Executive Director of Communications, Engagement and Advancement

The University of Sussex is a world-leading university. The distinctive ethos with which Sussex was established over 60 years ago still animates our work today. From the start, Sussex challenged convention and fostered critical thinking. Our early emphasis on innovation, interdisciplinarity, intellectual rigour, and internationalism continues to define Sussex. Our success as a world-leading university is built on these practices and is underpinned by our institutional values and by our foundational commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech.

As we embark on our seventh decade, and eighteen months since our new Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Sasha Roseneil, took up her appointment, the University of Sussex is currently developing a new strategy, Sussex 2035. This strategy will focus our collective efforts on achieving ever greater excellence and impact in our research, education, and global and civic engagement activities.

The University of Sussex is now looking to appoint a new Executive Director of Communications, Engagement and Advancement. The role has responsibility for the leadership and management of an integrated team across communications, engagement and advancement, including:

• student recruitment
• global engagement (international student recruitment and global partnerships)
• media relations and external communications
• internal communications
• marketing and brand management
• public affairs
• civic engagement
• corporate events
• advancement (alumni relations and philanthropy).

The Executive Director will be a member of the University Executive Team and the University’s Professional Services Leadership Team. They will work directly with the Vice-Chancellor and President and will work closely with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global and Civic Engagement), the Chief Operating Officer, and other senior members of the University.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience, at senior management level, of successfully leading and innovating across communications, marketing, student recruitment and/ or advancement.
• Knowledge of policy, politics and the wider HE context to inform strategy and delivery across public affairs, internal and external communications, global engagement, and our role as a regional place-maker.
• Experience leading wide-ranging services and teams within a highly complex environment, with acuity and nuance.
• Experience managing large, complex budgets and allocating resources effectively.
• Experience working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and partners, both internally and externally.

The role of Executive Director of Communications, Engagement and Advancement will ensure that we, at Sussex, are able to realise our ambitions to enhance our profile and standing locally, nationally, and globally, and that we build deep-rooted, long-lasting, and mutually beneficial partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders. It will be both intellectually stimulating and highly rewarding, and the successful candidate will be joining a leadership and community committed to realising our ambitions.

To apply:

Please download the Candidate Brief here .

The closing date for all applications is Sunday18th February 2024. You should send a CV and supporting statement to: [email protected] . Should you wish to discuss the role in advance of making an application please contact Geraldine Hetherington on [email protected]

Interviews will be held in person on campus on 13th March 2024.  Candidates should also be available for stakeholder group meetings on campus on 6th March 2024.

The University of Sussex is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and through this appointment process it is the Council’s clear stated aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities. The University particularly welcomes applications from women, people from black and minority ethnic communities, the LGBTQ+ community and from disabled people.

For further information, please visit www.sussex.ac.uk