Director of External Relations and Communications #00038

DHRM•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the coordinating body for Virginia’s postsecondary education system. It works to develop and promote a coordinated higher education system, facilitate collaboration among institutions, advise executive and legislative branches on budget and policy matters, and provide guidance to institutions. SCHEV’s mission is to promote an educationally and economically sound, vigorous, progressive, and coordinated system of higher education. Its statewide strategic plan, Developing Tomorrow’s Talent: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, sets goals and strategies to help Virginia become the “Top State for Talent” by 2032. The Director for External Relations provides leadership, coordination, and strategic direction for SCHEV’s interactions with the General Assembly, state agencies, higher education institutions, statewide organizations, and other external stakeholders. The role supports legislative and policy engagement and leads external communications, overseeing the Communications Team and aligning communications, outreach, and external relations with agency priorities. The Director reports to SCHEV’s Executive Director. The Director develops and executes the agency’s external communications strategy, works with executive leadership and the Council on budget and policy recommendations, and establishes strategies for engaging stakeholders. The position leads interactions with key government stakeholders, supports Council and agency activities, and ensures that public-facing communications are consistent, high-quality, and accessible. It supervises the Communications Team and works across SCHEV divisions to translate policy and research into clear communications that advance public awareness, institutional engagement, and statewide priorities. The position also represents SCHEV in stakeholder meetings and public convenings.

Requirements

Experience tracking federal and state legislation and coordinating legislative and policy changes with contacts in state agencies, the Secretariat of Education, federal agencies, U.S. Congressional staff, and industry associations.
Experience analyzing federal and state policy and regulatory issues and developing position papers with recommendations for executive management.
Experience supporting, establishing, and implementing strategic policy initiatives.
Experience networking with senior legislative staff, elected officials, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to advance policy goals.
Experience leading and supervising staff.
Extensive knowledge of strategic communications planning, including developing agency-wide messaging strategies, ensuring consistency of public-facing materials, managing media relations, and translating complex policy and data into clear, accessible communications for diverse audiences.
Experience making presentations, giving speeches, and presenting testimony and materials at General Assembly sessions, public meetings, or industry conferences.
Computer skills using Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience developing and analyzing higher education policies in a state or federal policy environment.
Knowledge of Virginia’s higher education system and statewide strategic plan.
Experience representing a higher education institution in policy settings.
Considerable experience in a public policy role, preferably with frequent interactions with the General Assembly.
A work history demonstrating considerable experience collaborating and partnering with General Assembly members and state policymakers.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the agency’s external-facing communications strategy and coordinate across divisions to ensure alignment.
Work with executive leadership and the Council to develop budget and policy recommendations and engagement strategies.
Develop, advise on, and implement strategies for engaging external stakeholders in support of state, Council, and agency priorities.
Lead agency interactions with the General Assembly, the Governor’s office, and Administration officials.
Facilitate communication, briefings, and presentations of Council and agency priorities to the General Assembly, its committees, and individual members.
Oversee, supervise, and direct the Communications Team, including staff responsible for website management, graphic design, branding, media relations, digital content, newsletters, crisis communications, and agency-wide messaging.
Ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility of public-facing reports, presentations, press statements, editorials, web content, and data visualization products.
Provide strategic leadership for messaging and communications planning related to statewide initiatives, legislative proposals, Council activities, and SCHEV’s strategic plan.
Oversee and direct Council meetings and related activities.
Coordinate proactive media engagement, internal message alignment, and timely responses to media and public inquiries.
Collaborate with SCHEV divisions to translate policy and research into effective communications supporting public awareness, institutional engagement, and statewide priorities.
Identify public convenings and other opportunities for state- or national-level external engagement with agency staff.
Participate in regular convenings with public and private institutions, including institutional legislative liaisons and communications directors.
Represent the agency in stakeholder meetings when appropriate.