Executive Communications Director (Hybrid Opportunity)

Apply now Job no: 527705
Work type: Staff Full Time
Campus: UMass Amherst
Department: Provost's Office
Pay Grade: 30
Categories: Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Academic Affairs

About UMass Amherst 

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world. 

 

Job Summary 

The Executive Communications Director serves as principal communications strategist and senior advisor to the Provost on all communications matters. The Executive Communications Director (ECD) develops and executes a comprehensive and proactive communications strategy that aligns with institutional priorities and amplifies the voice of Academic Affairs. The ECD maintains close communication with University Relations and Issues Management about emerging issues and coordinates the Provost’s Office’s communications response.

The Executive Communications Director acts as the primary writer for the Provost and editorial liaison on collaborative written communication for the office, and serves as a key liaison with University leadership, external stakeholders, and strategic partners. The ECD is a member of the Provost’s Leadership Team and collaborates with senior academic and administrative leaders across the institution.

 

Essential Duties

  • Acts as a communications thought partner and principal strategist to the Provost, providing guidance on key strategic communications initiatives and high-priority projects.
  • Develops a wide range of internal and external strategic communications including, but not limited to, verbal, written, nonverbal, and visual communications to support both the Provost’s Office’s and the University’s overall strategic goals demonstrating measurable impact.
  • Develops and executes an internal communications strategy to advance the mission, values, and goals of academic affairs.
  • Plans and executes strategic communications in response to emerging issues.
  • Oversees the strategic redesign of the Provost’s Office website, generates and manages the website content, and manages ongoing updates and changes.
  • Writes, edits, and produces compelling content for the provost’s speeches, talking points, presentations, keynote addresses, emails, scripts, and other high-level communications that execute the overall messaging strategy for the Provost and the University at large.
  • Provides proactive communications support, cross-institutional coordination, and strategic direction for the Provost’s Office’s special initiatives, such as Faculty Success, Operational Excellence, and others.
  • Develops communications with the appropriate voice, cadence, and style for the provost, factoring in audience, intent, and occasion.
  • Ensures all prepared remarks and other public statements, including those prepared by other offices, are accurate, fact-checked, and proofread. Provides supporting references for data, quotes and other citations used in communications.
  • Stays abreast of the latest and emerging news and information relevant to the campus community that may inform messaging and strategy.
  • Uses content management systems to deliver and measure the consumption and impact of communications.
  • Works in a deadline-driven writing environment with multiple projects and quick turnarounds.
  • Collaborates across Schools and Colleges to align Academic Affairs messaging with institutional goals. 
  • Participates as a member of the Provost’s Leadership Team, advising on communication risks and opportunities.

 

Other Functions 

  • Performs other related duties as assigned. 

 

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure) 

  • Bachelor’s degree with more than seven (7) years of relevant, progressive experience in communications, with demonstrated experience leveraging a variety of communication methods and channels to support key strategic initiatives.
  • Institutional knowledge of higher education, particularly research universities.
  • Experience working under the pressure of deadlines, particularly as it relates to drafting effective statements that address multiple stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to appropriately represent senior leadership through communications to a wide range of audiences and occasions.
  • Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences through a variety of platforms including PowerPoint presentations, social media platforms, and email.
  • Project management expertise with a proven record of performance-driven results. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Ability to utilize independent judgment and manage sensitive and/or confidential information with discretion.
  • Ability to independently set priorities, plan, organize, coordinate and direct multiple, concurrent projects, and complex tasks, coupled with the ability to develop and move strategic agendas forward and drive a high volume of work to completion.
  • Ability to work both independently at times and collaboratively with colleagues spread across multiple departments.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities.
  • Experience working in and navigating content management systems (e.g., Drupal) and customer relationship management platforms (e.g., Marketing Cloud).
  • Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to establish and maintain positive working relationships with external and internal constituents and to ensure collaboration and cooperation among administrative units within Academic Affairs.  

 

Physical Demands/Working Conditions 

  • Typical office environment.
  • Position requires occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds and the ability to travel between locations.
  • Occasional travel, evening, and weekend work required.

 

Work Schedule

  • Typical work schedule: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm with occasional nights or weekends in support of the Provost's Office initiatives.
  • This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position is non-unit, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees Non-Unit (Professional) Employee Personnel Policy.

 

Salary Information

Salary Level 30

Exempt Hiring Ranges

 

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

 

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

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The University of Massachusetts President’s Office welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.