Senior Director of Executive Communications, EVPCOO Office

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Executive Communications for the EVP/COO serves as the principal communications strategist and senior communications lead for the EVP/COO. Embedded within the Office of the EVP/COO and fully integrated within Loyola Marymount Universitys Marketing Communications and External Relations (MarComm) division this position helps shape prioritize and communicate the executive agenda that supports the universitys administration operations organizational effectiveness while advancing institutional reputation and external engagement priorities.

This role functions as a strategic thought partner to the EVP/COO and as the offices senior communications counterpart to colleagues who support the President and the Provost. The Senior Director advises on narrative message strategy timing audience segmentation channel selection communications related to operational change management and issues sensitivity ensuring that communications from the Office of the EVP/COO are aligned with institutional priorities governance processes and the universitys broader communications strategy.

The Senior Director translates complex operational financial technical organizational and reputational matters into clear timely and audience-appropriate communications. The position develops executive messaging recurring leadership communications thought leadership content briefing materials and integrated communications plans that help the university community understand institutional decisions operational priorities why they matter how they are implemented and how they support the universitys priorities and long-term vitality.

The Senior Director is expected to integrate best and emerging practices including the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other AI-enabled technologies into day-to-day communications work. This includes using AI tools to accelerate research synthesis drafting analytics workflow management and content production in ways that improve productivity and efficiency speed and outcomes while preserving human judgment confidentiality accessibility accuracy ethics and institutional voice.

In this role communications are treated not simply as outputs but as a leadership discipline that builds clarity trust transparency alignment and institutional momentum.

Position Specific Responsibilities/Accountabilities

Executive Communications Strategy Counsel and Planning

• Serve as the primary and principal communications strategist for the EVP/COO advising on message architecture positioning timing sequencing stakeholder implications and reputational considerations.

• Develop proactive annual quarterly and initiative-specific communications strategies and roadmaps that support the priorities of the Office of the EVP/COO and advance understanding of key operational and organizational initiatives across the university.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive executive visibility strategy for the EVP/COO identifying opportunities to advance operational priorities through strategic communications speaking engagements thought leadership digital platforms and other high-impact channels.

• Develop and implement a strategic digital and social media approach for the EVP/COO that advances key operational priorities amplifies executive thought leadership and aligns with LMUs broader digital and social media strategy.

• Translate the EVP/COOs direction feedback and priorities into clear communications objectives integrated plans editorial calendars production schedules and measurable deliverables.

• Anticipate communications needs related to complex recurring systemic cross-functional or high-visibility matters before they become urgent and prepare messaging strategies that enable timely and confident executive communication.

• Exercise independent editorial and strategic judgment on behalf of the EVP/COO escalating appropriately when clarification alignment or executive review is required.

Executive Writing Thought Leadership and Content Development

• Develop and maintain an executive voice for the EVP/COO that is clear credible operationally grounded forward-looking and aligned with LMUs mission brand and tone.

• Research draft edit and finalize executive-level communications across multiple formats including campus messages leadership updates speeches and remarks executive correspondence briefing materials presentations reports FAQs and external facing-content such as blog posts and op-eds.

• Develop and manage executive digital and social media content and engagement strategies including drafting posts identifying opportunities for timely digital commentary and coordinating an editorial calendar across digital platforms to ensure consistency with institutional voice and priorities.

• Translate complex operational financial policy technical risk and organizational subject matter into compelling narratives that are accessible accurate and tailored to specific audiences.

• Own and continuously refine recurring EVP/COO communications channels and products ensuring they remain timely relevant informative and aligned with evolving institutional priorities.

• Establish and maintain high standards for clarity accuracy tone factchecking quality assurance and editorial consistency across all communications from the Office of the EVP/COO.

Cross-Functional Coordination and Institutional Alignment

• Serve as the embedded liaison between the Office of the EVP/COO and the MarComm division ensuring strong coordination disciplined workflows and a high level of responsiveness across communications functions.

• Work in close partnership with the Vice President for Communications and Public Relations the Senior Director of Executive Communications and Speechwriting the Executive Director of Leadership Engagement and Communications the Senior Director for Academic Communications and peers across Internal Communications Public and Media Relations Digital Strategy and Solutions and related teams.

