Assistant Director of Executive Communications and Coordination

The Pennsylvania State University • University Park, FL

22d • Hybrid

About The Position

Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications , the University’s central public relations and marketing division, is seeking a seasoned executive communications professional and speech writer to lead strategic messaging and speechwriting support for the University’s provost and provide as-needed briefing materials and messaging for other Penn State senior executives, in particular the Senior Vice President for Research. This is a hybrid position that requires occasional evening and weekend hours. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in higher education and/or executive communications, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to produce clear, compelling, and astute copy on a wide array of topics. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Media and External Engagement, the Assistant Director of Executive Communications and Coordination will serve as a trusted advisor and provide key communications support for the provost and other key executives, helping to advance leadership priorities at one of the world’s leading public research universities. In addition to crafting persuasive and articulate speeches, this individual will produce a variety of content, including PowerPoint presentations, talking points, news stories, scripts, blogs, op-eds, and remarks. This role is also responsible for conducting extensive research on engagements the provost and other senior executives will attend, including providing Information about invited guests, event locations, event purpose and significance, and audience expectations. Additionally, this role will monitor the external media landscape to provide timely situational awareness and strategic insights to executive leadership, including preparing reports and recommendations that inform messaging and engagement decisions. The successful candidate will be a strong relationship-builder who is able to provide feedback and communications advice to executive leadership, possesses outstanding organizational skills, and can operate independently.

Requirements

• Outstanding writing and editing skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent research skills, with attention to audience awareness
• The ability to communicate complex and varied topics to diverse audiences
• A strong sense of self-direction
• A commitment to collaboration and teamwork
• Discretion handling confidential information
• The ability to manage multiple priorities, consistently produce compelling content, and meet firm deadlines
• Experience supporting senior leadership and managing logistics for high-stakes engagements
• A collaborative spirit and ability to work across teams and functions
• The person in this role must also have excellent listening skills and be able to absorb and process large amounts of information.
• The successful candidate will be flexible, adaptable, and capable of quickly pivoting to meet changing demands and new situations.
• Bachelor's Degree
• 8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, public relations, or a similar discipline
• Prior experience with executive communications or speechwriting, experience working in higher education, and familiarity with the current state and challenges facing higher education
• Though this position will not have direct reports at this time, prior team management/leadership experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Fulfilling the speech writing/messaging needs of Penn State’s provost and other senior executives, including coordination with the Provost’s Chief of Staff
• Writing and editing speech-related materials for a variety of settings and public appearances
• Crafting a range of materials, including background information, bulleted remarks, talking points, and fully scripted speeches, all tailored to the specific needs of each occasion
• Aligning speeches and public statements with the provost’s or executive’s voice, style, and vision
• Making sure messaging is factual, accurate, and consistent with university priorities and values
• Composing detailed briefing materials for various stakeholder meetings, speeches, forums, and other events, making sure the provost and other senior executives are well-informed and prepared for each engagement
• Implementing processes to track and manage speaking engagements, deadlines, and strategic stakeholder interactions, ensuring timely execution and alignment with organizational priorities
• Developing and executing a surround sound communications strategy that ensures leadership messages are echoed across media and social media platforms, as appropriate
• Maintaining a proactive editorial calendar and anticipating opportunities for executive visibility and thought leadership
• Monitoring emerging topics and trends across the University to identify areas where executive commentary or engagement may be valuable
• Regularly and proactively engaging with colleagues in the Office of Strategic Communications to keep abreast of topics that might require comments from the provost or other senior executives
• Working closely with key areas across the University—such as Development and Alumni Relations, Government and Community Relations, Student Affairs, colleges, and campuses—to understand key messages and objectives and incorporate relevant data, information, and talking points into communications that will resonate with audiences
• Drafting scripts for video messages, writing op-eds, and developing quotes and statements, as needed
• Monitoring the media landscape and tracking emerging trends in the news cycle

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees