Sr. Brand Manager

The Sr. Brand Manager / Associate Director - Branding & Communication will lead and oversee the university's branding, marketing communication, and public relations efforts. The role is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing strategic brand initiatives that enhance CU Unnao's image, visibility, and reputation, both internally and externally. This leader will ensure consistency of messaging and creative execution across all channels, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and support the university's growth and objectives through strong branding and communications. Key Responsibilities Brand Strategy & Management • Develop and refine the university brand identity, voice, messaging, and positioning. • Ensure consistency in brand presentation across all touchpoints (print, digital, campus signage, events, etc.). • Conduct brand audits & competitive benchmarking to ensure CU Unnao stays distinct and relevant. Communication Planning & Execution • Create, implement, and monitor integrated communication plans (internal & external). • Oversee campaigns for student recruitment, alumni engagement, events, and special initiatives. • Manage content creation: brochures, newsletters, press releases, speeches, website updates, social media content, etc. Digital & Social Media • Lead digital marketing strategy: social media, SEO/SEM, paid campaigns, email marketing. • Monitor analytics and metrics; optimize campaigns accordingly. • Ensure website content & user experience align with brand and communication goals. Public Relations & Media Relations • Build and maintain relationships with media (local, regional, national) and manage press outreach. • Handle media inquiries, crisis communication, interviews, and public statements as needed. • Organize events, conferences, webinars, public forums; manage visibility in media. Internal Communication & Stakeholder Engagement • Develop communication strategies for students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders. • Ensure alignment of internal messaging with external branding. • Facilitate brand leadership - training or workshops for staff/faculty to uphold brand values. Team Leadership & Vendor Management • Lead and mentor a team of creative, content, digital & media staff. • Manage relationships with external agencies, creative vendors, photographers, printers etc. • Budgeting and resource management for communication & branding functions. Monitoring, Analytics & Reporting • Define KPIs for branding, communication & PR. • Track performance of campaigns, social media, website traffic, media coverage etc. • Present reports to senior management with insights & recommendations for improvement. Qualifications & Experience - Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Mass Media, Business or related field; Master's preferred. - 8-12+ years of progressive experience in branding, communications, marketing, ideally within higher education or similar sectors. - Demonstrated track record in building/maintaining brand identity, managing campaigns, media relations. - Strong digital marketing skills (social media, SEO/SEM, content marketing). - Excellent written & verbal communication skills; ability to craft persuasive messaging. - Leadership experience: managing teams, vendors, budgets. - Analytical orientation: comfortable working with data/metrics to gauge impact and optimize. - Creative mindset, with good aesthetic sense for visuals/design & brand consistency. Key Competencies - Strategic Thinking - Brand Awareness & Creativity - Stakeholder Management - Crisis Communication - Project Management & Execution - Collaboration & Team Leadership - Adaptability & Proactivity Performance Indicators (KPIs) - Brand recognition / awareness metrics (surveys, reach) - Increase in media mentions / positive press coverage - Engagement metrics: digital (website traffic, social media engagement), events, internal communication feedback - Timeliness, quality, budget-adherence of campaigns - Consistency of brand identity & messaging across all platforms Interested Candidates can share CV at Regards Riya Sharma Sr. HR Manager