Senior Director Of Strategic Communications

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications is responsible for the development and execution of external CMC and brand communications in line with the College’s strategy including proactive reputation management, stakeholder engagement, thought leadership, executive visible leadership, issues and crisis management, media relations, and sustainability initiatives. The role will work across the College helping to integrate the mission and amplify the accomplishments of the College, faculty and students. The Senior Director of Strategic Communications proactively establishes CMC and its leaders and faculty as thought leaders with external stakeholders, key opinion leaders, and NGOs, and works closely with the TCCS for crisis and issues response. The Senior Director of Strategic Communications will also play a role in driving the global reputation agenda.

The Senior Director of Strategic Communications must be an experienced strategic initiatives and communications leader with strong project management, communications, interpersonal and judgment skills, and have an advanced understanding of the mission and strategies of the College including student journalism within a university environment, as well as extensive experience working with a range of partners and stakeholders including students, donors, alumni, parents, faculty, professional staff, and senior leaders. This is a critical role in advancing strategic priorities, ensuring proactive planning and implementation of communication strategies as an integral part of divisional initiatives. The Senior Director of Strategic Communications will exercise considerable discretion and judgment while serving as the key strategist, connector, integrator and “air traffic controller” for the AVP and leadership team, connecting diverse work streams across the College to advance projects, and seeking to reduce silos with external partners.

We are interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience engaging with diversity through activities such as fostering an inclusive environment, working with students and staff from diverse backgrounds, or incorporating diverse perspectives in their work.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Work collaboratively with Advancement’s fundraising objectives and serve as the primary liaison with Advancement for all fundraising initiatives. Establish best practices across all external Strategic Communications efforts working in close collaboration with key internal and external partners.
• Assume AVP of Strategic Communications & Marketing responsibilities during his/her absence as necessary.
• Serve as a partner to the TCCS and crisis teams.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders (consumer and professional organizations, community leaders and government officials, trade groups, non-profits/NGOs and advocacy groups) in an effort to enhance and protect the College’s reputation.
• Oversee large, often cross-functional, College-wide projects or initiatives, bringing together important stakeholders and helping to drive decisions according to the College’s priorities. Ensure timely and effective completion of projects and initiatives.
• Drive the strategic direction of PR and communications agencies as needed, including identifying and recommending preferred agency partners, providing clear direction and expectations to agencies and managing and measuring their performance tied to business objectives.
• Lead crisis/issues communication strategy to minimize situations that can be threatening and or financially damaging to the College, overseeing divisional crisis communications for both immediate, emergency responses and longer-term needs.
• Play an active role in the external communications community, providing perspective and engagement on national issues and reputation building.
• Drive the long- and short-term external communications strategy, objectives and programs to further our mission including enhancing the reputation, elevating positioning, leading external communications, providing strategic counsel, leading media strategy, directing story development, establishing a proactive news bureau, conducting community outreach, and partnering with external organizations and partners.
• Conduct media training for all College spokespersons and expert commentators including select faculty.
• Oversee the central data and survey functions for the department, including liaison with the Office of Institutional Research. Provide data to the AVP and other leaders to support communications.
• Function and the point of contact and lead the partnerships with external stakeholders with the goal of advancing the college’s Thought leadership.
• Lead communications strategy and execution to support the College’s sustainability initiatives.
• On 24-hour call representing CMC to:1) minimize situations that can be threatening and or financially damaging to the College; and 2) take advantage of opportunities to positively position CMC.
• Develop and drive effective and engaging media strategy and develop strategic relationships with top tier media, key opinion leaders and other stakeholders.
• Anticipate problems, critical issues, and opportunities as they arise and advise the AVP accordingly.
• Fill critical role as College spokesperson with diverse external audiences.
• Oversee strategic communications to multiple audiences and constituencies for long-term initiatives, often in collaboration and coordination with other College departments to ensure alignment and coherence of messaging.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism or associated profession or combination of education and experience.

EXPERIENCE: Minimum 15 years relevant professional experience in related work or corporate communications is required, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

LICENSES: Possess and maintain a valid driver's license and driving record acceptable to the College's automobile insurance carrier.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Experience leading sustainability communications and programming is a plus
• Proficient with Meltwater, Cision, Muckrack or other media systems, including the ability to generate data and analysis-driven media reports
• Superior organizational skills, with an ability to work independently, meet deadlines, exercise considerable judgment, discretion, and initiative in coordinating and overseeing the work of others, and in managing multiple projects to completion
• Proven success in building effective and engaged teams
• Ability to manage confidential tasks or situations requiring sensitivity and discretion.
• Demonstrated success in managing projects and processes, often involving cross-functional and/or organization-wide initiatives. Strong record of effectiveness in managing challenging and stressful situations, with changing priorities. Ability to adjust thinking in emergency situations and apply administrative policies to novel situations.
• Ability to travel
• Knowledge of AI and its impact on communications a plus
• Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills that include a combination of sound judgement, tactfulness, and good rapport in a variety of situations.
• Ability to research, report and facilitate discussion on complex subjects. Able to present data in a manner that enables clear understanding of interests and options for improved decision making.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in a complex organization and ability to apply core DEI concepts to project planning and communications.
• Demonstrated ability to discern a strategy to move forward and make or escalate decisions as appropriate.
• Experience leading through influence and diplomacy in situations where formal authority may be lacking.
• Experience as a spokesperson required
• Experience in thought leadership, leading high-profile keynotes and engagements at conferences, and stakeholder mapping and engagement is required
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, planning and change management skills.
• Skilled crisis leaders with proven judgement and issues management experience
• Proven success in leading communications across multiple brands and functions
• Advanced understanding of the communications role in complex institutions. Demonstrated excellence in editing, writing, analyzing and synthesizing complex materials and communicating with diverse audiences.
• Advanced degree preferred
• Agency experience a plus

REQUIRED HOURS: The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Regular hours may vary due to the needs of the College or division. Some evening and/or weekend work may be required to support campus programs and activities. Occasional requirements to work outside of standard business hours may be required to ensure timely responsiveness to our college community.

CLASSIFICATION AND STATUS:

This is a full-time, 12-month year-round, exempt level, benefits-eligible position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Normal physical job functions performed within a standard office environment and include reaching, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. May occasionally lift/push/pull items up to 20 lbs.