Assistant Dean of Communications – Brooks School of Public Policy, Communications & Marketing

Cornell University•Ithaca, NY

9d•Hybrid

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 raise its visibility locally, nationally, and globally. The role sets a clear communications vision and builds partnerships across stakeholder groups to tell compelling stories about the school’s research, people, and programs. Reporting to the Dean, with a shared reporting line to the Vice President for University Relations, the Assistant Dean serves as the school’s lead communications resource and strategic partner to the Dean and senior leadership, including faculty, center and institute directors, and staff. The position sets communications and marketing priorities, executes an annual strategic communications plan, allocates resources, tracks outcomes, and leads a team of two communications professionals. The Assistant Dean works closely with Cornell University Relations teams, including News, Media Relations, Brand, Strategic Communications, and Cornellians, and meets regularly with the Vice President for University Relations and the Associate Vice President for Communications. The position is based in Ithaca, New York, and follows a hybrid schedule of four days on campus and one day at home after an orientation and acclimation period. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
Demonstrated skill in understanding cultural differences.
Bachelor’s degree with 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.
Exceptional leadership and vision to develop strategy advancing the Brooks School of Public Policy’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 orientation, ability to recognize opportunities, and ability to 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 a unit’s mission and goals.
Ability to work with University Relations partners on branding, messaging, multimedia storytelling, and crisis prevention and management.
Experience hiring and managing freelancers and vendors, and managing small and large projects involving multiple stakeholders.
Ability to work with University Relations and Procurement partners to manage standard 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, and active participation in online social networks.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the Brooks School’s comprehensive communications and marketing strategy, ensuring clear and consistent messaging that advances the school’s mission, priorities, reputation, and visibility.
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 messaging consistency.
Serve as a strategic advisor to school leadership.
Supervise communications staff, manage departmental resources and budgets, and foster a collaborative, high-performing team that delivers measurable results.
Create and maintain an annual strategic communications plan, allocate resources, and track outcomes.
Collaborate with Brand, Media Relations, News, and Strategic Communications staff on internal and external branding and messaging, multimedia storytelling, and crisis prevention and management.
Hire and manage freelancers and vendors, and manage projects with multiple stakeholders, including vendor contracts, costs, and timelines in collaboration 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 and 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.