Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and Media
Texas Southern University
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Job summary
Texas Southern University is seeking an Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications and Media to lead senior-level communications, media relations, and editorial strategy. You will translate institutional priorities into compelling messaging, guide executive communications, and oversee crisis and issues responses, ensuring alignment with university goals.
You will collaborate with university leadership, manage cross-functional teams, develop annual plans, and supervise staff to uphold
Qualifications
- Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills.
- Strong knowledge of strategic communications, media relations and public relations.
- Executive communications and speechwriting capabilities.
- Sound judgment in crisis and issues communications.
- Ability to translate complex academic/institutional information into clear messaging.
- Strong editorial judgment and attention to detail.
- Project management, organizational, problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to counsel senior leaders with discretion and confidence.
- Ability to collaborate across a complex organization.
- Understanding of higher education communications and HBCU environment.
- Proficiency with MS Office and contemporary communications technologies.
- Familiarity with AI-enabled communications tools.
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic counsel on institutional messaging and reputation as senior deputy to the VP.
- Develop and execute communications strategies supporting university priorities and milestones.
- Advise senior leaders on messaging and media considerations.
- Edit executive communications including speeches and remarks.
- Lead communications planning for major initiatives and events with timelines.
- Maintain annual communications plans and editorial calendars.
- Establish workflows for cross-unit coordination and approvals.
- Lead media relations and serve as spokesperson as designated.
- Identify opportunities to elevate university achievements.
- Oversee crisis and issues communications planning and response.
- Monitor media and performance data to inform leadership decisions.
- Coordinate with partners to ensure timely, coherent messaging.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
- Security Sensitive Position? Yes
- Hours of Work 8:00 am - 5:00 pm M-F
- Position Details Position Information
- Posting Number TSU203829
- Official TSU Title Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and Media
- Grant Title N/A
The Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and Mediaserve as a senior communications leader and strategic deputy to theVice President for Marketing and Communications. The positionprovides leadership for strategic communications, media relations,executive communications, crisis and issues communications,editorial direction and major institutional communicationsinitiatives.
Working closely with the Vice President, President and seniorUniversity leadership, the Associate Vice President translatesinstitutional priorities into clear, compelling and coordinatedcommunications that strengthen the reputation and visibility ofTexas Southern University.
The position also serves as a communications generalist and seniorproject leader, supporting a broad range of Marketing andCommunications priorities and stepping into emerging needs asrequired. The Associate Vice President serves as acting leader ofMarketing and Communications when designated by the Vice Presidentor when the Vice President is unavailable.
- Serves as the Vice President’s senior communications deputy andprovides strategic counsel on institutional messaging, reputationand visibility.
- Develops and executes communications strategies supportingUniversity priorities, major initiatives, institutional milestonesand high-profile announcements.
- Advises the President, Vice President and senior leaders oncommunications strategy, message development, media considerationsand reputational issues.
- Develops and edits executive communications, includingspeeches, remarks, talking points, statements, letters,presentations and messages to campus and external audiences.
- Leads communications planning for major institutionalinitiatives, partnerships, research accomplishments, facilitiesprojects, events and other strategic priorities, ensuring alignmentwith University priorities, audiences, key messages, channels,responsibilities and timelines.
- Develops and maintains annual communications plans andeditorial calendars aligned with University priorities, academicmilestones and institutional initiatives.
- Establishes communications workflows that support timelycoordination, approvals and execution across Marketing andCommunications and University partners.
- Leads the University’s media relations strategy in partnershipwith the Vice President and serves as a primary media relationsleader and spokesperson as designated.
- Builds relationships with local, regional, national, highereducation, HBCU and industry media.
- Responds to media inquiries and develops news releases,statements, media advisories, pitches, briefing materials and otherexternal communications.
- Identifies proactive opportunities to elevate the University’sacademic, research, student, faculty, alumni and communityaccomplishments.
- Leads communications planning and response for crisis, issuesand sensitive situations; develops and maintains University-widecrisis communications protocols, escalation procedures and responseplaybooks; and coordinates appropriate internal and externalcommunications with University leadership and relevantpartners.
- Uses media coverage, audience feedback, communicationsperformance data and emerging trends to evaluate communicationseffectiveness, identify opportunities and inform recommendations tosenior leadership.
- Monitors the media environment and emerging issues andrecommends timely communications responses.
- Develops and maintains University-wide crisis communicationsplans, protocols and response playbooks and coordinates appropriateescalation and communications response procedures with Universityleadership and relevant operational partners.
- Uses media coverage, audience feedback, communicationsperformance data and emerging trends to evaluate effectiveness,identify opportunities and inform recommendations to seniorleadership.
- Provides editorial direction for University news, executivecommunications, major announcements, publications, web content andother institutional communications.
- Establishes standards for accuracy, clarity, tone, grammar,institutional voice and brand alignment.
- Assigns, writes, edits and approves communications content asappropriate and provides editorial guidance to staff and Universitycommunicators.
- Works closely with the Director of social media and Engagementto ensure coordinated messaging and storytelling acrosstraditional, digital and social channels.
- Overseas editorial planning and priorities for majorinstitutional communications.
- Serves as a project or communications lead for major Universityinitiatives and cross-functional projects as assigned by the VicePresident.
- Provides project management and communications support acrossMarketing and Communications, including strategic planning,campaigns, events, publications, web initiatives and institutionalpriorities.
