Senior Vice President, Enterprise Communications

Emory•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Senior Vice President of Enterprise Communications reports to the President of Emory University and serves on the President’s cabinet. The role advises the President and cabinet, develops communications strategy for the university, and advances and protects the university’s reputation. It works closely with stakeholders and leaders across Emory University and Emory Healthcare to build support for a coordinated strategic vision and ensure alignment across the enterprise, including branding, marketing, media relations, and crisis communications. The position develops a unified Emory brand narrative reflecting the institution’s mission, values, and academic and clinical excellence, and guides content creation across platforms. It shapes the structure and culture of enterprise communications by assessing existing capabilities and building a streamlined, cohesive operation. The role oversees media and external communications, marketing strategy, internal communications, creative direction, digital strategy, and web, digital, and social media platforms. It also contributes to enterprise issues management, partners on crisis communications, and establishes analytics-based measures to track communications performance and audience resonance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience developing and executing communications strategies.
Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills to foster collaborative decision-making and build strong relationships.

Nice To Haves

Applicable advanced degree preferred.
Experience leading communications in a large, complex organization strongly preferred.
Demonstrated storytelling ability, including transforming complex institutional priorities into clear, compelling narratives for multiple audiences.
Demonstrated ability to grow, differentiate, and protect a multifaceted institutional brand, leveraging academic excellence, research strength, and mission to elevate visibility, affinity, and national standing.

Responsibilities

Advise the President and the President’s cabinet on communications and develop communications strategy for the university.
Develop a university-wide strategic vision and work with university leadership, the Board of Trustees, and internal and external stakeholders to build support across the university and healthcare system.
Partner with Emory Healthcare to align enterprise branding, marketing, media relations, and crisis communications.
Develop and elevate a unified Emory brand narrative that reflects the institution’s mission, values, and academic and clinical excellence.
Guide the creation of content across platforms that brings the Emory story to life.
Shape the structure and culture of communications across the enterprise by assessing capabilities and building a streamlined, cohesive operation.
Oversee media and external communications and marketing strategy to advance Emory University’s reputation; cultivate relationships with major outlets and oversee the spokesperson role.
Ensure strategic alignment between Emory University and Emory Healthcare communications and marketing, with consistent messaging on academic medicine, research breakthroughs, and clinical care.
Lead internal communications strategy to strengthen transparency, culture, and alignment across Emory University and Emory Healthcare.
Lead creative direction and digital strategy across the enterprise and oversee web, digital, and social media platforms.
Serve on the Emory Issues Management Council, contributing to proactive identification, assessment, and management of emerging opportunities and issues.
Partner with colleagues and external counsel to guide crisis communications and coordinate rapid responses that mitigate risk and reputational harm.
Create an analytics framework to measure performance and identify which stories, messages, themes, platforms, and spokespeople resonate with key audiences.
Perform related responsibilities as required.