Executive Communications Specialist

University of Vermont • Burlington, VT

1d

About The Position

The Executive Communications Specialist serves as the principal writer and communications professional for the President of the University of Vermont, the state’s flagship public, land-grant research university. This role is responsible for crafting, refining, and stewarding the President’s voice across all platforms and audiences—ranging from major addresses and significant announcements to correspondence, digital presence, event materials, and institutional announcements and related messaging. The specialist will likewise prepare remarks, announcements, talking points, PowerPoint presentations and other communications on behalf of senior leaders including the Provost and the Vice President for Finance and Administration. Additionally, this position will support communications for the university’s strategic plan, translating executive vision into compelling narratives that build institutional alignment and engagement. As an important point of connection between UVM’s leadership and the broader university community, this position ensures that all communications attributed to the President and other senior leaders clearly and authentically reflect strategic priorities, institutional values, and UVM’s mission of education, research, and public service. In supporting the rollout and ongoing momentum of the strategic plan, this role will build communications that connect day-to-day campus strategies and initiatives back to overarching vision of university leadership. The role ensures consistency, alignment, and strategic coherence between executive messaging and university-wide communications.

Requirements

• Principal writer and communications professional for the President of the University of Vermont.
• Crafting, refining, and stewarding the President’s voice across all platforms and audiences.
• Preparing remarks, announcements, talking points, PowerPoint presentations and other communications on behalf of senior leaders.
• Supporting communications for the university’s strategic plan.
• Ensuring all communications attributed to the President and other senior leaders clearly and authentically reflect strategic priorities, institutional values, and UVM’s mission.
• Building communications that connect day-to-day campus strategies and initiatives back to overarching vision of university leadership.
• Ensuring consistency, alignment, and strategic coherence between executive messaging and university-wide communications.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education—particularly at a public or land-grant institution—or in government or similarly complex environments.
• Experience working in a high-profile, confidential executive office environment.
• Familiarity with the culture, history, mission, and values of the University of Vermont.
• Background in brand stewardship, institutional identity, or reputation management.

Responsibilities

• Executive Voice Mastery: Demonstrates a sophisticated ability to internalize and authentically represent the President’s voice, tone, and rhetorical style across a wide range of formats and audiences.
• Strategic Communication: Thinks holistically and strategically about how presidential messages are received, what they signal to internal and external audiences, and how they advance UVM’s long‑term institutional goals and public reputation.
• Discretion & Confidentiality: Exercises sound judgment and the highest level of discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, or privileged information, maintaining the trust and confidence of the President, the Office of the President and executive leadership.
• Organizational Excellence: Manages complex workflows, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders with efficiency, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Institutional Alignment: Understands and actively advances UVM’s mission, values, strategic priorities, and brand in all executive communications.

What This Job Offers

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