Director - HR Communications

University of Rochester•Rochester, NY

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of HR Communications oversees the development and implementation of communications that support University of Rochester Human Resources programs, policies, and priorities. The role advises HR and University executives on complex or sensitive decisions and projects, develops communications strategies, serves as the first point of contact for HR issues management, and works with University units to promote open and transparent communication. The Director evaluates communications resources with HR program leaders and recommends changes to improve faculty and staff understanding and engagement with HR services. The Director leads communications and change-management staff and oversees day-to-day activities supporting awareness and understanding of HR strategy, products, policies, and programs. The role develops and executes communications plans for complex, institution-wide initiatives, integrating change-management frameworks to support successful adoption. It consults with senior University and URMC leaders, advises on stakeholder perceptions, and coordinates timely, measurable communications across the institution. Responsibilities also include building communications infrastructure and channels, maintaining a strategy for high-quality HR website content, selecting effective formats and storytelling approaches, and ensuring communications are shared through appropriate University and URMC channels. The Director manages an individual portfolio of complex and sensitive projects, develops content for internal and external audiences, collaborates with HR leadership on issue responses, supervises and coaches direct reports, builds institutional communications partnerships, and provides input on communications budgets while ensuring assigned budgets are met.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, or a related field, and 10 years of experience in a strategic communications role, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills.
Ability to coach senior executives and offer differing points of view in group settings.
Ability to work independently and successfully within a matrixed work culture.
Ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a deadline-oriented environment with minimal supervision.
Knowledge of principles and procedures for recruitment, training and development, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiations, and human resource information systems.
Ability to develop creative content ideas and match them with effective, engaging, and achievable storytelling approaches.
Understanding of traditional communications and publications technologies.
Forward-looking approach toward emerging communications platforms in digital and social media.
Demonstrated proficiency in writing and editing for target audiences, including analyzing, condensing, and synthesizing information and providing accurate analysis and summaries.
Ability to lead and motivate high-performing teams.
Ability to oversee large-scale, complex projects, make important decisions, and design and implement new programs.
Strong organization and project management skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience overseeing HR communications in higher education, especially in an academic medical center setting.
Five years of supervisory or management experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement communications plans and strategies supporting HR programs, policies, priorities, and complex institutional changes.
Integrate change-management frameworks into communications plans and ensure plans are executed successfully and on time.
Advise University and URMC senior leadership on communications strategy, stakeholder perceptions, complex decisions, and sensitive projects.
Oversee the development and implementation of timely, measurable, enterprise-wide communications for HR programs and changes.
Serve as the first point of contact for HR issues management, coordinate responses with leadership, and escalate issues when appropriate.
Evaluate HR communications resources with program leaders and recommend improvements to faculty and staff understanding and engagement.
Establish communications infrastructure and channels that support management communications and reach faculty and staff throughout the University.
Maintain an HR website strategy and ensure communications are high-quality, timely, and distributed through appropriate channels.
Identify and evaluate communications formats, storytelling techniques, and applications, including digital and social media approaches.
Manage and execute an individual portfolio of complex and sensitive communications projects affecting University faculty and staff.
Synthesize complex information into key messages, identify target audiences and channels, and develop communications materials such as emails, presentations, websites, talking points, FAQs, videos, brochures, and other content.
Develop and write content for internal and external audiences, including memos, presentations, newsletters, website copy, scripts, news stories, and infographics.
Supervise, coach, and motivate communications and change-management staff; align team activities with HR strategies and recommend staffing changes as needed.
Build support among communications and administrative professionals across the institution to facilitate effective HR communications and use of existing channels.
Provide input into capital and operational budgets and ensure assigned communications budgets are met.
Measure progress using employee engagement and other methods and adjust content or channels as necessary.
Perform other duties as assigned.