Description
Virginia Tech seeks a bold, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Senior Associate Vice President for Brand Strategy and Communications (SAVP). This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished marketing and communications executive to shape the voice, reputation, and brand of one of the nation's leading land grant public research universities while aligning a broad and complex communications ecosystem in support of institutional priorities.
Virginia Tech's main campus in Blacksburg – consistently ranked among the country's best places to live – is complemented by a significant and rapidly growing presence in Roanoke and the greater Washington, D.C. metro area. As the Commonwealth of Virginia's most comprehensive university and a leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers about 110 undergraduate majors and more than 120 master's and doctoral degree programs to more than 38,000 students and manages a research portfolio of close to $600 million. The University fulfills its role as a land grant institution by fostering a collaborative environment that integrates technology into all disciplines so the Virginia Tech community can serve as a force for positive change around the Commonwealth, the country, and the world. Through experiential learning, future-focused research, and an inclusive, spirited culture, Virginia Tech strives to accomplish the charge of its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).
Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President for Advancement, the SAVP enjoys direct and unfettered access to university leadership. This individual will lead the development and execution of an integrated marketing and communications strategy that advances institutional priorities, strengthens stakeholder engagement, supports fundraising objectives, and elevates Virginia Tech's visibility and influence among key audiences. Central to this work is the ability to position and promote Virginia Tech as a destination of choice for exceptional faculty, staff, and students, leveraging strategic communications and brand stewardship to strengthen recruitment and enrollment outcomes. The successful candidate will bring a strong marketing orientation, ensuring the University not only communicates effectively but also differentiates itself in an increasingly competitive higher education landscape through intentional brand stewardship, audience engagement, and reputation management.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the voice, brand, and reputation of a globally recognized public research university at a pivotal moment in its history. Virginia Tech's next SAVP will lead a talented and evolving organization through a period of institutional transformation, presidential transition, and growing national visibility. This leader will be a brand visionary who embraces innovation and is prepared to explore how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence can strengthen storytelling. Working closely with university leadership and partners across the institution, the SAVP will define a bold strategic vision for marketing and communications, coordinate a complex and distributed communications ecosystem, and develop innovative approaches that strengthen audience engagement, institutional reputation, and measurable results. The successful candidate will serve as a key strategic advisor, helping to position Virginia Tech locally, nationally, and globally, for continued growth, distinction, and impact while building a high-performing, collaborative culture that advances the University's most important priorities.
To succeed, the next SAVP must possess the professional acumen, leadership experience, and instincts necessary to operate in a large, complex, and highly visible organization. This individual will be an accomplished marketing and communications executive with experience leading enterprise-wide initiatives, advising senior leaders through challenging and high-profile situations, and driving meaningful organizational change. They will bring a demonstrated ability to foster coordination across diverse stakeholders, establish accountability in distributed environments, and leverage data, analytics, and emerging technologies to inform strategy and measure impact. The next SAVP should bring an entrepreneurial orientation – someone who can spot opportunities, build new approaches, and move quickly in a competitive environment.
A detailed leadership profile is available at wittkieffer.com.
Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal. Applicants should submit, as two separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest that addresses the themes outlined in this profile. WittKieffer is assisting Virginia Tech in this search. For full consideration, candidate materials should be received by October 19th, 2026.
Nominations and inquiries can also be directed to Suzanne Teer, Ashlee Musser, and Jenna Brumleve at VirginiaTechSAVP@wittkieffer.com
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies, contact the Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Prevention Education at 540-231-2010 or Virginia Tech, 220 Gilbert Street, Suite 5200, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
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