Strategic Communications Director for EVP-COO Portfolio

Virginia AG; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Virginia seeks applications for an Executive Director of Strategic Communications to join the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP-COO). The Executive Director will develop and execute the overall communications strategy for the EVP-COO portfolio with an emphasis on elevating awareness of the portfolio priorities and initiatives.

The Executive Director will report to the Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, interact with the Chief

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least eight years of experience.
• Experience envisioning, developing, and implementing a successful and comprehensive strategic communications plan based on an organization's goals and priorities.
• Experience working with a team of colleagues who are not direct reports, building consensus and strong collaborative partnerships across complex organizations.
• Proven experience in media relations, stakeholder communications, and social media strategy.
• Commitment to working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise EVP-COO Office leadership on the communications and public relations implications of potential policy and program decisions.
• Identify and assess opportunities to position the COO and leaders across the COO portfolio as thought leaders in their respective areas, including opportunities to contribute expert opinion/analysis pieces and to provide analysis or expertise on relevant and timely topics in the media.
• Establish a consistent identity for EVP-COO Office communications and develop and assess annual communications plans across the portfolio, including metrics and results reflecting target audience engagement, earned media success and other measurements.
• Develop a holistic communications plan encompassing portfolio-wide priorities and themes.
• Regularly assess the performance of existing communications platforms and products, and lead exploration of new or revised platforms or products.
• Collaborate with University colleagues to increase awareness of EVP-COO priorities and achievements among regional, state and national media markets, as well as decision-makers in local, state and federal governmental bodies and agencies; leaders at peer institutions; and journalists who cover higher education.
• Foster community among the communications professionals embedded in units across the EVP-COO portfolio at large, providing leadership and support to ensure that their communications amplify key messages, are appropriate for the targeted audience, align with University brand standards, and are coordinated to avoid conflicting with each other in timing or tone.
• Collaborate with communications leads in the offices of the President, the Provost, the EVP for Health Affairs, and Student Affairs.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the EVP-COO Office and the offices of University Communications and Advancement Communications, ensuring that the Chief Operating Officer’s priorities and portfolio accomplishments are communicated to internal and external audiences and to UVA constituencies through “UVA Today,” “Envision” and other institutional platforms.
• Serve as the primary liaison to communications leads in the central business services across Grounds which the EVP-COO Office has routine interaction.
• Manage the EVP-COO website -- content, identity and branding - and social media presence.
• Conceptualize, design and execute visual products to meet communication objectives in print and multimedia.
• Administer the University’s Mass Digital Communications Policy (IRM-006), in coordination with the Chief Operating Officer, and in partnership with the Provost’s Office.
• Participate in Critical Incident Management Team activities, attend incident command for events, and support crisis communications under the direction of University Communications and the Division of Safety & Security.
• Write and edit articles, reports, white papers, news releases, backgrounders, publications, and briefing materials.
• Provide a summary of daily news to the COO team; sharing key information on current and emerging issues and priorities.
• Work with the University Counsel’s Office to manage FOIA inquiries and responses from the areas within the COO portfolio.
• Serve as the office liaison to the Staff Senate and Faculty Senate, keeping abreast of key issues and sharing relevant information from the COO portfolio areas.
• Provide editorial support to the EVP-COO for personal communications such as talking points, remarks, presentations, and public correspondence.
• Respond with respect, transparency and kindness when faced with difficult or ambiguous situations and swiftly changing priorities.

Skills

Media relations

Stakeholder communications

Social media strategy

Written and oral communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree with 8+ years experience

Master’s degree in public relations/communications/journalism

Job description

The University of Virginia seeks applications for an Executive Director of Strategic Communications to join the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP-COO). The Executive Director will develop and execute the overall communications strategy for the EVP-COO portfolio with an emphasis on elevating awareness of the portfolio priorities and initiatives.

The Executive Director will report to the Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, interact with the Chief