About the role
**Position Job Title:**Vice President (VP) of Marketing and Communications, GUS North America
**Location:**Canada
**Reports To:**Group Chief Marketing Officer (Group CMO), Chief Executive Officer, GUS North America
About Global University Systems (GUS)
Global University Systems (GUS) is an international education group that empowers students to transform their lives through education. We believe education drives careers, lives, and society forward, enabling a brighter future for all. Our network of 30 institutions offers the broadest range of industry relevant skills through inclusive, accessible, and digital-first learning. We currently educate around 122,000 students on campuses worldwide and have 20M+ unique subscribers to our courses. Our global ecosystem powers accessible digital learning and academic achievement.
About Global University Systems Canada (GUS Canada)
Global University Systems Canada (GUS Canada), a subsidiary of Global University Systems (GUS), is a network of higher education institutions dedicated to delivering innovative and accessible education that supports graduate success through industry-aligned partnerships and collaborations. Our network of institutions is united by a shared commitment to providing accessible, industry-relevant qualifications. GUS Canada is strongly committed to fostering diversity across our community and values inclusion, collaboration, and sustainability.
Primary Purpose
We are seeking an exceptional Vice President of Marketing and Communications to lead the GUS North America marketing and communications strategy across our diverse institutions – University of Canada West (UCW), University of Niagara Falls (UNF), Trebas Institute, Ontario Institute of Health and Innovation (OIHI) and Avila University Arizona (AUA).
This pivotal role demands a strategic, creative, and digitally focused leader who can blend vision with operational excellence. The VP will drive brand strategies, creative excellence, marketing performance, and communications delivery to support student recruitment, brand growth, and institutional reputations in Canada and worldwide.
Reporting to the Group Chief Marketing Officer (Group CMO) and Chief Executive Officer, GUS North America and working in close partnership with senior leadership across Canada, Academic leaders, and institutional marketing and wider teams, the VP will lead a team designed to deliver initiatives that drive brand awareness, student recruitment and revenue growth.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Brand
- Working closely with the Group CMO and respective Institutional Leads, define and deliver institutional brand, marketing and communication strategies that drive brand positioning, campaign performance, market research, and data-informed decision-making to support institutional growth.
- Champion marketing innovation, creativity, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.
Digital, Creative & Marketing Excellence
- Oversee brand and content across all channels, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging and engagement with prospective and current students, alumni, and key stakeholders to deliver cohesive brand positioning across diverse markets while allowing for localized adaptations.
- Work with the Group CMO and Global Creative Director to establish and enforce brand guidelines to strengthen brand value, clarity, and performance.
- Direct integrated marketing operations and partnerships, manage vendors, production, and innovation to enhance visibility, reputation, and impact.
- Lead integrated marketing campaigns across digital and traditional channels (SEO, SEM, advertising, PR) to elevate institutional profiles and achieve strategic goals in communications, student recruitment and engagement.
- Drive authentic storytelling across all channels.
- Deliver continuous innovation through market insights, horizon scanning, monitoring emerging trends, and championing creative, forward-thinking strategies to keep the institutional brands competitive and differentiated.
- Work closely with the GUS Canada CEO on specific requirements for North America widely to deliver marketing and communication needs.
Communications & Reputation
- Work closely with the Group Communications Director to deliver Canada-wide communications and PR, including internal communications, employee engagement, and executive positioning working with institutional teams and context and serving as the relevant spokesperson with the media as required.
- Lead multi-jurisdictional crisis communications in partnership with senior leadership.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Partner with Recruitment and Admissions teams to support domestic and international enrolment goals while ensuring consistent messaging and brand standards.
- Act as a strategic partner to the executive team on growth, market entry, and programme launches.
- Build strong relationships across academic leadership, admissions, operations, and student services to align marketing and communications with business needs.
- Engage with external partners, agencies, media, and industry groups to expand visibility and influence.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and inspire a nimble and robust marketing and communications team, fostering creativity, accountability, and innovation.
- Work closely with institutional and global leadership to collaborate, drive performance, campaigns and revenue growth.
- Invest in talent development and succession planning across the marketing and communications function.
Performance & Growth
- Manage budgets and ensure strong ROI across marketing and communications investments.
- Use analytics and performance metrics to inform strategy and optimize campaigns.
- Commission and apply market research to identify opportunities for differentiation and growth.
Position Requirements
To be successful in the Vice President of Marketing and Communications position, an individual must be committed to developing, maintaining, and demonstrating the following:
Education and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree marketing, business or a related field required; MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred.
