About the position
We are seeking an inaugural Associate Dean of Strategic Communications and Marketing to join the senior leadership team building Johns Hopkins University's new school of government and policy in the heart of our nation's capital. The Associate Dean will play a pivotal role in shaping the public presence, positioning, and voice of the new school in advance of its opening in 2027. They will build and run the school's communications and marketing teams and will be responsible for creating and executing comprehensive external and internal communications and marketing strategies to advance the school's mission of scholarship for the public good. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary strategic communications leader to help launch an entirely new school of public policy and government at Johns Hopkins University, America's first research university. Located in the Hopkins Bloomberg Center on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, the new school will leverage the University's nearly 150-year history of leadership in research and discovery to educate the next generation of public servants, develop data-driven approaches to government innovation, and meet the challenges facing today's policymakers. The Associate Dean will work closely with the Dean, the dean's leadership team, faculty, and senior university leaders to develop a strategic communications program and position the school as the leading destination for research and expertise aimed at developing innovative, data-driven solutions for contemporary policy challenges and effective government. The role requires a strategic thinker with a deep and nuanced understanding of the challenges of building a respected brand within complex political and public policy landscapes. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing multifaceted communications initiatives, growing and leading multidisciplinary teams, and overseeing brand awareness, enrollment and recruitment marketing, as well as influencer and stakeholder campaigns.
Responsibilities
- Work with the Dean, the school's leadership team and university leadership to develop an overall strategic communications program that positions the new school as a respected voice in the national public policy discourse.
- Craft and execute long- and short-term communications and marketing plans that leverage the school's unique assets to advance strategic priorities.
- Establish clear objectives for the communications and marketing program and develop metrics to monitor progress towards goals.
- Support school and university leadership in navigating communications opportunities and risks in political and policy conversations.
- Lead the school's media engagement and digital communications to promote the work of the school.
- Drive an active media relations strategy to elevate school leaders and faculty experts as thought leaders.
- Develop and deploy a robust owned-media strategy to leverage various channels for policy discussions.
- Oversee crisis communication for the school and serve as a spokesperson as needed.
- Lead efforts to market and promote the school's academic programs and activities through coordinated marketing campaigns.
- Develop marketing campaigns to enhance awareness and reputation of the school.
- Oversee the development of the school's brand and visual identity.
- Develop and execute internal communication plans to engage faculty, staff, and students.
- In collaboration with the Dean, develop the staffing plan and budget for the communications and marketing department.
- Recruit and hire the inaugural team and lead, coach, and develop the team.
- Serve as the liaison to the communications offices at the University and other organizations.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree.
- At least 10 years of managerial-level, progressively responsible experience in leading strategic communications programs in the national public policy and political space.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience developing and running comprehensive strategic communications programs that engage with national public policy and political media.
- Comfort achieving results in a highly collaborative environment.
- Ability to build trust and influence at the executive level.
- Strong media relations experience and comfort speaking on the record.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a diverse team.
- Previous professional experience in and/or content expertise in academic or government environments.
- Advanced degree in a relevant field.
Benefits
- Total rewards package that supports employees' health, life, career and retirement.
