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Director of University Relations Communications

Employer
University of Puget Sound
Location
University Relations Division

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Executive Administration Jobs
C-Level & Executive Directors
Administrative Jobs
Institutional & Business Affairs, Communications & Marketing
Employment Type
Full Time
Institution Type
Four-Year Institution

Job Details

Job Title: Director of University Relations Communications
Location: University Relations Division
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 6438
Staff Posting Details Appointment: regular, full-time, (1.0) FTE.

Position Summary:

The director of university relations communications is a key partner in inspiring alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends to support the strategic vision and current priorities of the University of Puget Sound. The director serves as a member of the Office of University Relations (OUR) management team and is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the university’s constituent engagement and fundraising communications and marketing efforts. The director works closely with the associate vice president for constituent relations to develop and implement the division’s overarching strategies and tactics for communicating with, and marketing a strong case of support to, alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends. The director partners with each OUR department, colleagues in the Office of Communications, colleagues in Admission, and external vendors to ensure that all OUR communication and marketing collateral is in alignment with established university and divisional brand and messaging platforms and standards. The director develops and tracks metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of constituent communications, marketing strategies and tactics and advises on any needed course corrections.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

    With the associate vice president for constituent relations, create and execute a comprehensive constituent communications plan that outlines long-term and short-term strategies and tactics for communicating with alumni, families, corporations, foundations, and friends. Work with associate vice president for constituent relations, associate vice president for communications, and associate vice president for marketing and communications for admission to ensure that the constituent communications plan and its execution are well coordinated with university-wide and admission communications efforts to ensure that constituents experience unified university messaging and voice.Work with individual OUR departments to operationalize the constituent communications plan in accordance with university brand standards and constituent engagement and fundraising marketing and communication platforms (e.g. OUR constituent communications plan, 160over90 work). Track and evaluate plan progress and advise OUR Management Team on any needed course corrections.With the associate vice president for constituent relations, create and disseminate key messaging for use in presidential, vice presidential, and volunteer talking points and other communications. Serve as a resource for colleagues writing content for print and digital communications pieces, event talking points, and other collateral. Independently and proactively manage a variety of division-level digital and print projects, including strategy and content creation, developing and maintaining schedules, coordinating with colleagues and partners who contribute to the project, and coordinating with outside vendors on production, if needed. Work with OUR departments to execute a comprehensive, integrated social media and e-mail marketing strategy including content creation, and data collection and analysis. Contract and facilitate relationships, in consultation with the Office of Communications, with external marketing and communications vendors in direct partnership with OUR departments (such as designers, videographers, photographers, etc.). Develop scope of work for external vendors, negotiate favorable contract terms, work with appropriate OUR leadership on contract sign-off and execution, develop and monitor project timelines and quality, and work with AVP for Constituent Relations and Office of Communications to ensure adherence to OUR and university brand standards and messaging.Use data analytics to drive decisions about content, platform, segments, and cadence choices for division-level projects. Serve as a resource on such decision-making for individual OUR departments.Work with the Office of Communications and external vendors to build out and maintain constituent engagement and fundraising components of the Puget Sound Web site, including campaign related Web pages. Use Web site usage data to drive decisions about site navigation, content, and design.Manage the OUR Communications calendar, soliciting and disseminating changes in a consistent and timely manner. Maintain a constituent-centered approach to resolving any issues arising from scheduling and date changes.Work with colleagues in the Office of Communication to curate stories and other collateral to be used in key OUR engagement and fundraising initiatives for mass and custom audiences (e.g., alumni and parent mailings, volunteer communications, digital and social content, campaign initiative messaging and opportunities, student outcomes, donor features, alumni profiles, event collateral, etc.).Coordinate the dissemination and sharing of print and digital collateral among OUR departments for the purposes of providing examples and inspiration for individual department content creators (e.g. newsletters, annual fund appeals, event remarks, white papers, etc.).Actively seek out and appropriately apply trends and best practices from peer and aspirant institutions.Keep apprised of and make recommendations to the OUR Management Team concerning emerging technology and best practices for constituent communications and marketing. Work with OURIS to evaluate, test, and (if warranted) procure new platforms for elevating Puget Sound’s constituent communications and marketing efforts. Establish operating policies, procedures, and metrics to guide this work.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Budget Responsibilities

Manages project-specific budget lines.

Qualifications:

Successful candidates will have the demonstrated ability to:

  • Navigate complex relationships and motivate colleagues to achieve shared goals and objectives;
  • Set priorities, meet deadlines, and balance multiple demands in a complex and fast-paced work environment;
  • Communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with a broad range of internal and external constituents including senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, parents and friends of the university;
  • Use data, research, and technology trends to inform thoughtful segmentations, create feedback loops, evaluate the effectiveness of strategies and tactics, and make needed adjustments;
  • Work independently, solve problems, handle confidential information and navigate sensitive situations;
  • Thrive and be flexible in a dynamic and fast-paced environment; and
  • Take initiative, be proactive, and creatively problem solve.

Successful candidates will possess:

  • A positive public presence, warm and gracious personality, and a sense of humor;
  • Excellent project management and planning skills as well as superior attentiveness to detail;
  • At least five years of experience in communications and marketing, preferably in a higher education environment;
  • Experience working with senior leadership to advance strategic priorities;
  • A track record of program development and implementation;
  • Ability to give guidance, receive constructive feedback, and integrate varying points of view;
  • Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of diversity and inclusion best practices;
  • Highly developed computer skills including experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint as well as fund raising software such as Sage Millennium;
  • A college degree or equivalent.
  • Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community.
Compensation and Benefits: The anticipated pay for this position is $75,000 - $90,000 depending on experience. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: https://pugetsound.edu/human-resources/benefits

Application Deadline: Review of application materials will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

    ResumeLetter of Interest
Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks. All new hires will be required to submit proof of current COVID-19 vaccination (including booster) or receive an approved medical or religious exemption from the university.

Diversity Statement:

    We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.
Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

Organization

Working at University of Puget Sound

The University of Puget Sound is an independent residential undergraduate liberal arts college with selected graduate programs building effectively on a liberal arts foundation. The University, as a community of learning, maintains a strong commitment to teaching excellence, scholarly engagement, and fruitful student-faculty interaction.

The mission of the University is to develop in its students capacities for critical analysis, aesthetic appreciation, sound judgment, and apt expression that will sustain a lifetime of intellectual curiosity, active inquiry, and reasoned independence. A Puget Sound education, both academic and co-curricular, encourages a rich knowledge of self and others, an appreciation of commonality and difference, the full, open, and civil discussion of ideas, thoughtful moral discourse, and the integration of learning, preparing the University's graduates to meet the highest tests of democratic citizenship. Such an education seeks to liberate each person's fullest intellectual and human potential to assist in the unfolding of creative and useful lives.

The University of Puget Sound campus offers a unique blend of ingredients for immersing yourself in learning: the unparalleled scenery of the Pacific Northwest, traditional Tudor-Gothic architecture, leafy enclaves for quiet study, and common areas infused with an indisputable energy. The campus is just minutes away from downtown Tacoma, with its revitalized waterfront, thriving arts and culture scene, and an eclectic mix of retail shops and restaurants.

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