- A minimum of 10 years of senior marketing, brand and communications leadership experience, preferably within higher education or EdTech or other complex global industries.
- A commitment to and history of professional development.
Competencies:
- Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of multi-brand marketing, branding and communications strategies, navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments across diverse markets.
- Creative mindset with proven ability to deliver compelling brand storytelling and campaigns.
- Strong background in digital and performance marketing, and marketing technology.
- Significant experience in communications, media relations, crisis management and executive communications.
- Proven ability in managing budgets, and hiring, training, developing, and supervising staff.
- Ability to compile and analyze performance data in order to develop metrics that support decision-making for resource allocation and marketing campaigns.
- Excellent judgment, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Strong creative, strategic, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and responsibly while managing numerous projects simultaneously.
- Superior written and oral communication skills, including group presentation and facilitation skills.
The post holder may be asked to undertake different or additional duties in line with business requirements at the request of their line manager.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application to jobs@guscanada.ca.
GUS Canada is an equal opportunity employer promoting fair and unbiased treatment in the workplace. GUS Canada will not discriminate and will take measures to safeguard against discrimination in all aspects of employment on any protected grounds of discrimination. We welcome the diversification of our community by creating and supporting fair and equitable initiatives and removing barriers faced by equity- seeking groups.
Employees are expected to uphold the company’s values and comply with the Code of Conduct, as well as all policies related to respectful workplace, equality and diversity, health and safety, and safeguarding.
About University Canada West
University Canada West (UCW) is an innovative business and technology-oriented institution in downtown Vancouver, Canada, offering online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degrees for domestic and international students.
Established in 2004, the university is a dynamic and growing institution defined by its close connections to the business community and a commitment to outstanding student services.
Rated as a 5 Star institution by the QS Stars higher education rating system, UCW prides itself on going above and beyond to foster a personalized learning experience for students.
UCW opened its second campus at Vancouver House in October 2020 and currently has more than 4,000 students from over 90 countries. UCW has also expanded its offerings to include several micro-credentials for students or working professionals looking to upskill.
UCW offers four degrees – Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication and Associate of Arts, as well as two preparatory programs – MBA Foundation and University Access Program, which is accredited by Languages Canada. UCW’s MBA and BCom programs are ACBSP and NCMA accredited.
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About the role
**Position Job Title:**Vice President (VP) of Marketing and Communications, GUS North America
**Location:**Canada
**Reports To:**Group Chief Marketing Officer (Group CMO), Chief Executive Officer, GUS North America
About Global University Systems (GUS)
Global University Systems (GUS) is an international education group that empowers students to transform their lives through education. We believe education drives careers, lives, and society forward, enabling a brighter future for all. Our network of 30 institutions offers the broadest range of industry relevant skills through inclusive, accessible, and digital-first learning. We currently educate around 122,000 students on campuses worldwide and have 20M+ unique subscribers to our courses. Our global ecosystem powers accessible digital learning and academic achievement.
About Global University Systems Canada (GUS Canada)
Global University Systems Canada (GUS Canada), a subsidiary of Global University Systems (GUS), is a network of higher education institutions dedicated to delivering innovative and accessible education that supports graduate success through industry-aligned partnerships and collaborations. Our network of institutions is united by a shared commitment to providing accessible, industry-relevant qualifications. GUS Canada is strongly committed to fostering diversity across our community and values inclusion, collaboration, and sustainability.
Primary Purpose
We are seeking an exceptional Vice President of Marketing and Communications to lead the GUS North America marketing and communications strategy across our diverse institutions – University of Canada West (UCW), University of Niagara Falls (UNF), Trebas Institute, Ontario Institute of Health and Innovation (OIHI) and Avila University Arizona (AUA).
This pivotal role demands a strategic, creative, and digitally focused leader who can blend vision with operational excellence. The VP will drive brand strategies, creative excellence, marketing performance, and communications delivery to support student recruitment, brand growth, and institutional reputations in Canada and worldwide.
Reporting to the Group Chief Marketing Officer (Group CMO) and Chief Executive Officer, GUS North America and working in close partnership with senior leadership across Canada, Academic leaders, and institutional marketing and wider teams, the VP will lead a team designed to deliver initiatives that drive brand awareness, student recruitment and revenue growth.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Brand
- Working closely with the Group CMO and respective Institutional Leads, define and deliver institutional brand, marketing and communication strategies that drive brand positioning, campaign performance, market research, and data-informed decision-making to support institutional growth.
- Champion marketing innovation, creativity, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement.
