Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Are you a visionary marketing leader ready to shape the narrative of innovation in Virginia?

Do you have a passion for building strategic brands, fostering collaboration, and driving measurable impact across digital, media, and ecosystem channels?

The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) is seeking a dynamic Senior Director of Marketing and Communications to lead our brand, engagement, and messaging strategy. As a critical member of the leadership team, you’ll champion the visibility of our mission and ensure cohesive, bold communication across platforms, partners, and internal teams.

Company Overview

The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) is Virginia’s designated authority for leading innovation and economic development in the Commonwealth of Virginia through research, commercialization, and technology advancement; entrepreneurship, startup, and venture capital growth; and regional ecosystem, innovation network, and industry sector expansion.

As part of its operations, VIPC helps attract and catalyze private investment into early-stage startup companies, provides research and technology commercialization grants to universities and entrepreneurs, and offers resource and funding support for entrepreneurial ecosystems, innovation networks, and public-private partnerships at local, state, and federal levels.

What You’ll Do

Leadership & Team Management

• Act as a key integrator and thought partner across VIPC divisions, effectively influencing to align priorities and drive enterprise-wide collaboration.
• Develop and implement an integrated communications and marketing plan tied to VIPC’s strategic goals.
• Directly manage the Communications and Marketing team.
• Establish and track clear performance metrics for team outputs, external engagement, and communications ROI with direct impact on organizational objectives.
• Manage the strategic integration of external partnerships into internal workflows, ensuring optimal support across creative development, digital engagement, and paid media initiatives.
• Oversee budgeting, planning, professional development, and cross-divisional collaboration efforts.
• Provide regular reports to the Executive Leadership team and Board of Directors on communications impact and initiatives.

Branding, Advertising, and Digital Strategy

• Lead the refinement and consistent application of VIPC’s brand identity across all media and platforms.
• Establish metrics and reporting frameworks to measure communications impact and ROI.
• Oversee the creation and distribution of marketing materials, digital assets, and publications, including website, mobile, and emerging technologies.
• Direct the development and execution of targeted paid, owned, and earned media campaigns to increase VIPC’s visibility, stakeholder engagement, and lead generation efforts.
• Collaborate with state agencies and regional partners to integrate brand messaging and enhance the Commonwealth’s value proposition for early-stage technology innovation.
• Manage vendor relationships and budgets tied to advertising and brand development.

Outreach, Ecosystem Awareness, and Customer Engagement

• Design and implement outreach strategies to grow engagement among key stakeholders.
• Lead the development and implementation of CRM strategy to support audience segmentation, targeted campaigns, and personalized communication, including content tagging, workflows, and automation for email and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborate with the Data team to ensure a unified CRM experience across stakeholder touchpoints.
• Build and lead state-wide marketing collaboration with ESOs and other early-stage technology ecosystem partners, including VEDP, to amplify impact and improve Virginia’s reputation as an innovative state.
• Coordinate high-profile events and ecosystem programming to elevate Virginia’s and VIPC’s brand awareness for leadership in innovation.
• Analyze and report on outreach performance metrics to inform and adjust campaign strategies.

Communications Management and Media Relations

• Demonstrate executive presence in all communications: translating complex ideas for diverse audiences while fostering trust and alignment across internal and external stakeholders.
• Serve as lead spokesperson and media strategist for VIPC, cultivating press relationships and securing earned media opportunities.
• Develop and manage strategic media relations programs in collaboration with state partners to maximize VIPC’s exposure and brand value.
• Prepare executive leadership for media engagements with talking points, speeches, and presentations.
• Implement internal communications strategies to promote information sharing and alignment across VIPC divisions.

Who You Are

• You’re a strategic marketing executive who knows how to blend storytelling, strategy, and execution.
• You thrive on collaboration and know how to navigate complexity with grace and confidence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• 15+ years of experience in high-impact, multi-channel marketing and communications.
• Proven track record in managing integrated communications plans, branding, digital strategy, media relations, and team leadership.
• Experience managing external agencies, digital tools, and CRM platforms to drive audience engagement and campaign performance.
• Skilled communicator, writer, and presenter with the ability to distill complex ideas for diverse audiences.

What You Bring to the Table

• Values Alignment – You live the VIPC core values: Integrity, Innovation, Collaboration, Excellence, and Mission-Driven Leadership.
• Emotional Intelligence – You inspire trust, lead with empathy, and communicate with authenticity.
• Strategic Agility – You know how to connect the dots and turn vision into action.
• Results Orientation – You bring a data-driven mindset and the ability to measure what matters.
• Partnership Focus – You thrive in collaborative environments and understand the power of community.

Why Join VIPC?

• Purpose-Driven Work: Be at the center of Virginia’s innovation engine—impacting entrepreneurs, investors, universities, and state leaders.
• Collaborative Culture: Join a close-knit team of experts passionate about making Virginia the best place to start and scale companies.
• Growth-Oriented: We invest in our people through ongoing learning, professional development, and career advancement.
• State-Supported Stability: Enjoy the benefits and resources of a nonprofit with strong public sector partnerships.

Ready to Make an Impact?

• Apply today and help shape the voice of innovation in Virginia.
• Send your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Please include the title of the position in the subject line.

VIPC is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating a welcoming environment for all employees.