Chief Marketing Officer (Founding University Launch)

Role Overview

Marketing Strategy & Execution

• Lead the execution of the institution’s brand strategy, ensuring strong brand identity, positioning, and market competitiveness across multiple international markets and segments.
• Develop and execute annual marketing plans and campaign calendars aligned with enrolment and revenue targets.
• Design and implement best-in-class marketing campaigns driven by customer insights, effective messaging, creative execution, and optimized channel selection.
• Integrate digital lead generation campaigns into the overall marketing strategy.
• Act as the product owner for the institution’s website and digital presence.
• Support planning and execution of key institutional events and activations.
• Own lead generation targets and collaborate closely with student recruitment teams to support enrolment objectives.
• Continuously improve marketing effectiveness through innovation in reporting, automation, analytics, and campaign optimization.
• Ensure integrated delivery of marketing activities across all channels and platforms.
• Maintain a digital-first approach by staying current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and marketing best practices.
• Build and develop a high-performing marketing team over time through effective leadership, mentorship, and performance management.

Brand & Stakeholder Collaboration

• Shape how the institution presents itself to prospective students, families, and the broader higher education market.
• Collaborate with academic leadership, admissions teams, and internal stakeholders to create compelling, accurate, and conversion-focused messaging.
• Ensure alignment with strategic partners and external stakeholders on brand standards and marketing best practices.
• Manage relationships with external marketing, media, and recruitment vendors.

Budget & Operations

• Develop and manage the marketing budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and measurable return on investment.
• Provide accurate reporting and forecasting on recruitment performance, campaign effectiveness, and digital marketing impact.
• Support the establishment of scalable marketing policies, procedures, and operational standards.

Experience & Background

• Minimum 15 years of experience in marketing, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Strong background in marketing strategy, planning, and lead generation across multiple markets and customer segments.
• Proven expertise across the full marketing spectrum, including:
• + Brand strategy
• + Campaign development
• + Media buying
• + Digital marketing
• + Social media

+ SEO & SEM

• + Website development
• + Content production
• + Public relations
• + Event management
• + Sponsorships
• + Market research & analytics
• + Marketing optimization
• Experience building and launching new consumer brands, ideally within startup or high-growth environments.
• Experience managing cross-functional or geographically distributed teams.
• Strong agency and budget management experience.
• Extensive experience with CRM systems, marketing automation tools, dashboards, and automated workflows.
• Experience in education is preferred but not essential. Candidates from competitive B2C sectors such as telecommunications, retail, banking, technology, or automotive are also encouraged to apply.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business goals into actionable marketing and recruitment plans.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to leverage insights and performance metrics for continuous improvement.
• Strong cultural awareness and understanding of factors influencing student and consumer decision-making.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong sense of ownership and adaptability.
• Fluent in English; Arabic language skills are an advantage.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Strategy, or a related discipline is an advantage.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.
• Medical insurance and standard employee benefits.
• A collaborative, ambitious, and fast-paced work environment with strong opportunities for growth.
• A unique opportunity to build and shape a new institution in one of the region’s most dynamic education markets.