EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, BRAND ADVANCEMENT & INDUSTRY RELATIONS (CHARLOTTE, NC)

About:

At Chartwells Higher Education, we believe the student experience is sacred—and food is at the heart of it. As we continue to redefine what modern campus dining can be, we are seeking an Executive Vice President, Brand Advancement and Industry Relations to guide our long-term direction, amplify our brand, and unite both clients and guests around a shared vision of possibility.  This isn't just a seat at the table—this is the person building the table for what’s next. Join a team of food-forward difference makers, bound together by the desire to feed hungry minds and prepare students for future success.

Job Summary:

As the Executive Vice President, Brand Advancement and Industry Relations, you will drive innovation strategy, strengthen industry partnerships, and amplify brand presence across both B2B and B2C audiences. You will guide the company through evolving trends in food service, education, culture, and marketing, while ensuring our institutional clients and guests see, feel, and experience our value.

You’ll work across the executive team to translate vision into bold storytelling, scalable solutions, and a brand presence that resonates from the boardroom to the dining hall.

Responsibilities:

Vision & Strategic Foresight

• Define and champion a bold, differentiated vision for the future of campus dining, student engagement, and institutional partnership.
• Identify trends across higher ed, Gen Z culture, tech, and hospitality—and shape strategies around them.
• Identify key priorities for institutional clients and develop solutions to help drive success for today and the future.
• Build vision frameworks and tools that align executive leadership, operators, and partners around a shared future leading to execution.

Enterprise Innovation

• Lead cross-functional ideation sprints focused on culinary innovation, digital engagement, sustainability, and experience design.
• Partner with sales, marketing, culinary, digital, and operations teams to incubate and launch high-impact programs and pilots.
• Drive a culture of innovation by developing tools and practices that make "what if?" part of our everyday language.

Industry Relations and External Partnerships

• Represent Chartwells at industry events, think tanks, and higher education forums as a futurist brand ambassador.
• Contribute to white papers, keynote content, and executive presentations.
• Forge partnerships with startups, academic institutions, and innovation labs to bring cutting-edge thinking into the organization.
• Monitor regulatory, economic and industry trends impacting Chartwells’ clients.

Relationship Building & Field Advocacy

• Build authentic relationships with university leaders, administrators, and key stakeholders, becoming a trusted voice in vision-setting conversations.
• Champion initiatives related to innovation, sustainability, and community impact.
• Equip field teams with messaging, insights, and tools to drive the Chartwells brand at the local level.
• Serve as a strategic connector between national initiatives and campus needs—ensuring vision is translated and felt across all locations.
• Work with sales team to help build our value proposition in our RFPs.

Brand Leadership — B2B and B2C

• Partner closely with marketing and communications teams to create emotionally resonant and insight-driven campaigns that elevate Chartwells as a partner of choice and a student lifestyle brand.
• Guide storytelling strategy across digital platforms, campus materials, business development assets, and leadership communications.  

Qualifications:

Required:

• 10+ years in senior leadership roles involving strategy, innovation, brand marketing (B2B and B2C), or corporate transformation.
• Proven success driving brand elevation and client retention through thought leadership and future-focused positioning.
• Deep understanding of customer (student) behavior, Gen Z engagement, and client relationship management.
• A highly creative, strategic thinker with exceptional storytelling, facilitation, and communication skills.

Preferred:

• Experience in foodservice, higher education, or hospitality.
• Background in foresight, design thinking, or transformation consulting.
• Proficiency in aligning brand, innovation, and business development strategies.

You Might Be the Ideal Fit If You...

• Think like a strategist, move like a marketer, and communicate like a founder.
• Thrive at the intersection of possibility, people, and performance.
• Believe that great brands are not just seen—they are felt.
• Can rally teams around a vision—and translate that vision into practical, field-level action.
• Are inspired by the student experience and passionate about creating the future of higher education dining.