Align: Translate institutional direction into messaging frameworks and narrative guidance
  • Create: Partner with creative leadership to translate brand strategy into visual and editorial expression.
  • Activate: Ensure campaigns and communications reinforce Vanderbilt’s institutional messaging priorities.
  • Enable: Collaborate with brand governance leaders to maintain standards and tools that reinforce brand consistency.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience is required
  • 10+ years of experience in brand strategy, institutional communications, marketing strategy, or related field
  • Experience translating institutional priorities into messaging frameworks and narrative structures within in complex organizations
  • Demonstrated ability to translate direction into clear, actionable messaging guidance that can be applied across teams
  • Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships and influence across diverse teams
  • Strong understanding of reputation management and audience perception
  • Comfortable working with ambiguity and bringing structure to loosely defined problems
  • Proven ability to lead with a bias for action, ensuring disciplined execution and operational efficiency
  • Experience maintaining high standards through consistent prioritization, repeatable processes, and attention to detail
  • Experience working with senior leaders on institutional communications and positioning
  • Experience conducting or interpreting brand research and market insights
  • Experience in higher education, research institutions, or mission-driven organizations is preferred.
Benefits
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Professional development opportunities
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
brand strategyinstitutional communicationsmarketing strategymessaging frameworksnarrative structuresbrand researchaudience perceptionoperational efficiencyreputation managementcommunication alignment
Soft Skills
collaborative relationshipsinfluenceaction-oriented leadershipattention to detailability to work with ambiguitycommunication claritystrategic thinkingcross-team collaborationproblem-solvingstakeholder engagement
Certifications
Bachelor's degree