Chief Marketing Officer, University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield, England

Whether it's through learning, teaching or business and research partnerships, the University of Hertfordshire transforms bold ambition into impactful achievements.

For more than 70 years, Herts has been an innovative educational force. From our start in training aerospace engineers for Britain’s aviation industry to our extensive offering today, our focus has always been on understanding what employers want, and today, our vision remains unchanged.

We are a modern, dynamic, and enterprising university, and an anchor institution in the region, supporting its growth as a top destination for a range of industries and professions.

Our vibrant community of nearly 35,000 students from over 110 countries, benefit from high-quality teaching delivered by experts engaged in cutting-edge research. We offer more than 700 career-focused degrees, strong industry connections, industry standard facilities and opportunities to study at more than 170 universities worldwide, to prepare our students to succeed in a competitive global market.

We are a university that champions progress. We empower social mobility and cultivate the leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Through partnerships with key employers, professional bodies, and government, we ensure our teaching and research responds to real-world challenges. We collaborate to drive great opportunities that lead to positive outcomes regionally, nationally, globally; from Herts to the world.

Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in the Chief Marketing Officer position at the University of Hertfordshire. I’m delighted that you are exploring this opportunity at what is a defining and energising moment for our institution. Having taken up the role of Vice-Chancellor on 1st August, one of my earliest and most significant priorities is to appoint a Chief Marketing Officer who will help shape our next chapter of growth, visibility, and impact – locally, nationally, and across the globe.
The University of Hertfordshire is a place of purpose, progress, and partnership. Rooted in our region yet globally connected, we are one of the UK’s most dynamic and enterprising universities, with nearly 35,000 students studying across our campuses and at 170 partner universities worldwide. Proudly modern in outlook, we are deeply committed to widening access and opportunity and consistently recognised for the quality and impact of our educational provision, research, and student support.
Awarded an overall Silver rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 - signifying ‘very high quality’ in both student experience and outcomes - we are ambitious not only for institutional success, but for the success of every individual who studies, works, or partners with us.
As Chief Marketing Officer, you will be at the heart of this mission. This is a newly configured executive role, reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, with a broad and high-impact remit across marketing and communications, UK and international student recruitment, and strategic partnerships. We are seeking a senior leader with a rare combination of attributes: a brand strategist with global fluency and insight; a commercially-minded architect of partnerships and recruitment pathways; and a data-savvy storyteller who can amplify our achievements and shape our reputation across diverse platforms and markets. You will lead a talented team spanning marketing, communications, international engagement, and partnerships – and you will bring together these capabilities to tell a cohesive, compelling story about who we are and where we are heading.
This role speaks to the scale and ambition of Hertfordshire. With a turnover of over £420 million, a growing research portfolio that delivers internationally renowned, impact-driven research, and a vibrant innovation ecosystem - delivered through Herts Regional Enterprise and our Enterprise Hub at the de Havilland campus - we are a university that understands the power of visibility, narrative, and strategic influence. Whether building our international profile, optimising our performance in global rankings, expanding our external engagement, or enhancing the student experience through insight-led communications, your leadership will be instrumental in driving forward our strategic goals.
We are looking for someone who brings not only professional excellence, but personal values that align with our own – collaboration, inclusivity, authenticity, and ambition. If you are excited by the opportunity to help define the voice and reputation of one of the UK’s most forward-thinking universities, I warmly encourage you to explore this opportunity further.
I look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to our Hertfordshire community.
Warm regards,
Professor Anthony Woodman
Vice-Chancellor
University of Hertfordshire
Please click below to read the Recruitment Pack:
Chief Marketing Officer Recruitment Pack
All applications must include:
• A full curriculum vitae/resume
• Quoting the relevant role reference number: A040997
• A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and the University of Hertfordshire that particularly attract you to the post (Microsoft Word document)
• Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)
• A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *
Right to work checks
If you are successfully shortlisted, our partner, Yoti, will contact you to complete an online right to work check. This is a quick and secure process, ensuring that all necessary legal requirements are met before proceeding further in the recruitment process.
Monitoring
One of Alumni Global’s and The University of Hertfordshire objectives are to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.
For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:
Owen Francis, Director +44 73 8702 2263.
Candidate adjustment
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.
Closing date: 25th September 2025
Stakeholder Sessions: TBC
Final Interviews: 23rd October 2025
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.