Minnesota State Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Position Profile

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Opportunity Overview 

Minnesota State invites applications and nominations for the position of Chief Marketing and Communications Officer.

Minnesota State seeks a strategic communications leader to continue building brand and system awareness, manage against reputational risk, and serve as a consultant to the system’s 33 college and university presidents and communications teams.

This position leads the small but high-functioning Marketing and Communications Division of the Minnesota State system office. This team is responsible for the system’s external facing earned, owned, and paid media, and partners closely with the chancellor, Board of Trustees, members of the cabinet, college and university presidents, communications teams, and advancement professionals.

The Chief Marketing and Communications Officer reports directly to the chancellor and serves on the chancellor’s cabinet. This position is responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction for the unit to position Minnesota State as the state’s most efficient tool to build prosperity for students, their families, and their communities while ensuring an educated and civically engaged workforce.

The Chief Marketing and Communications Officer is responsible for leading a team of four individuals who are responsible for external communications, including system marketing, digital content, graphic design, publication development, events marketing, brand standards and voice, public relations, issues management, and crisis communications. In addition, a member of the team serves as liaison between college- and university-related foundations and Minnesota State, providing staff support, development, consistent measurement of ROI, and is pursuing a future, in partnership with leadership, that may include coordinated private donor cultivation.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

  • Set strategic direction for the Marketing and Communications Division, including measurable goals that advance systemwide priorities and outcomes
  • Develop the unit’s annual work plan and budget, in coordination with other units and divisions within the Minnesota State system office
  • In collaboration with campus marketers, advise and support colleges and universities in anticipating communications needs and managing emerging issues and reputational risk
  • Provide strategic counsel and support to the chancellor, cabinet, trustees, campus presidents, and campus marketers relative to strategic communications, media strategy, and reputation management
  • Oversee the development and implementation of strategic messaging, media relations strategy, marketing concepts, web presence, and all digital content distributed on owned and paid channels
  • Provide strategic guidance to support systemwide advancement efforts, including the possibility of enterprise‑level private donor cultivation and coordinated, statewide philanthropic campaigns, in partnership with college and university foundation leaders
  • Serve as lead staff for the Board of Trustees Outreach and Engagement Committee

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Education: Baccalaureate degree
  • Minimum of 10 years’ progressive experience planning and implementing brand, marketing, and communications strategies, preferably in large, complex organizations
  • Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, including journalism, copywriting, speech writing, and editing
  • Skill and experience articulating organizational vision and ensuring clarity and consistency in all communications
  • Expertise with issues management and crisis communications
  • Experience with providing high-level counsel to c-suite executives
  • Demonstrated ability to build visibility and positive perceptions through media
  • Experience making effective use of emerging technology to achieve marketing and communications goals
  • Expertise developing compelling messages for targeting diverse audiences
  • Demonstrated ability to influence behavior without direct positional authority
  • Ability to lead, manage, and motivate teams
  • Experience formulating and successfully implementing projects with collaborative leadership and team strategies
  • Demonstrated experience supporting equity through marketing communications

Preferred Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in field relevant to the position
  • Experience in Minnesota
  • Experience in higher education
  • Understanding of the value and unique missions of the system’s community colleges, technical colleges, and comprehensive regional universities
  • Experience with resource development, advancement communications, or philanthropic engagement in complex organizations

Nomination and Application Process

Kris Hnastchenko, president of Heinze & Associates Executive Search, is supporting Minnesota State in this search. Screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The preferred date to receive application materials for maximum consideration is May 20, 2026. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Applications must include:

  • Letter of interest stating how the candidate’s experiences and qualifications connect with the strategic priorities expressed in the position prospectus
  • A resume
  • Names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of five references for future contact, including the candidate’s professional relationship with each reference listed. References will only be contacted with permission of the candidates
  • Finalists may be asked to submit a portfolio

Confidential inquires, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:
Kris Hnastchenko, President
Heinze & Associates Executive Search
kris.heinzeandassociates@gmail.com
763-242-9926

The target start date for the new Chief Marketing and Communications Officer is mid-July 2026.