Director of Executive Communications

William & Mary; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

William & Mary seeks a Director of Executive Communications to serve as the principal writer and communications strategist for the President. This senior role shapes the president's voice across addresses, thought leadership, and institutional messaging, with cross-functional collaboration to ensure consistency with university-wide messaging.

The position emphasizes discretion, strategic communications, and partnership with campus units to steward the president's voice with clarity and impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or related field.
• 7+ years in executive communications, speechwriting, or high-level editorial roles.
• Ability to capture and sustain an executive's voice across formats and audiences.
• Exceptional writing, editing, proofreading with AP style.
• Experience in confidential, high-profile executive office environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across campus.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects under deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the resident expert on the president's voice, tone, and rhetorical style across communications platforms and audiences.
• Craft presidential remarks, speeches, and formal addresses for university and public engagements.
• Write long-form thought pieces, op-eds, and institutional narratives in the president's voice.
• Develop quotes, blurbs, and short-form content reflecting the president's brand.
• Fine-tune high-level citations, attributions, and source material in presidential communications.
• Prepare and finalize correspondence on behalf of the president to internal and external stakeholders.
• Meet diverse messaging needs for proactive and reactive communications.
• Align events and materials with the president's brand and strategic priorities.
• Protect confidentiality of presidential communications.

Skills

Executive communications

Speechwriting

Editorial roles

Writing & editing

Confidential environment

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree (English/Journalism/Communications)

Job description

Job Description Summary:

The Director of Executive Communications serves as the principal writer and communications strategist for the President of William & Mary. This senior-level position is responsible for crafting, refining, and stewarding the president's voice across all platforms and audiences - from formal addresses and long-form thought leadership to correspondence, event materials, and institutional messaging. The Director works at the intersection of the President's Office and the broader university community, ensuring that every word attributed to the president reflects her vision, values, and distinctive voice. This position also has a dotted line to University Communications to ensure consistency between the president's voice and university-wide messaging.

The job will be responsible for the following:

• Executive Voice Mastery - Demonstrates a sophisticated ability to internalize and authentically represent another person's voice, tone, and rhetorical sensibility.
• Strategic Communication - Thinks holistically about how messages land, what they signal, and how they serve the institution's long-term interests.
• Discretion & Confidentiality - Exercises consistent, sound judgment in handling sensitive or privileged information; maintains the trust of the President's Office.
• Collaborative Partnership - Functions as a trusted partner to campus units while maintaining the integrity and priorities of the President's Office.
• Organizational Excellence - Manages complex workflows, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders with efficiency and grace.
• Institutional Alignment - Understands and actively advances the university's mission, values, and brand in every communication.

Job Description:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• Progressive experience in executive communications, speechwriting, or high-level editorial roles (typically 7+ years).
• Demonstrated ability to capture and sustain an executive's voice across varied formats and audiences.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills with acute attention to detail and nuance and familiarity with AP style.
• Experience working in a confidential, high-profile executive office environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships across diverse campus communities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under deadline pressure.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree.
• Experience in higher education, especially a public institution, government, or similarly complex institutional environments.
• Familiarity with the culture, history, and values of William & Mary.
• Experience representing an office on cross-functional committees or advisory councils.
• Background in brand management or institutional identity work.

Conditions of Employment:

This position may require additional hours beyond typical work hours, including evenings and weekends.

Job Duties:

Presidential Voice & Writing:

• Serve as the resident expert on the president's voice, tone, and rhetorical style across all communications platforms and audiences.
• Craft presidential remarks, speeches, and formal addresses for a wide range of university and public engagements.
• Write long-form thought pieces, op-eds, and institutional narratives in the president's distinctive voice.
• Develop quotes, blurbs, and short-form content that reflect the president's brand and perspective.
• Fine-tune high-level citations, attributions, and source material integrated into presidential communications.
• Prepare and finalize correspondence on behalf of the president to all stakeholders, both internal and external.

Strategic Communications & Alignment:

• Meet the full range of communications needs for the President's Office, including proactive and reactive messaging.
• Align events, programs, and institutional materials with the president's brand and strategic communications priorities.
• Manage the president's Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
• Apply the president's voice in service of the university's mission, values, and strategic plan.
• Organize and steward processes for developing, reviewing, and approving presidential communications.
• Protect the confidentiality of all presidential communications and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information.

Collaboration & Partnership:

• Build trusted partnerships with units, deans, and leaders across campus who require support from the President's Office.
• Work closely with key internal and external stakeholders to gather information needed for presidential communications.
• Bridge the Presid