Director of External Relations and Communications #00038

Virginia AG; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is seeking a Director of External Relations and Communications to lead external engagement with the General Assembly, state agencies, and higher education institutions. The role oversees the Communications Team, aligning outreach with policy goals and the agency’s strategic plan.

The position reports to the Executive Director and drives messaging, media relations, and council communications to support statewide priorities and legislative

Qualifications

• Experience tracking Federal and State legislation and coordinating policy changes with contact in state agencies, the Secretariat of Education, federal agencies, Congressional staff and industry associations.
• Experience analyzing Federal/state policy and regulatory issues and developing position papers with recommendations to executive management.
• Experience establishing and implementing strategic policy initiatives.
• Experience networking with senior legislative staff, elected officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders to advance policy goals.
• Experience leading and supervising staff.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic communications planning, messaging, and media relations for diverse audiences.
• Ability to translate policy and data into clear communications; and to present testimony and materials to the General Assembly.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the agency’s external facing communications strategy across divisions.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop budget and policy recommendations and engagement strategies.
• Engage external stakeholders in line with state, Council, and agency priorities.
• Lead interactions with General Assembly, Governor’s office, and Administration officials.
• Coordinate briefs and presentations of priorities to General Assembly and committees.
• Oversee the Communications Team (website, design, branding, media, content, newsletters, crisis comms).
• Ensure quality and accessibility of all public-facing materials.
• Provide leadership for messaging related to statewide initiatives and strategic plan.
• Oversee all Council meetings and related activities.
• Coordinate proactive media engagement and timely responses to inquiries.
• Translate policy and research into public communications for awareness and engagement.
• Identify opportunities for external engagement at state/national levels.
• Participate in convenings with public and private institutions and legislative liaisons.
• Represent the agency in stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Legislation tracking

Policy coordination

Strategic communications

Staff supervision

Public speaking

Policy analysis

Media relations

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Title: Director of External Relations and Communications #00038

State Role Title:Policy Planning Spec III

Hiring Range: $160,000 - $180,000, commensurate with experience.

Pay Band: 6

Agency: State Council of Higher Educ

Location:State Council of Higher Educ

Agency Website:https://www.schev.edu/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the coordinating body for the nation’s preeminent system of postsecondary education. SCHEV is responsible for: developing and promoting an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education; facilitating collaboration among postsecondary institutions that enhances academic quality and operational efficiency; developing and submitting recommendations to the executive and legislative branches on budgetary and policy matters; and providing advisory and/or regulatory guidance to the institutions.

SCHEV’s mission is to “promote the development and operation of an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive and coordinated system of higher education.” The Agency’s mission is for “SCHEV to be the recognized source for accurate information, meaningful innovation, and informed leadership in higher education.” SCHEV staff members work to ensure access and equity to the State’s colleges and universities for all individuals who can take advantage of the educational opportunities provided on campuses.

In 2026, the SCHEV Council (board) adopted a new statewide strategic plan for postsecondary education. Developing Tomorrow’s Talent: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education sets goals and strategies to address issues the Commonwealth likely will face over the next six years. The plan provides a roadmap for Virginia to be the “Top State for Talent” by 2032. In so doing, the plan will fulfill its objectives of ensuring the readiness of students and graduates, the responsiveness of colleges and universities, and the relevance of higher education.

The Director for External Relations provides leadership, coordination, and strategic direction for the agency’s interactions with the General Assembly, state agencies, higher education institutions, statewide organizations, and other external stakeholders. In addition to supporting legislative and policy engagement, this position serves as the agency’s lead for external communications, overseeing SCHEV’s Communications Team and ensuring strong alignment between communications, outreach, and external relations functions.

Reporting to SCHEV’s Executive Director, the Director for External Relations will:

• Develop and execute the agency’s external facing communications strategy and work across agency divisions to ensure alignment with the strategy.
• In collaboration with the agency’s executive leadership and Council, develop budget and policy recommendations and engagement strategies in support of these recommendations.
• Develop, advise, and implement strategies for engaging external stakeholders in support of state, Council, and agency priorities.
• Lead agency interactions with key stakeholders, including the General Assembly, the Governor’s office, and Administration officials.
• Facilitate communication, briefing, and presentation of Council and agency priorities to the General Assembly, its committees, and individual members.
• Oversee, supervise, and direct the agency’s Communications Team, including staff responsible for website management, graphic design, branding, media relations, digital content, newsletters, crisis communications, and agency-wide messaging.
• Ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility of all public facing materials, including reports, presentations, press statements, editorials, web content, and data visualization products.
• Provide strategic leadership for messaging and communications planning related to statewide initiatives, legislative proposals, Council activities, and SCHEV’s strategic plan.
• Oversee and direct all Council meetings and related activities.
• Coordinate with communications staff on proactive media engagement, internal message alignment, and timely responses to media and public inquiries.
• Collaborate with SCHEV divisions to translate policy and research into effective communications that support public awareness, institutional engagement, and statewide priorities.
• With agency staff, identify public convenings and other opportunities for external engagement on a state or national level.
• Participate in regular convenings with public and private institutions, including institutional legislative liaisons and communications directors.
• Represent the agency in stakeholder meetings when appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience demonstrating the ability to track Federal and State legislation and coordinate legislative and policy changes with key contacts in other state agencies, the Secretariat of Education, Federal agencies, U.S. Congressional staff and industry associations.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to analyze Federal and state policy and regulatory issues, and to develop position papers with recommendations to executive management.
• Experience supporting, establishing and implementing strategic policy initiatives.
• Experience networking with senior legislative staff, elected officials, industry leaders and other stakeholders to advance policy goals.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to lead and supervise staff.
• Extensive knowledge of strategic communications planning, including the ability to develop agency-wide messaging strategies, ensure consistency of public facing materials, manage media relations, and translate complex policy and data into clear, accessible communications for diverse audiences.
• Experience demonstrating the ability to make presentations, give speeches, and present testimony and materials at the General Assembly Sessions, public meetings and/or industry conferences.
• Computer skills in operating Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)

Additional Considerations

• Extensive experience developing and analyzing higher education policies in a state or federal policy environment strongly desired.
• Knowledge of the state’s higher education system and statewide strategic plan.
• Experience representing an institution of higher education in policy settings
• Considerable experience in a public policy role, preferably with frequent interactions with the General Assembly.
• A work history demonstrating considerable experience collaborating and partnering with members of the General Assembly and state policymakers.

EEO & Diversity

SCHEV values honesty, quality, diversity, inclusion, growth-orientation, personal well-being, equity, transparency, and accountability.

VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

EEO Employer

Contact Information

Name: Taris Harmon

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.