Vice President of University Relations

About the position

Central Washington University is recruiting a Vice President to join our University Relations team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $190,000 - $240,000 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits. We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams. Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students. Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Responsibilities

• Provide inspirational leadership to the Division of University Relations through a collaborative style that develops a team-based, organizational learning environment and that builds partnerships across the university.
• Inspire commitment to organizational goals, including strategic planning and mentoring and supervision of personnel.
• Facilitate a purposeful advancement of the vision and mission of the university within University Relations and in partnership with other divisions and offices.
• Create a service-oriented mindset within University Relations to meet the needs of the university community.
• Create unit based on relationships, respect, and responsibility that advances the vision of the university.
• Oversee and advance the brand of the university both internally and externally.
• Support marketing that promotes the vision and mission of the university to a variety of audiences.
• Lead both crisis communication and general communication initiatives to a variety of audiences.
• Build partnerships with admissions and financial services staff to produce data-informed marketing strategies in support of enrollment priorities.
• Coordinate the activities of the office so that they contribute to marketing priorities for brand awareness generally, and student recruitment specifically.
• Lead in the development and implementation of regional economic and business development, in partnership with relevant agencies.
• Oversee state and federal relations directors to build a portfolio of requests that supports the vision and mission of the university.
• Provide leadership within the university in developing a transparent and inclusive process for building out the university's local, regional, state, and federal initiatives.
• Direct the development and implementation of a divisional strategic plan.
• Articulate marketing, communication, government relations, and economic and community development priorities to university leadership, especially Executive Leadership Team members and their direct reports.
• Manage the efficient and effective use of the University Relations operating budget; identify budget priorities.
• Oversee employment of University Relations employees: recruitment and hiring new employees; defining performance expectations, ensuring accountability, and providing ongoing informal feedback; directing and evaluating the work of staff; and promoting professional development opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Higher Education or related field.
• Extensive experience in developing and implementing a portfolio of state initiatives and building state relations.
• Managing policies, programs, and initiatives, including developing relations with a variety of state organizations.
• Developing and executing data-driven strategic communications, outreach, and marketing plans in support of organizational brand awareness and key enterprise fiscal and policy goals, including recruitment of students.
• Coordinating communication with news reporters, editors, bloggers, etc.
• Developing and implementing a business and community services operation for the region, connecting that work to state needs.
• Developing and implementing a portfolio of federal initiatives and building federal relations.
• Supervising, coordinating and developing staff in government relations, communications, economic and community development, and marketing.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.

Nice-to-haves

• Doctorate in Higher Education or related field.
• Eight years of direct experience in advocating for and securing state funding to advance the mission of the university.
• Experience developing and advocating for a federal portfolio of initiatives and funding.
• Understanding of academic, business and governance systems of public baccalaureate institutions.
• Understanding of Washington state legislative and political processes, including working with political caucuses or policy units.
• Understanding of key public policy issues, especially those affecting public higher education at national and state levels.
• Potential to mentor and educate students who will serve diverse populations.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for students through various activities.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, life and disability insurance.
• Retirement and optional savings plans.
• Tuition assistance for you and your dependents.
• Discounts across town.
• Employee assistance program for individualized counseling.
• Wellness incentive program.