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 Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer’s portfolio with an emphasis on elevating awareness of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer portfolio priorities and key initiatives, emphasizing the enabling importance of this work to the University’s pursuit of its mission.
The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer is the University's chief administrative, business, and operating officer and oversees the financial and administrative operations of the University and supporting infrastructure, services, and special initiatives that have a University-wide impact. The units within the EVP-COO portfolio partner with the EVP-Provost, the EVP for Health Affairs, and other University leaders to foster strong relationships among academic, healthcare, and administrative areas. The Executive Director of Strategic Communications will report on a day-to-day basis to the Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff and have regular interaction with the Chief Operating Officer. For more information on the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, please visit https://evp-coo.virginia.edu/.
The successful candidate will:
- 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.
- Incorporate Inclusive Excellence principles in their communications planning and execution.
- 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.
- 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 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.
Required Qualifications:
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
- Bachelor’s degree with at least eight years of experience, or a master’s degree in public relations, communications, or journalism with six 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 fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in higher education or non-profit public relations and communications.
- Experience in executive communications support such as remarks, presentations, white papers, and opinion essays.
- Experience using an inclusive excellence framework to advance an organization's goals in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Experience supervising freelance and staff writers, designers, photographers, videographers, and social media professionals.
TO APPLY:
Please visit UVA job board: https://jobs.virginia.edu and search for R0057084
Complete an application online and attach:
PROCESS FOR INTERNAL UVA APPLICANTS: Please apply through your Workday Home page, search “Find Jobs”, and search for R0057084
- Please note that you MUST upload ALL documents into the CV/Resume box. Applications that do not contain all of the required documents will not receive full consideration. ***
For questions about the application process, please contact Rhiannon O’Coin, Senior Academic Recruiter, rmo2r@virginia.edu
For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/
The selected candidate will be required to complete a background check at the time of the offer per University Policy.
This position is located in Charlottesville, VA.
Salary is commensurate with education and experience. This is an Exempt level, benefited position. For more information about benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education: Bachelor's degree
Experience: Eight years relevant experience, Advanced Degree may substitute for some of the experience requirement.
Licensure: None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
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