Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Vacancy at Aga Khan University
Job Overview
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Vacancy at Aga Khan University
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO)
Aga Khan University
The position
Aga Khan University (AKU) is a leading international university and healthcare provider committed to excellence in education, clinical care, research, and community engagement. AKU operates across three continents and six countries including Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the United Kingdom and Afghanistan. Through an integrated network of academic faculties, teaching hospitals, research platforms and development initiatives, AKU delivers meaningful impact to diverse communities worldwide.
Position Overview
Aga Khan University invites applications for the position of Chief Marketing & Communications Officer (CMCO) — a senior executive leadership role reporting to the President or his designate. The CMCO will define and drive the University’s marketing and communications vision, ensuring that institutional priorities are translated into clear, credible, and high-impact market and stakeholder engagement strategies.
As a member of the senior leadership team, the CMCO will provide strategic counsel to executive leadership and lead a globally distributed function to deliver aligned, measurable, and reputation-enhancing communications outcomes.
Role Scope & Key Responsibilities
Strategic Brand & Market Leadership
Develop and steward a unified brand architecture across academic, clinical, research, and international programmes
Define brand positioning frameworks and audience strategies across various stakeholders
Ensure consistent institutional identity and message standards across all channels and campuses.
Institute Strategy & Governance
Develop and implement multi-year marketing and communications strategies and annual operating plans
Establish performance frameworks, KPIs, and ROI measurement models
Create enterprise communications governance standards and operating policies.
Executive & Reputation Advisory
Advise the President and senior leadership on communications positioning and stakeholder sensitivity
Lead institutional issues management and crisis communications response
Monitor reputation risk indicators and guide proactive mitigation strategies.
Media & Public Engagement
Build and manage senior-level media relationships across priority markets
Direct media strategy for institutional announcements and high-visibility initiatives
Oversee spokesperson strategy and media readiness frameworks.
Digital Strategy & Channel Performance
Lead and execute University’s digital marketing, website, and social platform strategy
Strengthen analytics and performance tracking across communication channels
Drive modernization of digital engagement and outreach approaches.
Stakeholder & Internal Communications
Design integrated internal communications frameworks across faculty, staff, and student communities
Partner with institutional leaders to align messaging across units and functions
Strengthen cross-campus communications coordination.
Content & Creative Direction
Set University’s content strategy and storytelling standards
Oversee development of flagship publications, campaigns, and multimedia assets
Ensure message clarity, audience relevance, and quality control.
Leadership & External Representation
Facilitate the University’s leadership in its strategic planning and institutional initiatives
Represent AKU in relevant external forums and partnerships related to marketing and communications
Support visibility-building collaborations and alliances.
Market Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation
Direct brand perception, stakeholder insight, and market intelligence studies
Integrate research findings into planning and positioning decisions
Strengthen evidence-based communications planning
Explore and guide the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI enabled analytics and content approaches to enhance engagement, digital modernization, insight generation and communication effectiveness.
The requirements
The ideal candidate will bring deep strategic leadership experience and a strong record of enterprise communications impact.
Qualifications & Experience
Advanced degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Affairs, or a related field
Professional certifications in leadership, digital strategy, or brand management preferred
Extensive senior leadership experience in strategic communications, marketing, or public affairs
Experience in complex institutions such as higher education, healthcare, development, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
Leadership & Functional Expertise
Proven success leading enterprise-wide communications and marketing strategies across diverse stakeholders and geographies
Demonstrated expertise in media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management
Strong track record of building and leading high-performing, multi-location teams
Experience advising executive leadership on communications and positioning strategy.
Capabilities & Attributes
Excellent judgment in high-stakes and sensitive environments
Strong influence, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
Global mindset with cultural fluency and cross-regional leadership capability
Strategic thinker with execution discipline and results orientation.
Why This Role Matters
This is a high-impact executive opportunity to shape and strengthen the voice, visibility, and reputation of a globally respected institution. The CMCO will influence how AKU is positioned, understood, and trusted across AKU’s global campuses and the individual will oversee a significant institutional communications and marketing operating budget.
About the Agency
Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university, with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries over three continents. An integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), AKU provides higher education in multiple health science and social science disciplines, carries out research pertinent primarily to low- and middle-income countries and operates 7 hospitals (soon 8) and over 325 outreach clinics, all at international standards. It has almost 2,500 students and 14,000 staff. The University is both a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change. As a leading international institution dedicated to excellence and change, AKU operates on the core principles of quality, relevance, impact and access. More information ….
Region: Multiple
Salary: Salary and package to attract the best candidate
Job Expires19-Apr-2026
How to Apply:
