Executive Communications Strategist

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

Benefits offered by this job

Partial remote work

Tuition benefit

ECO pass

Job summary

The University of Denver seeks an Executive Communications Specialist to shape and deliver the university's executive communications strategy, reporting to the director of internal communications and collaborating with the chancellor, provost, and senior leaders.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled writer and organized executor who can manage multiple projects, craft authoritative messages, and ensure consistent leadership voice across channels while promoting inclusive communications.

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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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 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.

Skills

Copywriting

Editing

Project management

Strategic storytelling

Audience research

Microsoft 365

AI tools

Social media management

Stakeholder engagement

Attention to detail

Education

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

Job description

The University of Denver seeks an Executive Communications Specialist to shape and deliver the university's executive communications strategy, reporting to the director of internal communications and collaborating with the chancellor, provost, and senior leaders.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled writer and organized executor who can manage multiple projects, craft authoritative messages, and ensure consistent leadership voice across channels while promoting inclusive communications.