Communications Director

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

6d • $125,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Communications Director serves as a communications strategist and trusted advisor in the Office of the Provost on executive, internal and institutional communications. The director operates as both a strategic advisor and an operational leader, balancing high-level counsel with hands-on execution across a broad portfolio of work.

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressively responsible communications experience
• Exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills
• Experience leading communications in complex environments
• Bachelor's degree required

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated organizational judgment, discretion, and ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters
• Experience prioritizing and managing multiple competing priorities
• Track record of building trust through clarity, follow through, and consistency
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence across multiple stakeholders without formal authority
• Experience managing organizational change or large-scale internal communications initiatives
• Demonstrated openness to learning, listening to different perspectives, and adapting strategies when presented with new information
• Understanding of communication technologies and channels and a vision for using them strategically
• Familiarity with higher education organizational structures, including shared governance; academic culture; and institutional decision-making processes
• Experience advising institutional leaders or senior executives on communication strategy and messaging
• Skilled facilitator

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of communications strategies that support the Office of the Provost and advance the academic mission of the University
• Ensures that high-level communications are reflective of the campus strategic framework
• Leads communications efforts related to academic initiatives, leadership transitions, organizational priorities, policy changes and operational updates
• Strengthens alignment and supports the institutional brand across the Provost's portfolio
• Develops communication that supports transparency, alignment, engagement and change management across complex academic units
• Develops a communications strategy workflow, and smooth execution on daily needs, as well as longer term projects
• Fosters connections and supports alignment and partnership among communicators in units reporting to the Office of the Provost
• Ensures alignment with central campus communication priorities and the Office of Strategic Communication
• Anticipates institutional risks, reputational considerations and opportunities
• Provides guidance on sensitive and high-profile issues, serves as a key liaison with university-wide partners, and assists in executing urgent or emergency communications
• Supports the provost's engagements with internal and external audiences
• Develops presentations, correspondence, speeches, remarks, web content and talking points
• Manages daily operational communication needs of the Office of the Provost
• As needed, support units reporting to the Office of the Provost
• Identifies, establishes, and directs media relationships and partnerships with internal and external sources (20%)
• Develops, implements, and monitors strategic communication initiatives for designated audiences and internal stakeholders to maximize engagement and strengthen collaboration efforts (40%)
• Audits and directs day-to-day operational plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives (20%)
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revived operational policies and procedures (20%)

Benefits

• generous paid-time off
• competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance
• tax-advantaged savings accounts
• participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund

What This Job Offers

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