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Join the Nation’s Premier Graduate Program in Advertising and Branding

Are you a leader in the creative industries, ready to inspire the next generation of trailblazers? The VCU Brandcenter—a top-ranked graduate program in advertising, branding, and innovation—is seeking distinguished practitioners to join us as a Creative Concentration Lead (Copywriting).

This is your opportunity to step into an academic setting and share your expertise, creativity, and passion with the brightest emerging talent in the industry while also rejuvenating your own professional perspective.

At the VCU Brandcenter, we don’t just teach—we create. Our program is where big ideas meet real-world application, and where students transform into industry-ready leaders. As a Creative Concentration Lead (Copywriting), you will:

• Shape the Future: Inspire and mentor students who are pushing boundaries in strategy, creative direction, copywriting, brand management, and more.
• Stay Ahead of the Curve: Immerse yourself in the energy of cutting-edge ideas and fresh perspectives that will invigorate your own professional work.
• Collaborate with Leaders: Work alongside top-tier faculty who bring a mix of academic rigor and industry experience to the classroom.
• Engage with Innovation: Be part of a program known for producing the most awarded creative talent, with graduates leading global campaigns and redefining industries.

The ideal candidate is a creative professional with at least 7 to 10 years of industry experience who is ready to share their knowledge with the next generation of advertising and branding talent. They are a copywriter whose experience bridges the craft and fundamentals of traditional advertising with expertise in today’s social platforms. The position requires a candidate with patience, understanding, and an ability to motivate students to a higher level of work. It also requires the ability to teach students how to think creatively and strategically, and how to put that thinking into well-crafted words.

This position also provides strategic leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of instructional programs and curricula to ensure student achievement and educational excellence. This role partners directly with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction.

Brandcenter faculty must actively and deeply engage in programmatic activities and matters that are beyond direct teaching responsibilities, including, but not limited to, recruiting, mentoring, attending student-related events, leading student groups, hosting workshops, participating in course and curriculum development, and attending department meetings.

This leadership role encompasses Creative faculty teaching assignment management, workload distribution assessment, and strategic class allocation in partnership with and guidance from the Director of Curriculum & Instruction. They will assist in evaluating Creative faculty performance and make recommendations regarding faculty placement to maximize instructional effectiveness and student success. They will serve as an advisor to the Executive Director.

Qualifications: 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master's degree strongly preferred, or bachelor's degree with evidence of sustained exceptional accomplishment in the field. 
• 7-10 years of industry experience in advertising, branding, marketing, innovation, or related fields, specifically with a background in Copywriting in a Creative Director-level role or higher.
• Must have current and relevant portfolio work that is award-winning and/or nationally recognized.
• Proven record of being able to execute and implement projects and the associated deliverables
• Proven record of creative and strategic excellence, whether in campaigns, product development, design, or storytelling at all stages of a campaign or project (creative strategy, concept development, creative execution, and presentation)
• Ability to teach courses in person and engage collaboratively with students and colleagues.
• Strong grasp on and experience creating content for a wide range of media and platforms. 
• Ability to translate real-world experience into actionable insights and lessons.
• A collaborative spirit and a desire to contribute to a vibrant academic community, along with a passion for teaching and mentoring future industry leaders
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

You don’t need prior teaching experience—your professional expertise and enthusiasm for shaping the future are what matter most.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven record of leading and mentoring junior talent
  Experience teaching at the college-level

Responsibilities: 

Curriculum Development & Implementation
Work with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction to:

• Develop and oversee the design of Creative curriculum that meets the Brandcenter's high standards, while regularly evaluating and updating materials and instructional methods to strengthen student learning outcomes
• Ensure the integration of technology and innovative teaching strategies
• Align Creative curriculum with industry needs to prepare students for today's workforce
• Responsible for teaching 3-4 courses per semester to graduate-level students.
• Responsible for providing recruitment support, in coordination with the Admissions team, for the Copywriting concentration, including but not limited to interviews, open houses, and campus visits
• Responsible for review and selection of prospective students
• Attend all faculty and department meetings

Faculty Assignment & Workload Management
Work with the Director of Curriculum & Instruction and Associate Director to:

• Make strategic recommendations and adjustments to teaching assignments based on faculty expertise and student needs, ensuring a balanced distribution of courses across faculty members.
• Regularly assess Creative faculty workload to maintain optimal instructional performance to prevent burnout and support effective course delivery.
• Provide recommendations on faculty involvement in special projects (e.g., NSAC, Cannes, award submissions), aligning opportunities with expertise and workload capacity.

Instructional Leadership & Faculty Evaluation

• Conduct thorough performance assessments of Creative faculty in partnership with the Executive Director and support and mentor professors to implement best instructional practices
• Provide evidence-based recommendations for Creative faculty placement to optimize instructional impact
• Facilitate collaboration among educators to develop interdisciplinary learning experiences and lead targeted professional development programs to enhance teaching effectiveness

Strategic Leadership & Advisory Role

• Serve as a key advisor to the Executive Director and Associate Director on curriculum strategy and faculty management
• Foster productive communication and collaboration among faculty members
• Advocate for necessary curriculum adjustments to maintain competitive advantage
• Contribute meaningfully to the Brandcenter's long-term academic planning processes
• Collaborate with the senior leadership team to align academic initiatives with the organization's mission
• Identify opportunities for innovation and growth in academic programming
• Communicate curriculum goals and changes effectively to all relevant parties

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Foster productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and develop strategic partnerships with industry organizations to enhance learning opportunities.
• Represent the Brandcenter's academic interests in professional forums and associations
• Will attend Senior Administration meetings as deemed appropriate by the Executive Director.
• Other tasks assigned by the Executive Director as needed

Contribute to Additional Projects:

• Strategic Initiatives: Participate in special projects or initiatives that align with Brandcenter’s mission and goals. This may include research, committee service, or contributing to new program development.
• Institutional Support: Assist with other responsibilities as needed to support the success and growth of the program.

Additional Information:

Application Process: Candidates should upload their application that includes: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names and e-mail addresses of four references. A copy of a portfolio showcasing your work is preferred, but not required. Reference letters will be requested by the search committee only for the short-listed candidates. Only complete applications that meet the required qualifications will be considered. Review of applications will start immediately, and will continue until filled. For additional information, please contact the search committee chair nguyenh23@vcu.edu.

All full-time university faculty are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid leave and holiday leave, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, generous tuition benefit, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000

Unit: School Of Business MBU

Department: Brandcenter

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Rank: Instructor

Tenure: Ineligible

Months: 9 months

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Hattie Nguyen
Contact Email: nguyenh23@vcu.edu