• Coordinate closely with communications professionals who support the President the Provost and other senior leaders to ensure cohesive institutional messaging appropriate differentiation of executive voices and strategic alignment across the university.

• Partner effectively with leaders and subject matter experts across operations finance human resources information technology facilities campus safety auxiliary services external relations and other units to gather information shape narratives and coordinate communications execution.

Change Issues and Sensitive Communications

• Lead or support communications related to operational change service updates organizational transitions readiness and continuity matters complex institutional decisions and other high-impact or time-sensitive developments.

• Prepare message maps stakeholder briefs FAQs scenario plans and rapid-response materials for sensitive complex or reputationally significant matters exercising excellent judgment discretion and confidentiality.

• Support the EVP/COO and MarComm leadership in issues management and when needed crisis or emergency communications planning and execution related to the EVP/COO portfolio.

Analytics Workflow and AI-Enabled Communications Innovation

• Integrate AI-enabled and emerging communications tools into research stakeholder listening synthesis drafting summarization meeting capture editorial review translation or localization support content repurposing and workflow management to improve speed consistency and quality.

• Build and maintain repeatable human-in-the-loop communications workflows that reduce turnaround times increase productivity and free capacity for higher-value strategic advising storytelling and stakeholder engagement.

• Apply sound judgment to the responsible use of AI and related technologies including source verification hallucination and bias checks privacy and confidentiality protections records stewardship accessibility review and alignment with university policy and ethical standards.

• Use engagement data audience feedback and performance analytics to assess message effectiveness identify opportunities for improvement and inform future communications strategy.

• Stay current on evolving executive communications practices emerging platforms and AI-driven productivity tools and help model next-generation communications practice for the university.

General

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Loyola Marymount University Expectations

Exhibit behavior that supports the mission vision and values of the University. Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional responsible accountable and ethical conduct. Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding service and to communications that build trust clarity and shared understanding across the institution.

The incumbent must be able to manage complex projects with dependencies multiple stakeholders and shifting timelines; exercise strategic judgment under pressure; and work effectively and independently with internal and external constituencies. The incumbent must be able to initiate ideas develop concepts improve processes and build consensus in order to advance high-quality executive communications in a highly collaborative and matrixed environment.

The incumbent is also expected to embrace innovation in the communications function including the responsible use of AI-enabled tools and technologies to improve productivity quality insight and timeliness while upholding LMUs standards for ethics privacy human judgment and institutional stewardship.

Requisite Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in communications public relations journalism English marketing or a related field. A masters degree is preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible communications experience including substantial experience supporting cabinet-level C-suite presidential provost-level or other senior executive leadership in a complex organization.

• Exceptional writing editing executive storytelling and strategic thinking skills with demonstrated success producing high-level communications for internal and external audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex operational financial policy technical or organizational information into clear compelling audience-appropriate communications.

• Proven experience developing integrated communications strategies managing multiple concurrent high-visibility projects and delivering excellent work on deadline in a fast-paced environment.

• Executive presence excellent judgment and a high degree of discretion maturity and professionalism in handling confidential or sensitive matters.

• Highly collaborative style with demonstrated success influencing across functions building strong partnerships with senior leaders and operating effectively without direct authority.

• Demonstrated familiarity with analytics and measurement approaches that inform communications planning execution and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrated experience using AI tools and emerging communications technologies to improve workflow efficiency synthesis drafting output quality or decision support together with a strong understanding of the ethical privacy accuracy accessibility and governance considerations associated with AI-enabled work.

• Experience in higher education or another mission-driven reputation-sensitive and operationally complex institution preferred.

• Willing and able to adjust to changing demands and shifting priorities including occasional evening or weekend support as needed.

Budgeted Salary Range

$125000.00 - $130000.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities duties and skills required of this position.

#HERC# / #HEJ#

Staff Regular

Salary range

$115100.00 - $155400.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.

Please note that this position may not be eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Loyola Marymount University a Carnegie classified R2 institution in the mainstream of American Catholic higher education seeks outstanding applicants who value its mission and share its commitment to inclusive excellence the education of the whole person and the building of a just society. LMU is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment as defined by federal state and local law. We invite all persons in the full diversity of their being life experience and beliefs to apply. (Visit for more information.)