Director - HR Communications
About The Position
The Director of HR Communications oversees the development and implementation of communication plans supporting University programs and policies related to Human Resources. The role advises HR and University executives on complex and sensitive decisions and projects, builds support for communications strategies, and serves as the first point of contact for HR issues management. The Director works with HR program managers to evaluate communications resources and improve faculty and staff understanding and engagement with HR services. The Director supervises communication and change management staff and oversees day-to-day communications activities that promote awareness of HR strategy, priorities, products, policies, and programs. The role uses employee engagement and other measures to evaluate progress and adjust content and channels. It develops communications plans for complex projects and institutional changes, integrates change management practices, and advises University and URMC senior leadership on stakeholder perceptions and communication approaches. The position directs enterprise-wide communications plans for HR programs and operational changes, builds understanding of HR’s role across University business units, and recommends ways to improve alignment and share best practices. It oversees communications infrastructure and channels for managers, faculty, and staff; develops a strategy for maintaining high-quality HR website content; and ensures timely, high-quality communications across appropriate University and URMC channels. The Director also manages an individual portfolio of complex and sensitive communications projects affecting University faculty and staff. This includes developing key messages, identifying audiences and channels, writing and editing content for internal and external audiences, and working with senior leaders to finalize messages. The role coaches direct reports, supports staffing and budget planning, and builds collaboration with communications and administrative professionals across the institution.
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 communication 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 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 digital and social media platforms.
- 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 for HR programs, policies, complex projects, and institutional changes, integrating change management practices.
- Advise University and URMC senior leadership on communications strategy, stakeholder perceptions, and sensitive decisions or projects.
- Serve as the first point of contact for HR issues management and collaborate with University leadership on transparent communications and escalation as appropriate.
- Direct and supervise communication and change management staff, providing coaching and ensuring team activities align with HR strategies.
- Oversee enterprise-wide HR communications and ensure communications are timely, effective, measurable, and distributed through appropriate channels.
- Evaluate communications resources with HR program managers and directors, recommending changes to improve faculty and staff understanding and engagement with HR services.
- Develop and maintain communications infrastructure and a strategy for keeping the HR website updated with high-quality content.
- Identify effective communication formats and approaches, and evaluate opportunities to expand storytelling techniques and applications.
- Manage a portfolio of complex and sensitive communications projects affecting University faculty and staff.
- Synthesize complex or sensitive information into key messages and create content for emails, presentations, websites, newsletters, videos, FAQs, and other materials.
- Collaborate with HR leadership and senior University leaders to develop and finalize communications and responses to issues.
- Build collaboration among communications and administrative professionals across the institution to facilitate effective HR communications.
- Provide input into capital and operational budgets, and ensure assigned communications budgets are met.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
