Manager, Communications and Engagement, Public Safety

Position Summary:

The Communications & Engagement Manager leads the development execution and continuous refinement of a comprehensive communications and community-engagement strategy for Vanderbilt University Public Safety (VUPS). This role is essential to advancing VUPSs mission and supporting the Chiefs four guiding imperatives: Institutional Trust & Legitimacy; Operational Excellence & Strategic Innovation; Community Collaboration & Transparency; and Training Wellness Talent Development & Retention.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications & Marketing for the Division of Administration with a close partnership to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety the manager ensures that VUPS communicates with clarity transparency and accessibility. This position translates complex public safety operations into community-centered narratives; builds sustained engagement with students faculty staff neighbors and external partners; and strengthens trust in VUPS through proactive human-centered storytelling.

The ideal candidate is a strategic communicator relationship-builder and creative problem-solver who can operate effectively in a fast-paced environment collaborate across teams and help elevate VUPS as a national model for modern community-centered campus safety.

Departmental Overview:

The Division of Administration supports the universitys academic mission by delivering a broad range of essential operational services and initiatives that enable teaching learning research and residential life. With a focus on excellence accountability and innovation the division encompasses Auxiliary Services Public Safety Equal Access and Opportunity Dialogue Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt UniversityNew York City. The division is committed to ensuring operational excellence enhancing community well-being and advancing strategic goals through collaborative partnerships and a people-first philosophy.

Vanderbilt University Public Safety is a full-service campus safety organization that includes police security and emergency management operations serving the Vanderbilt enterprise. The department is committed to innovation excellence community partnership and continuous improvement.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Communications Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement an integrated VUPS communication strategy aligned with the Chiefs four imperatives and the Division of Administrations goals.
• Produce clear accessible content across channels including MyVU stories campus messages briefings social media digital signage video and VUPS web pages.
• Create and manage plain-language transparency explainers (e.g. body-worn cameras Field Stop Receipts advisory board emergency response expectations What happens when you call VUPS).
• Establish a quarterly Public Safety Brief from the Chief and maintain a consistent predictable communication cadence to the Vanderbilt community.
• Support crisis and incident communications in collaboration with the DofA Communications team and Division of Administration partners.
• Ensure alignment with institutional tone accessibility standards brand consistency and regulatory requirements.

Community & Student Engagement

• Lead the design and execution of a comprehensive community engagement program that strengthens relationships with students faculty staff neighbors and partners.
• Support the establishment and ongoing facilitation of the Police Advisory Board ensuring meaningful two-way feedback and transparent follow-through.
• Coordinate engagement with student groups (VSG GSC Residential Colleges international student groups affinity organizations) and develop programming that meets community needs.
• Lead student-facing campaigns such as VandySafe awareness safety education initiatives and collaborative events (safety fairs AMA sessions Coffee with VUPS campus tours).
• Develop and oversee a structured Liaison Officer Program that connects VUPS officers with specific student and faculty communities.
• Support campuswide emergency preparedness programming with consistent communications and education.

Operational Excellence & Internal Partnerships

• Work in close partnership with VUPS leadership to understand ongoing modernization efforts (Security Operations Center Threat Assessment & Mitigation Unit EOP updates training investments) and translate them into community-facing stories.
• Develop internal communications for VUPS leadership to ensure clarity alignment and morale across police security dispatch and emergency management units.
• Partner with Facilities Student Affairs Human Resources Emergency Preparedness and other units to coordinate safety-related messaging.
• Support officer training recognition recruitment and retention through storytelling and visibility of VUPSs professionalism and culture.

Digital Strategy Data & Feedback

• Manage the VUPS website safety resource hubs and digital communication channels to ensure accuracy clarity and user-centered design.
• Track and report metrics on email engagement social reach web traffic safety campaign effectiveness and community sentiment.
• Establish feedback loops including surveys QR code channels and follow-up communications (You Said We Did).
• Provide regular analytics reports and recommendations to VUPS and DoA leadership.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position may supervise student employees interns or part-time communications assistants.

Experience and Education:

• Bachelors degree required.

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in communications public affairs marketing or community engagement.

• Experience in public safety crisis communication higher education or government strongly preferred.

• Experience partnering with or communicating to student audiences is strongly preferred.

Skills:

• Exceptional writing editing proofreading and visual storytelling skills across formats.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex operational or policy concepts in clear accessible language.

• Proven experience designing and managing communications strategies that build trust in sensitive or high-stakes environments.

• Strong interpersonal skills; able to build relationships with officers students faculty staff and external stakeholders.

• High emotional intelligence; ability to convey empathy clarity and professionalism during difficult or high-pressure situations.

• Strong project management skills; highly organized; able to manage multiple simultaneous priorities.

• Comfort with analytics and data-informed storytelling.

• Familiarity with platforms such as Microsoft Teams WordPress Emma and basic design/video tools.

• Ability to work collaboratively across a complex organization with shared leadership models.