Executive Director of Strategic Communications

UVA Health•Charlottesville, VA

About The Position

The University of Virginia seeks an Executive Director of Strategic Communications for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP-COO). The Executive Director develops and executes communications strategy for the EVP-COO portfolio, elevating awareness of portfolio priorities and initiatives and explaining their importance to the University’s mission. The EVP-COO oversees the University’s financial and administrative operations, supporting infrastructure and services, and special initiatives with University-wide impact. The role partners with leaders across academic, healthcare, and administrative areas. The position reports day to day to the Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff and regularly interacts with the Chief Operating Officer. It advises office leadership on communications implications of policy and program decisions; establishes portfolio communications identity and plans; and coordinates communications across portfolio units and with University offices and external audiences. The Executive Director also manages the EVP-COO website and social media, produces written and visual communications, supports crisis communications and incident management, administers the University’s Mass Digital Communications Policy with relevant partners, and provides editorial, news, FOIA, and Senate liaison support. This is an exempt, benefited position. Compensation is based on education, experience, and internal equity and is subject to applicable approvals. The position remains open until filled. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; the University will not sponsor or consider candidates requiring employment visa sponsorship now or in the future. Background checks will be performed on hires if required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and at least eight years of experience.
Experience envisioning, developing, and implementing a successful comprehensive strategic communications plan based on an organization’s goals and priorities.
Experience working with colleagues who are not direct reports, building consensus and collaborative partnerships across complex organizations.
Proven experience in media relations, stakeholder communications, and social media strategy.
Commitment to working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States; employment visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public relations, communications, or journalism.
Experience in higher education or nonprofit public relations and communications.
Experience providing executive communications support, such as remarks, presentations, white papers, and opinion essays.
Experience supervising freelance and staff writers, designers, photographers, videographers, and social media professionals.

Responsibilities

Advise EVP-COO Office leadership on communications and public relations implications of potential policy and program decisions.
Identify opportunities to position the COO and portfolio leaders as thought leaders, including through expert opinion pieces and media analysis or commentary.
Establish a consistent identity for EVP-COO Office communications and develop and assess annual portfolio communications plans, including audience engagement, earned media, and other metrics.
Develop a holistic communications plan encompassing portfolio-wide priorities and themes.
Assess existing communications platforms and products and lead exploration of new or revised platforms and products.
Collaborate with University colleagues to increase awareness of EVP-COO priorities and achievements among media, government decision-makers, peer institutions, and higher-education journalists.
Foster community among communications professionals in portfolio units and support communications that amplify key messages, address target audiences, align with University brand standards, and are coordinated in timing and tone.
Collaborate with communications leads in the offices of the President, the Provost, the EVP for Health Affairs, and Student Affairs.
Serve as primary liaison between the EVP-COO Office and University Communications and Advancement Communications, communicating COO priorities and portfolio accomplishments through institutional platforms and to UVA constituencies.
Serve as primary liaison to communications leads in central business services that routinely interact with the EVP-COO Office.
Manage the EVP-COO website, including its content, identity, and branding, and manage the office’s social media presence.
Conceptualize, design, and execute visual products for print and multimedia communications.
Administer the University’s Mass Digital Communications Policy (IRM-006) in coordination with the COO and in partnership with the Provost’s Office.
Participate in Critical Incident Management Team activities, attend incident command for events, and support crisis communications under University Communications and Division of Safety & Security direction.
Write and edit articles, reports, white papers, news releases, backgrounders, publications, and briefing materials.
Provide the COO team with daily news summaries covering current and emerging issues and priorities.
Work with University Counsel’s Office to manage FOIA inquiries and responses from areas within the COO portfolio.
Serve as office liaison to the Staff Senate and Faculty Senate, tracking key issues and sharing relevant information from COO portfolio areas.
Provide editorial support to the EVP-COO for personal communications, including talking points, remarks, presentations, and public correspondence.
Respond with respect, transparency, and kindness in difficult or ambiguous situations and amid swiftly changing priorities.