Associate Director for Faculty and Research Communications

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

VCU School of Medicine in Richmond, VA seeks an experienced strategic communicator to lead communications for the Office of Faculty Affairs and Office of Research. You will partner with faculty leadership to develop and execute messaging, inform key audiences, and elevate faculty and research achievements.

This role collaborates with the SOM communications team and Enterprise Marketing to align content with institutional priorities, manage deadlines, and craft clear strategies across channels

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of faculty culture and academic or scientific research environments.
• 5+ years of communications experience, preferably within higher education, an academic medical center or a research organization.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, professional training and experience.
• Exceptional communications and writing skills, with the ability to write clearly and concisely for a variety of audiences and channels.
• Proven ability to handle confidential or sensitive topics, anticipating and mitigating potential risk.
• Outstanding attention to detail and commitment to thoroughness.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex academic and scientific material into clear and actionable messaging.
• Strong interpersonal skills and effective verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with experience managing multiple collaborative projects while adhering to deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Responsibilities

• Partner with faculty and research leadership to advise on messaging, timing and channel selection for internal initiatives.
• Create clear, concise and timely messaging to T&R and clinical faculty, research staff and students, tailoring delivery strategies across communications channels and audiences to ensure effectiveness.
• Manage multiple communications priorities and projects simultaneously (including the school’s T&R faculty compensation plan), balancing short-term requests with longer-term communications goals.
• Translate complex academic material (e.g., related to faculty, research, school/university policies and procedures) into clear and effective content for its respective audiences.
• Identify and promote faculty/research achievements and honors for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Build relationships with the school’s faculty and research staff to better understand their work and communication priorities.
• Collaborate with the school’s communication team to produce compelling, effective deliverables and creative assets related to faculty and research communications.
• Stay informed on local and national trends impacting faculty and academic/scientific research (emerging policy changes, community priorities and concerns, etc.) to guide communications strategy.
• Develop and execute detailed tactical communications plans for faculty and research initiatives as identified with school leadership.
• Create and maintain a communications calendar for faculty and research related topics, initiatives, events, key deadlines and recurring milestones.
• Evaluate audience engagement across internal channels to continuously improve message delivery.
• Communications and marketing professionals will collaborate closely with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to align content, storytelling and brand positioning with institutional priorities and standards.

Job description

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

https://vcujobs.com/why-richmond

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Dean's Office - Web & Communications

Duties & Responsibilities

The VCU School of Medicine communications team is seeking an experienced strategic communicator to lead communications for two mission critical areas of the school: The Office of Faculty Affairs and the Office of Research. Reporting to the director for internal communications as part of our award-winning communications team, this new position will serve as a trusted partner to faculty and research leadership to develop and execute communications strategies that inform, engage and connect key audiences across the School of Medicine.

With the Office of Faculty Affairs, this role will provide an essential link between the school and our T&R and clinical faculty, creating clear, timely and accessible messaging to ensure our more than 1,110 faculty members are informed about academic policies and processes, school and university initiatives, key deadlines, faculty development opportunities, and other faculty-related priorities, including the T&R faculty compensation plan.

Additionally, this position will work with the rest of the SOM communications team to elevate faculty achievements across the school by proactively seeking, curating and sharing stories of faculty excellence and honors.

This position will also serve as the primary communicator for the school’s Office of Research. A complex and extensive research enterprise that partners across departments, schools and the VCU Health System, SOM researchers received more than $316iverM in sponsored programs d-awards in FY25 — more than half of the university’s overall total. This position will collaborate closely with the school’s Office of Research to support and elevate the school’s reputation as a premier destination for innovative research and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This role will serve as the day-to-day lead for strategic communications serving internal research teams and sponsored programs across departments. This position will amplify school research accomplishments while also creating and executing clear, timely and actionable messaging regarding research support, funding deadlines and other relevant updates for investigators and research staff.

Responsibilities

• Partner with faculty and research leadership to advise on messaging, timing and channel selection for internal initiatives
• Create clear, concise and timely messaging to T&R and clinical faculty, research staff and students, tailoring delivery strategies across communications channels and audiences to ensure effectiveness
• Manage multiple communications priorities and projects simultaneously (including the school’s T&R faculty compensation plan), balancing short-term requests with longer-term communications goals.
• Translate complex academic material (e.g., related to faculty, research, school/university policies and procedures) into clear and effective content for its respective audiences
• Identify and promote faculty/research achievements and honors for both internal and external stakeholders
• Build relationships with the school’s faculty and research staff to better understand their work and communication priorities
• Collaborate with the school’s communication team to produce compelling, effective deliverables and creative assets related to faculty and research communications
• Stay informed on local and national trends impacting faculty and academic/scientific research (emerging policy changes, community priorities and concerns, etc.) to guide communications strategy
• Develop and execute detailed tactical communications plans for faculty and research initiatives as identified with school leadership
• Create and maintain a communications calendar for faculty and research related topics, initiatives, events, key deadlines and recurring milestones
• Evaluate audience engagement across internal channels to continuously improve message delivery
• Communications and marketing professionals will collaborate closely with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to align content, storytelling and brand positioning with institutional priorities and standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong understanding of faculty culture, and academic or scientific research environments
• At least five (5) years of communications experience, preferably within higher education, an academic medical center or a research organization
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, professional training and experience
• Exceptional communications and writing skills, with the ability to write clearly and concisely for a variety of audiences and channels
• Proven ability to handle confidential or sensitive topics, anticipating and mitigating potential risk
• Outstanding attention to detail and commitment to thoroughness
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex academic and scientific material into clear and actionable messaging
• Strong interpersonal skills and effective verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with experience managing multiple collaborative projects while adhering to deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, higher education administration or a related field.
• More than five years of communications experience (with progressive responsibilities) directly supporting academic medicine, scientific research or complex health system environments
• Experience writing, editing or managing internal communications specifically for faculty or research audiences and leadership
• Experience in science writing
• Familiarity with digital communication tools, including email platforms, Adobe Creative Suite and web content management systems
• Experience navigating organizational change, crisis communications or sensitive institutional policy updates

Salary Range: $88,300 - $123,500 (Commensurate with experience)

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid - (minimum of 1 day in the office per week with other days each week as needed)

University Job Title: Administrator CM 1 (13911Y) - Administrator CM 3 (13913Y)

Position will remain open until filled. Applications received by October 16th will be given priority consideration.