Cocurricular Communication, Director

Dartmouth College; Hanover (NH); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Dartmouth College is seeking a Director of Cocurricular Communications to lead editorial strategy and storytelling for the undergraduate cocurricular experience. You will serve as the subject matter expert for the Division of Undergraduate Student Affairs and mentor cocurricular contributors while aligning with Arts and Sciences priorities.

The role requires strong writing, political acumen, and collaboration with staff across campus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's plus 6 or more years' experience or combination of education and experience
• Experience: 6+ years in communications/public relations/marketing with editorial leadership and mentorship experience
• Strong writing and storytelling; crisis management; ability to lead and mentor contributors

Responsibilities

• Editorial strategy and content creation for cocurricular and campus stories; writing and editing content

Skills

Experience in communications

Higher education experience

Excellent writing/editing

Strategic leadership

Media relations

Interpersonal collaboration

Editorial strategy

Crisis management

Project management

Maintaining confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree + 6+ years experience

Tools

Canva

Drupal

Email systems

Social media management

Job description

Position Information

Position Title: Director of Cocurricular Communications

Salary: $106,600 - $133,200

Employment Category: Regular Full Time

Scheduled Months per Year: 12

Scheduled Hours per Week: 40

Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Hybrid work arrangement: expect to work on site at a Dartmouth location 3-4 days per week; remainder may be remote.

Location: Hanover, NH

Position Purpose

The Director of Cocurricular Communications amplifies the priorities of the School of Arts and Sciences through strategic messaging, storytelling, and internal communication with a core focus on the undergraduate cocurricular experience. They are the subject matter expert and primary communications partner for the Division of Undergraduate Student Affairs and the Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs. The Director of Cocurricular Communications supports program directors across DUSA in engaging students and building community, and pitches and shepherds storytelling about the student cocurricular experience, with a focus on highlighting strategic staff initiatives. As the senior communications lead for the cocurricular portfolio, the Director sets the editorial standards that govern cocurricular content and provides direction and mentorship to the contributors who produce it. The Director of Cocurricular Communications also helps build a sense of belonging and awareness among the staff who support students, and reports to the Executive Director of Arts and Sciences Communications.

Description

This role will be the subject matter expert and primary support for the division of undergraduate student affairs and the Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs. Focus areas include: undergraduate messaging strategy; supporting program directors across DUSA in engaging students and building community; pitching and shepherding storytelling about the student cocurricular experience, with a focus on highlighting strategic staff initiatives; helping build a sense of belonging and awareness among our staff who support students.

This would be a great role for someone who has experience managing communications work within a student affairs division or unit. Strong writing skills are a must, creative storytelling chops are a bonus!

Required Qualifications - Education and Years of Experience

Bachelors plus 6 or more years' experience or combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Experience: 6 years or more of experience in communications, public relations, or marketing, preferably in an education environment including demonstrated editorial and strategic leadership and experience providing direction or mentorship to other communications contributors
• A passion for higher education and working with students, faculty and staff
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with a gift for storytelling and pitch-perfect tone
• Outstanding judgement and political acumen
• Experience working with media and media relations professionals
• Strong interpersonal skills, with a talent for collaboration and cooperation; ability to build consensus among diverse groups of people
• Demonstrated ability to develop communication strategies for a complex organization
• Crisis management experience
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects from inception to completion, adhering to deadlines, within budget, and with high quality
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and sustain project momentum over periods of time
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with key communications technologies, including but not limited to Canva, Drupal, third-party email systems, and social media management systems.
• Previous work experience in higher education.

Background Check

Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Driving Vehicle Requirement

Not an essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Key Accountabilities

Editorial strategy and content creation

Percentage of Time: 20%

• Owns and sets the editorial strategy and standards for cocurricular and campus stories
  • Is the strategy and content development lead for DUSA news page, inclusive of writing and editing content
  • Sources, pitches and prioritizes content in alignment with A&S editorial strategy
  • In collaboration with the Director of Curricular Communications, contributes to the A&S editorial strategy and platforms. Establishes the editorial standards and practices that govern cocurricular content and contributes those standards to the A&S editorial strategy and platforms
• Is the subject matter expert primarily for the Division of Undergraduate Student Affairs, and the broader undergraduate audience (including families of undergraduates)
• Builds and maintains relationships across DUSA and other divisions that support student life to support integrated communications planning.

Leadership and Internal communications

Percentage of Time: 45%

• Leads undergraduate messaging strategy development and execution, in collaboration with the central communications team and with inputs from senior leadership, as well as the Executive Director.
  • Supports communications initiatives directed for undergraduate students, in support and alignment with A&S priorities, including consultation and review as needed with communicators across campus
• Provides primary leadership communication support to the Dean of Undergraduate Student Affairs in strategic execution of school-wide priorities
• Provides strategic communications support to leaders in DUSA in support of school-wide priorities.
• Gathers inputs from A&S cabinet leadership and institutional student support functions as needed and informative to strategy development.

Distribution and Engagement

Percentage of Time: 10%

• Is the primary liaison to the central communications unit for matters related to undergraduate communications and messaging
• Develops and maintains internal rollout grid for A&S announcements
• Develops, tracks and evaluates metrics of success for undergraduate messaging, in collaboration with campus colleagues and central communications.

Direction and mentorship

Percentage of Time: 15%

• Provides direction, technical guidance and mentorship to contributors producing cocurricular content, including student communications staff and freelance contributors.
• Sets quality expectations and provides editorial direction to team members on cocurricular content, reviewing work against the cocurricular editorial standards.

Ad-Hoc Communications Projects

Percentage of Time: 10%

• Including but not limited to providing editorial review and support for others in the communications team

Other Duties

Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Department Contact

Bridget Campolettano, Executive Director, Arts and Sciences Communications

Email: [e-mail]