Director of Communications

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

1d

About The Position

The Director of Communications serves as a senior communications leader for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR), reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and working closely with University Communications and Marketing (UCM) and the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) to advance a comprehensive communications strategy that elevates the visibility, impact, and reputation of the UNC Research enterprise. The Director provides strategic oversight of the Office of Research Communications (ORC), leading a high performing team responsible for advancing the visibility, impact, reputation, and competitive standing of Carolina’s research enterprise. The Director also oversees internal and external communications efforts, working at the intersection of research strategy, federal policy, compliance communications, and institutional leadership, requiring scientific literacy, regulatory fluency, and a sophisticated understanding of the federal research funding landscape. The Director serves as the primary communications partner to the VCR as a national voice on research policy across federal agencies, Congress, APLU and AAU leadership, and the broader higher education community. The Director leads integrated communications strategy across ORC’s full portfolio: executive communications and thought leadership, research impact storytelling, compliance and policy communications to a 20,000-member research community, stakeholder and philanthropic materials for donors, legislators, and federal partners, and community engagement including OVCR Office Hours and University Research Week. They also oversee the OVCR’s primary communications channels to ensure alignment, reach, and engagement. This work is aligned with the OVCR’s Research Roadmap, directly supporting research expenditure growth, faculty recruitment and retention, federal funding relationships, and the national reputation metrics that determine institutional standing.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience managing communications and marketing strategy
• 8 years of experience successfully managing projects and communications for a large, complex organization, including working collaboratively within a matrixed communications environment
• Demonstrated experience developing and communicating strategic messages across diverse media, platforms, and audiences.
• Capable of inspiring a creative team of writers, storytellers, producers and designers.
• Strong writer and editor, capable of quickly grasping complex scientific concepts and communicating their substance and value visually and in writing in ways that make them easily understood by a general audience.
• Committed to the production of high-quality content with an attention to detail and be able to inspire the production of such work in others.
• Experience simultaneously managing multiple short-term projects while maintaining focus on long-term projects and delivering on strategic objectives and deadlines.
• Skilled at building and managing external relationships and collaborating in a decentralized, diverse university environment with a team approach that combines collegiality and creativity to motivate others.
• Experience developing executive communications and positioning senior leaders as effective public voices across multiple channels and audiences
• Familiarity with the federal research funding landscape and the compliance and policy environment governing university research, or demonstrated ability to rapidly develop that expertise
• Proven ability to serve as a chief liaison between OVCR leadership, University leadership, faculty, staff and students and communications leaders and organizations across the University and beyond.
• Able to persuade people to follow communication processes and standards even when individuals do not report directly to them.
• Models integrity, innovation, adaptability, inclusion, responsible use of resources, continuous quality improvement and creativity.
• Diplomatic, collaborative, and able to function well in a matrixed organization and to motivate individuals and teams to follow communication and brand standards that enhance brand identity.

Nice To Haves

• Ten or more years of experience successfully managing and overseeing a communications office for a large, complex organization and working collaboratively within a matrixed communications environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic oversight of the Office of Research Communications (ORC), leading a high performing team.
• Advances the visibility, impact, reputation, and competitive standing of Carolina’s research enterprise.
• Oversees internal and external communications efforts, working at the intersection of research strategy, federal policy, compliance communications, and institutional leadership.
• Serves as the primary communications partner to the VCR as a national voice on research policy.
• Leads integrated communications strategy across ORC’s full portfolio: executive communications and thought leadership, research impact storytelling, compliance and policy communications, stakeholder and philanthropic materials, and community engagement.
• Oversees the OVCR’s primary communications channels to ensure alignment, reach, and engagement.
• Supports research expenditure growth, faculty recruitment and retention, federal funding relationships, and national reputation metrics.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed