Vice President for External Relations

Iowa State University one of the nations leading land grant institutions invites applicants to apply for theposition ofVice President for External Relations. This newly created role reporting directly to the President serves as a key member of the universitys senior leadership team andis responsible foradvancing the institutions reputation influence and strategic interests through comprehensive external engagement. The Vice President provides vision leadership and direction for government relationsstrategic communications marketing community engagement and strategic partnerships with a focus on advancing a one university approach that aligns messaging strengthens institutional identity and helps tell Iowa States story to internal and external audiences. On matters of state legislative policy and advocacy the Vice President will work in close coordination with the Board of Regents State Relations Officer. This role serves as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership whilerepresentingthe university with the Board of Regents policymakers industry leaders community stakeholders media organizations and other external audiences.

The successful candidate will:

• DemonstrateInterpersonal Savvy Builds and sustains positive productive relationships with constituencies and effectively engages stakeholders at all levels including elected officialsBoardofRegentsmembers and staffcommunity leaders industry partners and university leadership.

• Build Networks Establishes and leverages broad internal and external networks toalign andadvance institutional priorities cultivate partnerships and enhance the universitys visibility and impact.

• Balance Stakeholders Skillfully navigates competing priorities and perspectives while fostering alignment among university governmental community and industry partners.

• Instill Trust Demonstrates integrity credibility and transparency earning the confidence of the President senior leaders governing bodies and external stakeholders.

• Communicate Effectively Crafts and delivers clear compelling and audience-centered communications that influence inform and inspire action across a variety of constituencies.

• DemonstratePolitical Savvy Understands and effectively navigates complex political governmental institutional and community environments while advancing the universitys strategicobjectives.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Masters degree and 10 years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success developing sustaining andleveragingexecutive-level relationships with government officials governing boards industry leaders community stakeholders peer institutions and external partners resulting in partnerships policy outcomes funding opportunities or enhanced institutional visibility.

• Experience advising presidents executives or senior leaders on public policy government relations communications stakeholder engagement and reputation management including examples of recommendations that informed decisions reduced risk or advanced strategic priorities.

• Demonstrated success developing and executing advocacy strategies aligned with institutional priorities including influencing outcomes in complex or politically sensitive environments through policy engagement issue resolution coalition-building relationship management and advancement of measurable policy funding partnership or strategic outcomes.

• Exceptional interpersonal communication and relationship-management skillsdemonstratedby successfully engagingwith a variety ofinternal and external constituencies resolving competing stakeholder needs and building sustained trust across multiple audiences.

• Experience leading teams or cross-functional initiatives thatachieveddefined goals improved processes strengthened collaboration or delivered measurable outcomes across organizational boundaries.

• Provensuccessdeveloping and implementing integrated branding marketing public relations communications and visibility strategies that strengthen organizational reputation and stakeholder engagement.