Vice President for Communications

Oberlin College and Conservatory; Oberlin (OH); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio, seeks a trusted leader to serve as Vice President for Communications. The VP will shape and execute a comprehensive, institution-wide communications strategy that aligns branding, messaging, and media relations across the College and Conservatory.

Reporting to the President and partnering with the ELT, the VP will lead crisis communications, elevate Oberlin’s reputation, oversee a high-performing team, and serve as a public spokesperson to

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a comprehensive, institution-wide communications strategy.
• Align branding and messaging across Oberlin College and Conservatory.
• Lead crisis communications and serve as a public spokesperson.
• Oversee a high-performing communications team and staff development.
• Collaborate with the President, ELT, trustees, alumni, and students.

Job description

Vice President for Communications

Oberlin College & Conservatory

Oberlin, Ohio

Oberlin College and Conservatory (Oberlin), one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges and conservatories of music, seeks an experienced leader to serve as the Vice President for Communications (VP). The VP will be the strategic architect of communications at Oberlin. Working across the institution, the VP will be responsible for ensuring strategic alignment and execution across all communications and marketing, leading the promotion of a consistent, unified, and effective brand, and positioning Oberlin to amplify its role as a leading institution of higher education.

Oberlin comprises two internationally recognized bodies. The College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) enrolls approximately 2,400 students across 49 majors. The Conservatory offers world-class musical instruction to more than 600 students. Of that total, approximately 200 students pursue degrees simultaneously in both the College and Conservatory.

Oberlin is deeply committed to access and equity as the first institution of higher education to adopt policies admitting African American students and awarding bachelor’s degrees to women. With its heritage and continued commitment to such ideals, Oberlin fills a leadership role with impact far beyond the scope of a liberal arts college. The exceptional quality of the academics and artistic programs, along with principled leadership on issues of social justice, firmly positions Oberlin as a public leader in higher education.

The VP will oversee and influence all communications efforts across the institution. They will work closely with President Carmen Twillie Ambar as the principal advisor for the President and her Executive Leadership Team on all communications‑related matters and will serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). This is a tremendous opportunity for a visionary, dynamic, and experienced communications professional to define and build an innovative strategic approach to communications that unifies messaging for Oberlin, supports and furthers the goals of the institution, supports and strengthens the brand, and engages all constituencies on and off campus. Working as a partner to the President, Chief of Staff, ELT, trustees, staff, alumni, and students across the community, the VP will assess the existing communications infrastructure, develop an institution‑wide strategic communications plan, lead effective crisis communications, work to position an effective brand that contributes to enrollment, serve as a public spokesperson for Oberlin, support advancement efforts, and manage a high performing communications staff. The VP will report to President Ambar and work closely with Chief of Staff David Hertz.

Oberlin College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the development of a climate that supports equality of opportunity and respect of differences based on gender, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. Oberlin was the first coeducational institution to grant bachelor’s degrees to women and historically has been a leader in the education of African Americans; the College was also among the first to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.