Published: Feb. 14, 2020

The Office of Strategic Relations and Communications encourages applications from current CU «Ƶ employees for a Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications! At the direction of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer (EVC/COO), this role is responsible for creating the overarching strategy, goals, tools, and metrics for communicating with CU «Ƶ’s key international, national, and local audiences and markets to effectively engage them with the university while protecting and elevating the reputation of the university. 

This position manages internal communications to faculty, staff and students, creating mechanisms to allow the campus units to coordinate ongoing communications and create a sense of belonging. This position will create a coordinated content strategy to be distributed through multiple channels and will oversee the full integration of the media team with marketing to ensure seamless coordination of message delivery. 

The Sr. Assoc. VC will serve as an active member and leader of the Strategic Resources and Support team, and support the COO in collaborative decision making to advance campus objectives. Timely and effective emergency communications management will also be under the purview of this role. While the Sr. Assoc. VC does not control or directly manage all communications and marketing staff or budgets on the campus, this position will align the communication and marketing efforts of the university. This requires a high degree of creativity and collaboration and the active engagement of the COO, Provost, Chief of Staff, and Chancellor as needed.

How to Apply

Please apply by February 26, 2020 for consideration. 

վٳ  on the internal job board to apply.

Key Responsibilities 

  • Provide communications and marketing guidance to the Provost, COO, Chancellor and members of Cabinet. Serve as a member of the Chancellor’s University Executive Leadership Team. Chair the Strategic Messaging Alliance and create the process and procedures to ensure the effective functioning of the group as the driver of the integrated brand and content strategy for the campus.
  • Work with team to develop campus marketing platform/campaigns and deployment, identifying the delivery tools (e.g., social media, websites, standard media) and all of the content tools (e.g., design, brand toolkits, video, photography, writing, editing, etc.)
  • Guide the establishment of the brand of the campus, in consultation with the Chancellor and Cabinet. Create, seek approval for, and manage policies related to the brand, utilization of tools, and data-sharing/communications flow.
  • Provide guidance and consultation to the colleges, schools, institutes, athletics, admissions, advancement/alumni, student/parent relations, the Research and Innovation Office, and other units regarding their communications goals and strategies to achieve their objectives.
  • Create the goals, strategies, metrics, and tools for achieving effective internal communications for emergency, strategy, general management, and culture/collaboration enhancement purposes. Create a strategy and define individual roles for communicators from each of the Vice Chancellors, the COO, and Provost to advance the goals of the campus and make senior management better known.
  • Work with CU System marketing/communications/media personnel to coordinate internal communications/branding issues/media responses/marketing plans, etc. to deliver cohesive communications.
  • Ensure that there is a robust infrastructure and series of tools available to campus units, and ensure they have up-to-date and brand-compliant websites that can be developed and updated in a consistent manner. Ensure that the infrastructure is maintained with the appropriate backup systems in place and training and support is provided for all units utilizing the website tool(s). 
  • Manage emergency communications in close coordination with campus police and the Office of Integrity, Safety and Compliance. This includes management of RAVE alerts in concert with the police, emergency warning systems on the university website and through social media, establishment and training of an emergency communications team, and the development and management of communications channels for emergencies.
  • Establish a “voice” for the Chancellor, overseeing the production and publication of his/her speeches. This includes the regular eComm message from the Office of the Chancellor, the planning and creation of the annual State of the Campus and Town Hall addresses, as well as op-ed pieces, speeches to donors, alumni, visiting groups, and speeches external to the campus. Support strategic executive communications on behalf of senior management to address current events or circumstances.
  • Collaborate regularly with the Strategic Resources and Support executive team to support their needs and advance cross-campus objectives.

What We Require

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in communications, marketing or a related field (Note: an equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired may be substituted for the required degree).
  • Fifteen years of increasingly responsible communications and marketing experience in an academic institution or other marketing organization.
  • Eight or more years of proven success as a leader in the field of communications, marketing, or public relations.
  • Thorough knowledge of marketing concepts, strategies and techniques, including use of metrics, A/B testing and data-informed decision making.

What You Will Need

  • Excellent people management, mentoring and motivation skills, which demonstrate the ability to: think strategically and establish direction, organize a team and follow consistent processes to sustain performance, lead and motivate positive change, and challenge people to top performance and share knowledge and experience.
  • Flexible approach to work and adaptable to thrive in a changing environment.
  • High level of energy, enthusiasm and integrity.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Creative, persuasive, and strategic thinker.
  • Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, and able to work successfully with individuals at all levels in the organization.
  • Ability to work in a high-volume environment, meet deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Strong knowledge of and experience with a broad spectrum of communications vehicles, including print and social media, website, CRM and other electronic communications.
  • Strong skills with Microsoft Office products and publishing and web software.

What We Would Like You To Have

  • Master’s degree in marketing, communications or related field.
  • Experience in leading change in a complex organization with a similar role in an institution of higher education or related.