Executive Communications Director (Hybrid Opportunity)
Executive Communications Director (Hybrid Opportunity)
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Job Description
About UMass Amherst
The flagship of the Commonwealth the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access fuel innovation and creativity and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863 UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching research scholarship and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse equitable and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valuedand thrives and offers a full range of undergraduate graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental social economic and technological challenges in our world.
Job Summary
The Executive Communications Director serves as principal communications strategist and senior advisor to the Provost on all communications matters. The Executive Communications Director (ECD) develops and executes a comprehensive and proactive communications strategy that aligns with institutional priorities and amplifies the voice of Academic Affairs. The ECD maintains close communication with University Relations and Issues Management about emerging issues and coordinates the Provosts Offices communications response.
The Executive Communications Director acts as the primary writer for the Provost and editorial liaison on collaborative written communication for the office and serves as a key liaison with University leadershipexternal stakeholders and strategic partners. The ECD is amember of the Provosts Leadership Team and collaborates with senior academic and administrative leaders across the institution.
Essential Duties
- Acts as a communications thought partner and principal strategist to the Provost providing guidance on key strategic communications initiatives and high-priority projects.
- Develops a wide range of internal and external strategic communications including but not limited to verbal written nonverbal and visual communications to support both the Provosts Offices and the Universitys overall strategic goals demonstrating measurable impact.
- Develops and executes an internal communications strategy to advance the mission values and goals of academic affairs.
- Plans and executes strategic communications in response to emerging issues.
- Oversees the strategic redesign of the Provosts Office website generates and manages the website content and manages ongoing updates and changes.
- Writes edits and produces compelling content for the provosts speeches talking points presentations keynote addresses emails scripts and other high-level communications that execute the overall messaging strategy for the Provost and the University at large.
- Provides proactive communications support cross-institutional coordination and strategic direction for the Provosts Offices special initiatives such as Faculty Success Operational Excellence and others.
- Develops communications with the appropriate voice cadence and style for the provost factoring in audience intent and occasion.
- Ensures all prepared remarks and other public statements including those prepared by other offices are accurate fact-checked and proofread. Provides supporting references for data quotes and other citations used in communications.
- Stays abreast of the latest and emerging news and information relevant to the campus community that may inform messaging and strategy.
- Uses content management systems to deliver and measure the consumption and impact of communications.
- Works in a deadline-driven writing environment with multiple projects and quick turnarounds.
- Collaborates across Schools and Colleges to align Academic Affairs messaging with institutional goals.
- Participates as a member of the Provosts Leadership Team advising on communication risks and opportunities.
Other Functions
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)
- Bachelors degree with more than seven (7) years of relevant progressive experience in communications with demonstrated experience leveraging a variety of communication methods and channels to support key strategic initiatives.
- Institutional knowledge of higher education particularly research universities.
- Experience working under the pressure of deadlines particularly as it relates to drafting effective statements that address multiple stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to appropriately represent senior leadership through communications to a wide range of audiences and occasions.
- Excellent writing editing and storytelling skills with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences through a variety of platforms including PowerPoint presentations social media platforms and email.
- Project management expertise with a proven record of performance-driven results. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to utilize independent judgment and manage sensitive and/or confidential information with discretion.
- Ability to independently set priorities plan organize coordinate and direct multiple concurrent projects and complex tasks coupled with the ability to develop and move strategic agendas forward and drive a high volume of work to completion.
- Ability to work both independently at times and collaboratively with colleagues spread across multiple departments.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities.
- Experience working in and navigating content management systems (e.g. Drupal) and customer relationship management platforms (e.g. Marketing Cloud).
- Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to establish and maintain positive working relationships with external and internal constituents and to ensure collaboration and cooperation among administrative units within Academic Affairs.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
- Typical office environment.
- Position requires occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds and the ability to travel between locations.
- Occasional travel evening and weekend work required.
Work Schedule
- Typical work schedule: Monday Friday 8:30 am 5:00 pm with occasional nights or weekends in support of the Provosts Office initiatives.
- This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employees work isregularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. Asthis position is non-unit it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University ofMassachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional) Employee Personnel Policy.
Salary Information
Salary Level 30
Special Instructions to Applicants
Along with the application please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
