Assistant Dean of Communications – Brooks School of Public Policy, Communications & Marketing
About The Position
The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy seeks a strategic, creative, and collaborative Assistant Dean of Communications to lead the school’s communications and marketing efforts and increase its visibility locally, nationally, and globally. The Assistant Dean is the school’s lead communications resource and a strategic partner to the Dean and senior leadership, including faculty, center and institute directors, and staff. The role reports to the Dean, with a shared reporting line to the Vice President for University Relations. The Assistant Dean sets communications and marketing priorities, develops and executes an annual strategic communications plan, allocates resources, tracks outcomes, and leads a team of two communications professionals. The role directs the school’s communications portfolio and works closely with Cornell University Relations teams, including News, Media Relations, Brand, Strategic Communications, and Cornellians, to promote faculty expertise, research, and key initiatives while protecting brand alignment and message consistency. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Ithaca, New York, on Cornell’s campus. After a period of orientation and acclimation, the hybrid schedule provides an opportunity to work four days on campus and one day from home. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 7–10 years of experience, or equivalent education and experience, in communications, public affairs, marketing, public relations, media relations, or journalism.
- Demonstrated experience as a communications leader serving multiple stakeholders.
- Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
- Skill in understanding cultural differences.
- Exceptional leadership and vision, including the ability to develop strategy that advances the school’s mission.
- Experience creating and maintaining an annual strategic communications plan.
- Proven ability to deliver successful marketing and media campaigns and crisis-management communications.
- Entrepreneurial and innovative outlook, with the ability to identify opportunities and thrive amid uncertainty.
- Ability to write quickly, clearly, and concisely in collaboration with others.
- Experience generating, reporting, writing, editing, and/or assigning stories, multimedia projects, and/or social media content that advances an organization’s mission and goals.
- Ability to collaborate with Brand, Media Relations, News, and Strategic Communications staff on branding and messaging, multimedia storytelling, and crisis prevention and management.
- Experience hiring and managing freelancers and vendors, and managing projects of varying sizes involving multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to work with University Relations and Procurement partners to manage vendor contracts, costs, and timelines.
- Exceptional team-building skills, commitment to transparency, and strong sense of ethics.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in higher education, government, corporate, or nonprofit settings focused on policy-oriented public affairs, public relations, corporate communications, marketing, or related fields.
- Experience directing and developing multimedia products such as video, flash animation, digital signage, and blogs, as well as active participation in online social networks.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy that advances the school’s mission, priorities, reputation, and visibility among internal and external audiences.
- Direct the school’s communications portfolio, including digital and print content, publications, websites, social media, and media outreach.
- Partner with University Relations to promote faculty expertise, research, and key initiatives while maintaining brand alignment and consistent messaging.
- Serve as a strategic communications advisor to the Dean and school leadership.
- Create and maintain an annual strategic communications plan, allocate resources, and track outcomes.
- Supervise and develop a team of two communications professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performing team that delivers measurable results.
- Manage departmental resources and budgets.
- Work with University Relations partners on branding and messaging, multimedia storytelling, and crisis prevention and management.
- Hire and manage freelancers and vendors, and coordinate projects, contracts, costs, and timelines with University Relations and Procurement partners.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care options
- Generous retirement contributions
- Access to wellness programs
- Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
- Health and personal leave
- Three weeks of vacation
- 13 holidays, including an end-of-year winter break from December 25 through January 1
- Two additional floating holidays
- Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
- Tuition aid for external education
- Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program
- Hybrid work schedule of four days on campus and one day from home after orientation and acclimation
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
