Director of Executive Communications for Academic Affairs

Job Description:

Director of Executive Communications for Academic Affairs

Description

Job Summary

The Director of Executive Communications reports directly to the Special Advisor to the Provost and works collaboratively with the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. This is an important point of collaboration and contact to ensure fulfillment of timely, accurate and appropriate communication. The Director of Executive Communications for Academic Affairs is a strategic and collaborative communicator that is responsible for developing and executing compelling and actionable communication strategies that support critical strategic initiatives within the Office of the Provost for the division of Academic Affairs. As part of a collaborative team, the director is responsible for leading the development of the Provost and Executive Vice President’s communication strategy to elevate the Office of the Provost and communicate the provost’s strategic priorities and initiatives to key stakeholders, including a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, student supporters, alumni, and the broader community. The director plays a vital role in shaping and conveying the narrative surrounding academic initiatives, institutional goals, and the overall mission of the university for both internal and external constituents. This position strengthens community and respect through effective and transparent communications that reflect and support the campus's commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Balancing short-term communication needs with developing strategic communication plans to advance long-term strategic initiatives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment is critical to the success of the Provost and Executive Vice President’s communications efforts. This position also has a dotted line reporting into Cal Poly’s central University Communications and Marketing (UCM) division, working in partnership with the UCM team to ensure strategic communications and marketing plans are aligned with the university’s goals.

The Director of Executive Communications provides strategic leadership to realize organizational goals through engaging and creative messaging, executive messaging, and engagement activities. The director serves as the primary writer for the provost and executive vice president, providing a range of executive writing and communication assignments often involving highly sensitive and confidential information. This position works closely with University Communications and Marketing to support media relations and management and crisis communications specific to the provost. The director collaborates closely with colleagues at all levels across the division of academic affairs and campus, including communication leaders in other divisions and communications and marketing staff within the division of University Communications and Marketing.

Department Summary

The provost and executive vice president (provost and evp) for Academic Affairs is the chief academic officer of the university, holds the highest seniority of all the vice presidents, and reports directly to the president. The provost and evp serves as acting president in the absence of the president. As the highest ranking academic, the provost and evp is responsible for developing and implementing academic plans and policies, which will enable the university community to achieve the highest levels of academic excellence. The provost and evp serves on the President’s Cabinet and works collaboratively with the leaders of other university divisions to promote academic excellence, execute the university strategic plan, and determine where resources should be strategically allocated and invested. The college deans, Academic Affairs’ division leadership, the vice president for Research, the vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) report to the provost and evp. The vice president for University Personnel and the associate vice provost for Academic Personnel have a dotted line report to the provost and evp. The provost and evp also represents the campus within the CSU and to external constituencies as designated by the president. The Office of the Provost staff supports the vision of the provost and evp, the university, and the Learn by Doing experience.

Key Qualifications

• Build and execute the Office of the Provost’s communications strategy for proactively and regularly engaging stakeholders and key constituencies around the provost’s vision, strategic initiatives, and priorities. Develop strategic goals for university wide and divisional Academic Affairs communications that are interconnected with the university and provost’s vision and values.
• Provide advice and counsel to divisional senior leadership on all aspects of communications, including strategic planning, effective messaging, and addressing opportunities. Analyze and make communication recommendations based on various time-sensitive demands or needs.
• Serve as a strategic partner and adviser to leadership and key stakeholders to ensure that communication is created and shared appropriately. Develop common messaging and visual representations of complex thoughts and ideas and distill and sharpen key messages. Remain current on relevant issues and trends affecting higher education that should be referenced or reflected in communications.
• Work directly with the provost and Academic Affairs senior leadership to craft key messages for internal and external audiences. Draft messages, talking points, presentations, and speeches for leadership for internal and external audiences. Regularly have access to highly sensitive and confidential information when creating communications. Ensure internal communication messages are consistent with external communication messages. Partner with University Communications on the writing and distribution of division-related press releases and press advisories.
• Serve as the primary speechwriter and communications coordinator for the provost in ways that build understanding and support for the provost’s leadership priorities and progress. Develop executive communications that reflect the provost’s voice, style and accomplishments across a range of formats, settings and channels, from formal speeches to message points, university, divisional and CSU meetings, and reception remarks, etc.
• Develop briefing materials based on research, reports, presentations and talking points for Academic Affairs leadership use in presenting to the CSU Board of Trustees, Academic Senate, advisory boards, city and regional stakeholder groups, and similar bodies.
• Collaborate closely with University Marketing colleagues for design and production of multi-media solutions, including marketing materials, websites, video, photography, digital newsletters, social media, apps and other digital media. Ensure alignment of Academic Affairs branding and messaging with the university brand guidelines and ADA requirements.
• Research, write, edit and update copy for written communications through multiple outreach methods, including but not limited to website stories, campus emails, division publications for programs, services, functions, and events.
• Design and implement compelling content across internal communications channels. In alignment with university website and brand guidelines oversee the Office of the Provost related websites, including layout and information architecture, and content maintenance.
• Develop key performance metrics for significant aspects of communications and ensure baselines are established prior to execution.
• Forge and maintain relationships with the University Communications and Marketing teams and communication teams within Academic Affairs.
• Support the internal communication response to crisis situations that affect organizational reputation, as appropriate. Actively partners with colleagues in crisis communications planning and preparedness.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism or closely related field with 5 years of progressively responsible experience in communications. A graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $90,000-$120,000 annually. Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected.

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information.

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu .

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer.

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).

Advertised: Mar 05 2024 Pacific Standard Time
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