Director of Strategic Communications / Sr. Communications & Marketing Officer/S

MSU Internal Job Postings Details•East Lansing, MI

2d•Remote

About The Position

Reporting to the Student Affairs Chief of Staff and serving as a member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team, the Director of Strategic Communications for Student Affairs at Michigan State University serves as the principal communications strategist and advisor to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) and Student Affairs senior leadership. This position is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive, integrated communications and marketing strategies that advance the mission, values, and priorities of Student Affairs while supporting Michigan State University’s broader institutional brand and strategic objectives. This position leads and implements communications planning, executive communications, strategic storytelling, public/media relations, traditional and digital marketing strategy, media production, advertising, social media, and stakeholder engagement efforts that highlight the student experience, foster a sense of belonging, and strengthen the university’s reputation for excellence in student success, wellness, and inclusion. The position also is responsible for proactive issues management and coordination with University Communications and Marketing (UCAM) during high-profile or crisis events. The position reports functionally and administratively to the Division of Student Affairs with a dotted line to University Communications and Marketing for the purposes of collaboration, alignment and coordination.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Journalism, Telecommunications, Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations, or Higher Education Administration
five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in communications, including marketing, public or media relations, crisis communications management and strategic planning, demonstrated leadership and project management skills
or experience in publication and digital media production, video production, advertising, graphic design, social media communications, analytics and web design
exceptional writing, editing, interpersonal and verbal communication skills
management and supervisory experience
or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in communications, higher education administration, or related field.
Experience working within a large, decentralized and matrixed environment; higher education experience is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with student affairs philosophy, student engagement, inclusion, wellness, and campus life.
Extensive experience identifying audience needs and using data and analytics to drive improvements in communications to meet audience needs and expectations.
Experience in the delivery of written, visual, and graphic content for communication to a diverse audience, especially students.
Knowledge of best practices in digital communications, detailed knowledge of a wide range of digital tools and tactics and demonstrated methods for staying current with changing technologies.