The Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO), Head of Growth provides strategic leadership for marketing, communications, brand management, enrollment growth, and audience engagement for the University of Tennessee's fully online programs. Reporting to the Vice Dean of Digital Learning, this position serves as the lead marketing and communications executive for online programs and collaborates closely with academic colleges, enrollment management, university communications and marketing, and university partners to accelerate awareness, reputation, enrollment, and revenue growth for online and professional education offerings.
The CMCO, Head of Growth establishes the enterprise growth strategy for Digital Learning (DL) and ensures the effective execution of integrated marketing, communications, and enrollment initiatives through organizational leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and measurable performance outcomes.
Strategic Growth Leadership
The CMCO will lead and continuously refine Digital Learning’s enterprise growth strategy for online programs, aligning expansion decisions with institutional priorities, capacity, market demand, and long-term financial sustainability. The incumbent is expected to build an executive performance framework that integrates marketing, enrollment, student success, and financial KPIs—translating data into actionable recommendations for leadership decisions and resource allocation. Additionally, the CMCO will identify new market and partnership opportunities, learner segments, and program growth areas, and collaborate with academic and university leaders to ensure strategic alignment.
Marketing and Brand Strategy
Serving as chief marketing officer for Vols Online, the CMCO will lead brand positioning, messaging, and market differentiation while setting strategy for integrated campaigns across digital, social, email, web, paid media, content, and emerging channels. The role will leverage AEO/AIO/SEO and analytics to drive awareness and growth, evaluate marketing performance to ensure investments deliver measurable enrollment and learner-success outcomes, and partner with the University Office of Communications and Marketing and academic colleges to maintain UT brand consistency and alignment.
Communications
The CMCO will lead strategic communications for Digital Learning and Vols Online, overseeing conversion, yield, and retention messaging for prospective and current students and partners. The role is expected to develop communications plans for program launches, enrollment campaigns, major initiatives, internal and executive communications, and collaborate with university marketing and communications teams to maximize visibility. The CMCO is responsible for advising leadership on communications strategy, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.
Leadership and Team Development
Serving as executive leadership of the marketing and communications organization, the CMCO will set strategic priorities, performance expectations, and accountability through subordinate leaders, and foster a collaborative, innovative, continuous-improvement culture. The CMCO oversees budgets, vendors, and agency partners; partners with technology leadership to align marketing technology investments with integrated processes, data-driven decisions, and measurable institutional value; and translates complex information into clear priorities and recommendations. The CMCO will ensure responsible resource stewardship by evaluating marketing spend against outcomes and reallocating as needed, while building trusted relationships across Digital Learning, colleges, faculty, and university leadership through transparency and collaboration.
Enrollment and Market Analysis
The incoming CMCO will analyze enrollment, market, financial, and learner performance trends to inform strategy and investment priorities. The position is expected to lead forecasting and performance reporting for growth initiatives, set performance expectations, and evaluate results to recommend where resources should be expanded, reallocated, or discontinued. The CMCO will partner with other Digital Learning leaders to keep strategies aligned with changing learner needs, market conditions, and institutional objectives.
To express interest, please submit an application and include a letter of interest and CV/resume. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before Sunday October 25, 2026. For confidential inquires or nominations, please contact Anthony Lanagan, Executive Recruiter at alanaga1@utk.edu.
Digital Learning at UT, is a university-wide unit charged with advancing UT’s commitment to discovery, creativity, learning, and engagement, specifically for online learners. Using advanced and innovative technologies, Digital Learning at UT provides scalable solutions that enhance the online learning experience and reduce barriers to student access and success, providing a tremendous impact to online learners across the state and the nation. At Digital Learning, we are bold and impactful, transforming the future of online education through innovative thinking and collaborative problem-solving. Join our dynamic and inclusive Digital Learning team where we take pride in teamwork, excellence, and a shared commitment to shaping the future through education and innovation.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