- Coordinates with Creative Services, Social Media andEngagement, Advancement, Enrollment Management, Athletics, academicunits and other partners to ensure timely and coordinatedexecution.
- Supports institutional marketing and communications needsoutside the primary portfolio when appropriate, serving as aversatile resource to the Vice President and the broader team.
- Establishes proactive information-sharing practices that enableUniversity units to surface emerging issues, announcements andstorytelling opportunities early enough for effectivecommunications planning and response.
- Coordinates communications needs for University signage,banners, wayfinding and other high-visibility materials.
- Works with Creative Services, Facilities, University Events andother stakeholders to ensure signage and environmentalcommunications support University priorities and brandstandards.
- Provides project coordination for major signage and campusvisibility initiatives.
- Directly supervises assigned communications staff, includingthe Multimedia Journalist and other communications professionals asdesignated.
- Provides direction, coaching and professional development todirect reports and establishes clear priorities and performanceexpectations.
- Promotes a collaborative, high-performing communicationsculture emphasizing strong writing, editorial judgment,responsiveness and strategic thinking.
- Works closely with the Director of social media and Engagementand other Marketing and Communications leaders to coordinatepriorities and maximize team capabilities.
- Builds effective working relationships with University leaders,faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community partners andother stakeholders.
- Provides communications counsel to colleges, schools,departments and administrative units as appropriate.
- Represents Marketing and Communications on Universitycommittees, task forces and strategic initiatives as assigned.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Serves as a senior leader within Marketing and Communications withsignificant responsibility for institutional communications, mediarelations, executive communications, editorial strategy andstrategic projects.
Exercises independent judgment in managing complex, sensitive andtime-critical communications matters and provides strategic counselto University leadership. Works across academic, administrative,student, research, advancement, athletics and external affairsfunctions to coordinate communications that advance Universitypriorities.
1.0
$130,278.45 - $169,361.98
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, publicrelations, marketing, English, public affairs or a relatedfield.
- Master’s degree in communications, journalism, publicrelations, marketing, higher education, public administration or arelated field.
N/A
- Exceptional writing, editing and storytelling skills.
- Strong knowledge of strategic communications, media relationsand public relations.
- Strong executive communications and speechwritingcapabilities.
- Sound judgment in crisis and issues communications.
- Ability to translate complex academic, research, administrativeand institutional information into clear and compellingcommunications.
- Strong editorial judgment and attention to detail.
- Strong project management, organizational and problem-solvingskills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in afast-paced environment.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to counsel senior leaders with confidence, discretionand sound judgment.
- Ability to work collaboratively across a complexorganization.
- Understanding higher education communications and the HBCUenvironment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and contemporarycommunications, media monitoring, project management and contentmanagement technologies.
- Familiarity with emerging communications technologies andAI-enabled communications tools.
- Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience incommunications, journalism, public relations, marketing, publicaffairs or a related field.
- Significant experience in strategic communications, mediarelations, executive communications or institutionalcommunications.
- Demonstrated experience writing and editing communications forsenior executives or institutional leaders.
- Demonstrated experience managing sensitive, high-profile orcrisis communications matters.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and workeffectively with multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to maintain the security or integrity of criticalinfrastructure, which may include communications systems, computernetworks and systems, cybersecurity systems, electrical grid,hazardous waste treatment or water treatment system.
- Experience in higher education, preferably at a public researchuniversity or HBCU .
- Experience working directly with a president, chancellor, CEOor other senior executive.
- Experience serving as a university or organizationalspokesperson.
- Experience supervising or mentoring communicationsprofessionals.
- Experience with media monitoring, project management andcommunications technologies.
- Work is primarily performed in an office and universityenvironment and requires frequent interaction with Universityleaders, employees, students, media representatives and externalstakeholders.
- The position may require attendance at events, meetings andactivities outside normal business hours, including evenings andweekends, as necessary to support University priorities and majorevents.
- Routine travel may be required.
It is the policy of Texas Southern University to provide a workenvironment that is free from discrimination for all personsregardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin,individuals with disability, sexual orientation, or protectedveteran status in its programs, activities, admissions oremployment policies. This policy of equal opportunity is strictlyobserved in all University employment-related activities such asadvertising, recruiting, interviewing, testing, employmenttraining, compensation, promotion, termination, and employmentbenefits. This policy expressly prohibits harassment anddiscrimination in employment based on race, color, religion,gender, gender identity, genetic history, national origin,individuals with disability, age, citizenship status, or protectedveteran status. This policy shall be adhered to in accordance withthe provisions of all applicable federal, state and local laws,including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil RightsAct.
Manual of Administrative Policies and ProceduresOpen to all applicants.
- Resume
- Cover Letter/Letter of Application
- Official Transcripts
- Other Document
- Reference Letter 1
- Reference Letter 2
- Reference Letter 3
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Do you have a Bachelor's degree in communications,journalism, public relations, marketing, English, public affairs ora related field?
- Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, publicrelations, marketing, English, public affairs or a relatedfield
- Master's degree in communications, journalism, publicrelations, marketing, higher education, public administration or arelated field
- None of the above
- * Do you have ten (10) years of progressively responsibleexperience in communications, journalism, public relations,marketing, public affairs or a related field?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you have significant experience in strategiccommunications, media relations, executive communications orinstitutional communications?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you have experience in higher education, preferably at apublic research university or HBCU?
- Yes
- No
- * Do you have experience serving as a university ororganizational spokesperson?
- Yes
- No
Close Date
10/27/2026
Open Until Filled (overrides close field)
No
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