Associate Vice President, Strategic and Integrated Communications

Chapman University Careers • Irvine, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Vice President of Strategic and Integrated Communications in Strategic Marketing and Communications ( SMC ) reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs. This role will serve as the deputy to the Senior Vice President, leading and managing the university’s strategic and operational communications strategies while managing the department’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations. The Associate Vice President is the primary adviser to the SVP on all matters related to marcomm, communications, staffing, strategy, and division scope; occasionally briefing and advising executive leaders at the highest levels of the organizations. In this way, this role will effectively serve as the chief communications officer for the university. The Associate Vice President will provide direct counsel and support to leaders across the university. The role’s primary duties include overseeing and engaging in strategic communications, executive communications, operational communications, media and constituent relations, and contributing to and helping to integrate university-wide marketing, outreach, and engagement initiatives with senior leadership and across SMC . This leader will connect dots across Chapman, ensuring the strategic coordination of resources for marketing, communication, and community relations activities. A communication strategist and superb writer, the incumbent will be adept at leveraging paid, earned, owned, and shared channels in comprehensive multimedia campaigns, developing and executing plans and tactics across internal and external audiences. The role will also have primary responsibility for protecting the university’s reputation through issues management, crisis communications, and strategic initiatives. The Associate Vice President will develop and execute a living plan for these activities while mentoring junior staff to ensure sufficient business continuity of crisis response. The role will work closely with campus partners including general counsel, public safety, risk management, and functional leads across the university. The Associate Vice President will oversee a communications team of five staff and will serve as a member of SMC’s leadership team. The role will support the SVP in promoting a unit of high-performing professionals through best practices in management, strategic planning, and staffing. The role will lead directors and staff through operations and business processes, developing a culture of continuous improvement and excellence. This position is located at Chapman’s Orange Campus and is expected to be in the office 5 days per week and on site for any issue, crisis, or special event as directed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional experience.
• 15 years’ professional experience in strategic communications, marketing, journalism, and/or public relations, which includes building successful internal and external communications, issues management, and communications programs and integrated strategies.
• 7-10 years’ experience in a leadership/management role in a complex organization, which includes directing a large-scale communication, issues management, developing and implementing strategies and initiatives, and managing personnel and finances.
• Experience in executive-level communications.
• Experience in developing communication plans and crisis communication plans.
• Experience advising/working with an organizational governing board or board of directors/trustees.
• Experience working with donors and other VIPs.
• Demonstrated strong writing skills.
• Experience coordinating and collaborating across a complex organization.
• Experience managing staff and budget.
• Employee management, supervision, and team-building skills, including the ability to train and coach others, communicate effectively, manage conflict, recognize good behavior, and establish and maintain accountability.
• Ability to consider multiple audiences, sometimes with competing interests.
• Collaboration skills, including the ability to work with others from different areas and backgrounds to reach a common goal.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with a range of individuals and departments.
• Knowledge of paid/earned/owned strategies and institutional brands.
• An overarching commitment to excellence.

Responsibilities

• Marcomm strategist and tactitian: Help advance the university’s goals related to rank/reputation, enrollment and fundraising, partnering with the executive team, senior staff, and other team members on key initiatives. Major components of the AVP’s portfolio include marcomm support for University Advancement, among others.
• Department leader: Serve as a No. 2 to the Senior Vice President in SMC , helping to set and manage the institution’s overarching strategic and operational communications strategies and helping to manage the department’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations.
• Team leader: Manage the communications, content, and PR teams, providing oversight and direction while also serving as a communications plan and materials originator.
• Issues and crisis management: Serve as the lead public information officer ( PIO ) in times of issues and crisis and regularly train on this topic.
• Adviser: Serve as a best practices consultant and connector liaison for embedded communicators/marketers across the university.
• Other duties as assigned

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level