Executive Communications Specialist

The University of Vermont; Burlington, Northern (VT, KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Vermont seeks an Executive Communications Professional to serve as the principal writer and communications expert for the President. You will craft, refine, and steward the President’s voice across major addresses, announcements, digital presence, and event materials, and prepare remarks and presentations for senior leaders.

You will translate executive vision into compelling narratives, ensure consistency with institutional priorities, and support the strategic plan rollout

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in executive communications, speechwriting, or senior editorial roles.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to nuance, clarity, and accuracy; familiarity with AP style.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build productive relationships across diverse academic and administrative communities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a sophisticated ability to internalize and authentically represent the President’s voice, tone, and rhetorical style across a wide range of formats and audiences.
• Thinks holistically and strategically about how presidential messages are received, what they signal to internal and external audiences, and how they advance UVM’s long‑term institutional goals and public reputation.
• Exercises sound judgment and the highest level of discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, or privileged information, maintaining the trust and confidence of the President, the Office of the President and executive leadership.
• Manages complex workflows, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders with efficiency, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Understands and actively advances UVM’s mission, values, strategic priorities, and brand in all executive communications.

Skills

Executive communications

Speechwriting

Editing & proofreading

AP style familiarity

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in English/Journ/Communications

Advanced degree (desirable)

Job description

Please carefully review the details of this position below.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category legally protected by federal or state law.

For information on safety and security at the University of Vermont, see the annual security report by clicking on the Clery Act button in the sidebar menu.

Finalists for positions at UVM may be subject to a criminal background check.

For classified staff positions, actual hiring pay dependent on current competitor market conditions, comparable campus peer(s) at time of hire, and candidate’s experience level and length.

Be sure to carefully review and update your application information before submitting an application!

The Executive Communications Professional serves as the principal writer and communications professional for the President of the University of Vermont, the state’s flagship public, land-grant research university. This role is responsible for crafting, refining, and stewarding the President’s voice across all platforms and audiences—ranging from major addresses and significant announcements to correspondence, digital presence, event materials, and institutional announcements and related messaging. The specialist will likewise prepare remarks, announcements, talking points, PowerPoint presentations and other communications on behalf of senior leaders including the Provost and the Vice President for Finance and Administration. Additionally, this position will support communications for the university’s strategic plan, translating executive vision into compelling narratives that build institutional alignment and engagement.

As an important point of connection between UVM’s leadership and the broader university community, this position ensures that all communications attributed to the President and other senior leaders clearly and authentically reflect strategic priorities, institutional values, and UVM’s mission of education, research, and public service. In supporting the rollout and ongoing momentum of the strategic plan, this role will build communications that connect day-to-day campus strategies and initiatives back to overarching vision of university leadership. The role ensures consistency, alignment, and strategic coherence between executive messaging and university-wide communications.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Voice Mastery

Demonstrates a sophisticated ability to internalize and authentically represent the President’s voice, tone, and rhetorical style across a wide range of formats and audiences.

Strategic Communication

Thinks holistically and strategically about how presidential messages are received, what they signal to internal and external audiences, and how they advance UVM’s long‑term institutional goals and public reputation.

Discretion & Confidentiality

Exercises sound judgment and the highest level of discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, or privileged information, maintaining the trust and confidence of the President, the Office of the President and executive leadership.

Organizational Excellence

Manages complex workflows, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders with efficiency, professionalism, and attention to detail.

Institutional Alignment

Understands and actively advances UVM’s mission, values, strategic priorities, and brand in all executive communications.

This position reports to the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer and serves as a part of Strategic Communications central team, with a dotted line to the Chief of Staff and President’s Office operations.

Required Attachments: Please include a cover letter, resume/CV, and two recent writing samples (no more than two pages each).

Minimum Qualifications (or equivalent combination of education and experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in executive communications, speechwriting, or senior editorial roles.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to nuance, clarity, and accuracy; familiarity with AP style.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build productive relationships across diverse academic and administrative communities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines.

Desirable Qualifications

• Advanced degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education—particularly at a public or land‑grant institution—or in government or similarly complex environments.
• Experience working in a high-profile, confidential executive office environment.
• Familiarity with the culture, history, mission, and values of the University of Vermont.
• Background in brand stewardship, institutional identity, or reputation management.

Other Information

Special Conditions

Special Conditions A probationary period may be required, Occasional evening and/or weekends required (if non-exempt position, may result in overtime), This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with an option to split time between campus and elsewhere, in accordance with the university telecommuting policy, Background Check required for this position

FLSA

FLSA Exempt

Union Position

Union Position No

Position will be posted for a minimum of one week, after which it is subject to removal without notice.

Job Location

Job Open Date

08/13/2026

Job Close Date (Jobs close at 11:59 PM EST.)

Open Until Filled No

The University of Vermont is a welcoming, educationally purposeful community committed to creating an inclusive environment that embraces intellectual diversity and global perspectives. We seek to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct. Members of the University of Vermont community embrace and advance the values of Our Common Ground: Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Openness, Justice, and Responsibility. Staff play a critical role in this effort and the successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to UVM’s mission and advancing Our Common Ground values through the execution of their job duties.

Position Information

Position Title

Position Title CommuncationsGeneralist PC2 X

Posting Number

Posting Number S6262PO

Department

Department Office of Strategic Communicat/30570

Position Number

Position Number 00027954

Percent of Full-Time

Percent of Full-Time 1.0

Standard Hours at 1.0 FTE

Standard Hours at 1.0 FTE 37.5

Term (months per year)

Term (months per year) 12

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).