Digital, Creative & Marketing Excellence
- Oversee brand and content across all channels, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging and engagement with prospective and current students, alumni, and key stakeholders to deliver cohesive brand positioning across diverse markets while allowing for localized adaptations.
- Work with the Group CMO and Global Creative Director to establish and enforce brand guidelines to strengthen brand value, clarity, and performance.
- Direct integrated marketing operations and partnerships, manage vendors, production, and innovation to enhance visibility, reputation, and impact.
- Lead integrated marketing campaigns across digital and traditional channels (SEO, SEM, advertising, PR) to elevate institutional profiles and achieve strategic goals in communications, student recruitment and engagement.
- Drive authentic storytelling across all channels.
- Deliver continuous innovation through market insights, horizon scanning, monitoring emerging trends, and championing creative, forward-thinking strategies to keep the institutional brands competitive and differentiated.
- Work closely with the GUS Canada CEO on specific requirements for North America widely to deliver marketing and communication needs.
Communications & Reputation
- Work closely with the Group Communications Director to deliver Canada-wide communications and PR, including internal communications, employee engagement, and executive positioning working with institutional teams and context and serving as the relevant spokesperson with the media as required.
- Lead multi-jurisdictional crisis communications in partnership with senior leadership.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships
- Partner with Recruitment and Admissions teams to support domestic and international enrolment goals while ensuring consistent messaging and brand standards.
- Act as a strategic partner to the executive team on growth, market entry, and programme launches.
- Build strong relationships across academic leadership, admissions, operations, and student services to align marketing and communications with business needs.
- Engage with external partners, agencies, media, and industry groups to expand visibility and influence.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and inspire a nimble and robust marketing and communications team, fostering creativity, accountability, and innovation.
- Work closely with institutional and global leadership to collaborate, drive performance, campaigns and revenue growth.
- Invest in talent development and succession planning across the marketing and communications function.
Performance & Growth
- Manage budgets and ensure strong ROI across marketing and communications investments.
- Use analytics and performance metrics to inform strategy and optimize campaigns.
- Commission and apply market research to identify opportunities for differentiation and growth.
Position Requirements
To be successful in the Vice President of Marketing and Communications position, an individual must be committed to developing, maintaining, and demonstrating the following:
Education and experience:
- Bachelor’s degree marketing, business or a related field required; MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred.
- A minimum of 10 years of senior marketing, brand and communications leadership experience, preferably within higher education or EdTech or other complex global industries.
- A commitment to and history of professional development.
Competencies:
- Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of multi-brand marketing, branding and communications strategies, navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments across diverse markets.
- Creative mindset with proven ability to deliver compelling brand storytelling and campaigns.
- Strong background in digital and performance marketing, and marketing technology.
- Significant experience in communications, media relations, crisis management and executive communications.
- Proven ability in managing budgets, and hiring, training, developing, and supervising staff.
- Ability to compile and analyze performance data in order to develop metrics that support decision-making for resource allocation and marketing campaigns.
- Excellent judgment, decision-making and problem-solving skills.
- Strong creative, strategic, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Ability to work independently and responsibly while managing numerous projects simultaneously.
- Superior written and oral communication skills, including group presentation and facilitation skills.
The post holder may be asked to undertake different or additional duties in line with business requirements at the request of their line manager.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit their application to jobs@guscanada.ca.
GUS Canada is an equal opportunity employer promoting fair and unbiased treatment in the workplace. GUS Canada will not discriminate and will take measures to safeguard against discrimination in all aspects of employment on any protected grounds of discrimination. We welcome the diversification of our community by creating and supporting fair and equitable initiatives and removing barriers faced by equity- seeking groups.
Employees are expected to uphold the company’s values and comply with the Code of Conduct, as well as all policies related to respectful workplace, equality and diversity, health and safety, and safeguarding.
About University Canada West
University Canada West (UCW) is an innovative business and technology-oriented institution in downtown Vancouver, Canada, offering online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degrees for domestic and international students.
Established in 2004, the university is a dynamic and growing institution defined by its close connections to the business community and a commitment to outstanding student services.
Rated as a 5 Star institution by the QS Stars higher education rating system, UCW prides itself on going above and beyond to foster a personalized learning experience for students.
UCW opened its second campus at Vancouver House in October 2020 and currently has more than 4,000 students from over 90 countries. UCW has also expanded its offerings to include several micro-credentials for students or working professionals looking to upskill.
UCW offers four degrees – Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication and Associate of Arts, as well as two preparatory programs – MBA Foundation and University Access Program, which is accredited by Languages Canada. UCW’s MBA and BCom programs are ACBSP and NCMA accredited.