Senior Vice President, Enterprise Communications

Emory University•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 with university and healthcare-system leaders and other stakeholders to establish buy-in for a coordinated strategic vision, while partnering directly with Emory Healthcare to align communications, branding, marketing, media relations, and crisis communications across the Emory enterprise. The role develops a unified Emory brand narrative reflecting the institution’s mission, values, and academic and clinical excellence, and guides content across platforms. It shapes the structure and culture of enterprise communications, assesses existing capabilities, and builds a streamlined, cohesive operation. It oversees media and external communications, marketing strategy, spokesperson responsibilities, internal communications, creative direction, and digital strategy, including web, digital, and social media platforms. The Senior Vice President serves on the Emory Issues Management Council and partners with colleagues and external counsel on crisis communications. The role also establishes an analytics-based framework for measuring performance and identifying which stories, messages, themes, platforms, and spokespeople resonate with key audiences. Performs related responsibilities as required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
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 ability to transform complex institutional priorities into clear, compelling narratives for multiple audiences is desired.
Demonstrated ability to grow, differentiate, and protect a multifaceted institutional brand by 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.
Advance and protect the university’s reputation.
Partner with Emory Healthcare to align enterprise branding, marketing, media relations, and crisis communications.
Develop a unified Emory brand narrative reflecting the institution’s mission, values, and academic and clinical excellence, and guide content across platforms.
Develop a university-wide strategic vision and work with university leadership, the Board of Trustees, and internal and external stakeholders to build buy-in across the university and healthcare system.
Shape the structure and culture of enterprise communications, assess existing capabilities, and build a streamlined and cohesive operation.
Oversee media and external communications and marketing strategy, cultivate relationships with major outlets, and oversee the spokesperson role.
Ensure strategic alignment between Emory University and Emory Healthcare communications and marketing, including consistent messaging at the intersection of academic medicine, research breakthroughs, and clinical care.
Lead internal communications strategy to strengthen transparency, culture, and alignment across Emory University and Emory Healthcare.
Lead enterprise creative direction and digital strategy, including oversight of web, digital, and social media platforms.
Serve on the Emory Issues Management Council, responsible for 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-based framework to measure performance and track which stories, messages, themes, platforms, and spokespeople resonate with key audiences.
Perform related responsibilities as required.