Executive Communications Specialist

University of Denver; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefit

Partial remote work

Medical and dental insurance

Job summary

University of Denver is seeking an Executive Communications Specialist to support the university’s executive communications strategy. You will produce content that reflects a consistent leadership voice, aligning with priorities and working with the chancellor, provost, and senior leaders.

The role emphasizes independent project management, collaboration across the division, and a passion for inclusive communications. You will focus mainly on executive communications and related initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 2–3 years of experience in multi-channel communications.

Responsibilities

• Draft and edit speeches, remarks, and materials for university leadership.
• Prepare briefing materials and background research for leadership engagements.
• Coordinate timelines, approvals, and logistics for executive communications.
• Maintain archives of leadership communications and assets.
• Collaborate with media, editorial, design, and video teams to amplify messaging.
• Monitor public sentiment and inform messaging strategies.

Skills

Copywriting

Editing

Strategic storytelling

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

MS 365

AI tools

Social media

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Tools

Microsoft 365

AI tools

Social media platforms

Job description

The Division of University Relations (UR) builds public awareness, understanding, and support for the universityâs mission and goals. The division includes marketing, communications, and public affairs units and embraces an integrated approach to executing best-in-class work that achieves strategic outcomes. University Relations strengthens DUâs strategic position locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels, with focused support for priority areas including academics and research, enrollment and admissions, athletics, internal audiences, and advancement.

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

Position Summary

The Executive Communications Specialist will support and execute the universityâs 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.

Collaboration & Campus Partnership

• 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

• Bachelorâs 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).
• 2â3 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.

Working Environment

• 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

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 11:55 p.m. (MST) August 9, 2026.

Salary Grade Number

The salary grade for the position is 11.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $60,000-$65,000.

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 a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

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 Universityâs 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 NonDiscriminationStatement.

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