Senior Director Internal Communications

Dallas College • Dallas, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director, Internal Communications leads the strategy and execution of enterprisewide employee, culture, leadership and change communications that strengthen engagement, alignment, and organizational effectiveness across Dallas College. This role serves as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, translating institutional priorities into clear, compelling communications that advance the college’s mission, support transformation efforts, and foster a connected, informed and high-performing workforce.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, English, Business, or a related field. Official transcripts will be required.
• Ten (10) years of progressive experience in internal communications, corporate communications, employee communications, executive communications, strategic communications, public relations, journalism, or a related communications discipline.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience leading and developing communications professionals, including responsibility of coaching, performance management and team development.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing enterprise-level communications strategies, including executive communications, employee engagement, change communications, and issues or crisis communications.
• Demonstrated success advising senior executives and organizational leaders on communications strategy, messaging, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional communications initiatives in a large, matrixed organization.
• Extensive knowledge of internal communications, employee engagement, organizational culture, change communications and executive communications principles, strategies and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute enterprisewide communications strategies that align employees with organizational priorities and drive engagement, understanding and action.
• Strong executive presence and consulting skills, with the ability to advise senior leaders on communication strategy, messaging, stakeholder engagement, and reputation considerations.
• Exceptional written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including experience developing executive-level content such as speeches, presentations, talking points, leadership messages, and thought leadership materials.
• Proven ability to lead issues management, reactive communications and crisis communications efforts in a complex and fast-paced environment.
• Skilled in developing audience-centered messaging and integrated, multi-channel communication strategies that effectively reach and engage diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to evaluate, select and optimize communication channels, platforms, and digital tools to ensure effective message delivery, audience engagement, and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate across functions and drive alignment among senior leaders and key stakeholders.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities and exercise sound judgement in high-visibility and sensitive situations.
• Experience using communications metrics, research and employee insights to assess effectiveness, inform decision-making and continuously improve communications strategies.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field. Official transcripts will be required.
• Experience developing executive thought leadership strategies and content for internal and external audiences.
• Experience supporting organizational transformation, change management, and culture initiatives through strategic communications.
• Experience managing communications budgets, agencies, vendors, and external partners.
• Experience utilizing communications analytics, research, and measurement frameworks to evaluate effectiveness and inform strategy.
• Bilingual or multilingual preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive enterprise-wide internal communications strategy that aligns employees with Dallas College's mission, strategic priorities, culture, and transformation initiatives while strengthening engagement, trust, and organizational effectiveness.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to senior executives, developing executive communications, thought leadership, and employee engagement strategies that elevate leadership visibility, build credibility, and ensure consistent messaging across internal and external audiences.
• Lead change communications and organizational communications planning for major institutional initiatives, ensuring stakeholders are informed, engaged, and prepared to adopt change through integrated, multi-channel communication approaches.
• Direct issues management, reactive communications, and crisis communications efforts, partnering with leaders across the institution to deliver timely, accurate and audience-centered communications during periods of change, disruption or heightened stakeholder interest.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing communications team, providing strategic direction, performance management, mentoring, and professional development while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee internal communication channels, content strategy, and editorial planning, ensuring communications are audience-focused, data-informed, accessible, and aligned across organizational functions.
• Partner closely with external communications, marketing, human resources, and other cross-functional teams to create integrated communication strategies and determine when employee-focused messaging should be amplified to external audiences to advance institutional reputation and employer brand objectives.
• Establish measurement frameworks and leverage communications analytics to evaluate effectiveness, provide actionable insights, and continuously optimize communication strategies, channels, and stakeholder engagement.
• Manage communications-related budgets, vendors, agencies, and external partners, ensuring resources are aligned to strategic priorities and deliver measurable value.
• Exercises full discretion and decision-making authority in the recruitment, selection, hiring, mentoring, coaching, development & termination of staff, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, budgetary constraints, and workforce planning strategies.
• Drive high performance by administering the performance management process timely, setting clear expectations, conducting performance evaluations, and implementing initiatives that enhance employee engagement, motivation, and retention.

Benefits

• All employees are required to complete a minimum of 19 hours of Dallas College Professional Development Hours per Academic Year.
• People leaders are required an additional 16 hours of leadership development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior