Executive Communications Manager

The University Of Denver; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Job summary

The University of Denver is seeking an Executive Communications Manager to lead the university's executive communications strategy, reporting to the director of internal communications. The role partners with the chancellor, provost, and senior leaders to craft a cohesive leadership voice across campus.

The ideal candidate will manage multiple communications projects, draft speeches and briefings, and collaborate with media, design, and video teams to advance strategic storytelling while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• 2-3 years of experience executing communications across multiple channels.

Responsibilities

• Draft and edit speeches, remarks, and written materials for university leadership.
• Prepare briefing materials and background research for leadership engagements.
• Manage timelines, approvals, and logistics for executive communications projects.
• Maintain archives of leadership communications and assets.
• Collaborate with media, editorial, design, and video teams to amplify leadership messaging.
• Support crisis communication efforts as needed.

Skills

Copywriting

Editing

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Public messaging

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

AI tools

Social media platforms

Job description

Job no: 499102
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Denver, CO
Categories: Marketing / Communications / Media, Business Operations / Services, Admin / Executive / Office Support
Division: University Relations

University Relations highly values and strives to advance an inclusive and supportive team where all members are valued and their input is appreciated. The division's collective achievements are enhanced by its team members' perspectives and experiences, and the open exchange of ideas.

Position Summary

The Executive Communications Manager will support and execute the university's executive communications strategy, reporting to the director of internal communications and working in close collaboration with the offices of the chancellor, provost, and other senior vice chancellors. This role serves as a key connector between strategic storytelling and the execution of executive communications, producing content that reflects a consistent, compelling leadership voice aligned with university priorities.

The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator and organized executor who can independently manage communications projects while collaborating effectively across the division and campus. This person must be passionate about creating inclusive communications and will dedicate the majority of their time to executive communications and related projects.

Essential Functions

Executive Communications

• Draft and edit speeches, remarks, talking points, correspondence, and written materials for university leadership with an aptitude for capturing institutional voice as well as individual expression and tone for various executives.
• Prepare briefing materials and background research for leadership engagements, ensuring accuracy and appropriate tone.
• Manage timelines, approvals, and logistics for executive communications projects from initiation through delivery.
• Maintain organized archives of leadership communications and related assets to ensure consistency and institutional continuity as well as a catalogue of topical responses to various inquires or other needs.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of communications across channels including social media, newsletters, media, and the newsroom as they relate to executive voice and storytelling.
• Monitor best practices in executive communications and proactively recommend innovative approaches.

External Messaging & Strategic Storytelling

• Support the development of public-facing content including statements, announcements, and earned media materials.
• Serve as a strategic storytelling contributor, helping connect executive communications to broader institutional narratives.
• Collaborate with media, editorial, design, and video teams to amplify leadership messaging in new and engaging ways.
• Build and maintain messaging toolkits and plans for strategic projects, ensuring consistency with campus partners and communicators.
• Monitor public sentiment and media coverage to inform and refine messaging strategies.
• Help ensure alignment and consistency of messaging across platforms and among university leaders.
• Build and maintain solid partnerships with campus stakeholders to facilitate strategic communications that meet DU goals and maintain consistency of brand voice and positioning.
• Assist in interpreting experience management (XM) data and audience feedback to inform leadership messaging and public communications.
• Support internal communications efforts alongside the manager of communications and issues management, ensuring audience coordination and message cohesion.
• Support leadership on crisis communication efforts as needed.
• Contribute ideas for new communications programs, researching and recommending innovative techniques.
• Lead and/or collaborate on special projects and initiatives as assigned; attend meetings and serve on campus committees as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong, versatile copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone and style for executive voice.
• Ability to synthesize complex topics into clear, compelling, audience-appropriate messages.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Familiarity with executive communications and public messaging best practices.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across matrixed teams.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and a self-motivated, proactive approach.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build collaborative relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, AI tools, and social media platforms.
• Working knowledge of compiling reports, building charts and graphs, and presenting content in compelling ways.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience (veterans with equivalent military certification/education and experience may substitute for the degree qualification).
• 2-3 years of experience executing communications across multiple channels.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in executive, leadership, or institutional communications.
• Previous experience in higher education.
• Research writing experience.
• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.
• This position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Schedule flexibility allowed for those using the tuition waiver.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline

11:55 p.m. (MST) October 18, 2026.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 11.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $60,000-$75,000.

Benefits

• The University of Denver offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass.

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non-Discrimination-Statement .

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.