Job no: 521603
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Communications/Public Relations/Marketing, Executive/Director/Management
Department:27010400 - HA-HSC NEWS / COMMUNICATIONS

Classification Title:

Director of Communications, College of Medicine

Job Description:

The University of Florida College of Medicine is recruiting for an innovative, communication leader and invites applications for the position of Director of Communications, part of the UF Health Communications team. This is a strategic role that provides a tremendous opportunity to drive strategy development and message alignment, providing sound counsel as part of a forward-thinking, creative, dynamic program in support of the mission and vision of the college and its leadership.

The Opportunity

The University of Florida Director of Communications, located in the College of Medicine, will work closely with the Dean of the College of Medicine, the UF Health Chief Communications Officer and the Senior Associate Vice President of UF Advancement and other senior leaders. The position will oversee an innovative, multi-channel, comprehensive communications program designed to enhance reputation and increase visibility across all missions while engaging and inspiring key audiences, informing them of advances in health research, teaching, patient care and community service. Using leading-edge communications strategies and tools, this position will provide strategies to deliver an integrated communications program and external engagement.

Strategic Communications & Reputation Management
Leads the development of and implements cost-effective, research-based, measurable communications initiatives and campaigns in support of the College of Medicine, to enhance the college’s reputation on a national level across its missions of research, education, patient care and community service among various stakeholders, including the public, peer institutions, funding agencies, alumni, donors, prospects and the UF community. Leverages compelling and unique communications tools to shape powerful storytelling and develops other effective and impactful materials, serving as project manager and executive editor for a wide variety of print, digital/multimedia and online publications, including Florida Physician magazine, the Dr. Gator newsletter, fact sheets, the college eNewsletter, podcasts, videos, brochures, annual reports, web content and social media content. Ensures consistency of messaging and alignment with brand standards. Assigns, writes and edits print and multimedia stories. Works closely with UF Health Communications’ creative services team to coordinate photography, videography, infographics, graphic design and animation, and outsourcing to freelancers to complete projects when appropriate. Takes a coordinated, collaborative approach to communications, working closely with the College of Medicine, UF Health Communications and Advancement leadership, faculty members, staff members, and other UF communicators to gather detailed information and statistics for materials, avoid duplication of effort, and ensure effectiveness and adherence to UF and UF Health communications standards, guidelines and policies. Operates collaboratively and effectively in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment.

Storytelling and Messaging
Helps shape the UF College of Medicine story using multimedia approaches in creative and compelling ways to achieve defined communications objectives. Writes, edits, produces and distributes content that informs external and internal audiences of the collective accomplishments of the college. Demonstrates excellent presentation and communications skills. Complies with editing, review, news distribution and identity/branding policies of UF Health and the university. Adheres to deadlines and budget parameters.

Advancement Communications
Oversees and coordinates communications needs and campaigns in the areas of advancement and alumni affairs in support of the College of Medicine and UF Health’s fundraising objectives. Executes compelling and unique documents, including presentations, stories, brochures and correspondence that helps drive philanthropic giving. Coordinates production in a cost-effective manner.

Website Management
Creates a robust, compelling and distinctive web presence for the College of Medicine. Manages content strategy for the College of Medicine’s website to ensure a comprehensive, strategic approach to web communications, including enhancing current content, creating compelling new content and coordinating content updates/maintenance using the WordPress platform and in partnership with the Dean and the UF Health Communications Web Services team. Ensures continuity of web efforts and adheres to established UF and UF Health policies, brand design standards and accessibility requirements. Ensures approaches reflect best practices and address SEO. Uses Google Analytics to understand audience behavior on the web and identifies opportunities to support strategic initiatives and to enhance reputation and visibility of the college.

Social Media
Guides social media strategy across various social media platforms to enhance the reputation and visibility of the college and its missions. Works with communications team members to set editorial calendars for the college’s official social media accounts and to update calendars on a regular basis, proactively identifying content ideas to pursue and story opportunities to promote. Ensures social media channels and practices used adhere to established UF and UF Health policies and standards. Monitors key metrics to gauge effectiveness of social media efforts, routinely reviewing analytics and sharing reports, and uses data to identify and recommend opportunities for enhanced engagement.

Team Development and Management
Supervises a team of communicators. Promotes excellence; inspires and motivates staff while ensuring accountability for defined goals and objectives. Demonstrates team-building skills and the ability to work efficiently and effectively in a demanding environment.

Measurement & Impact
Gathers data and conducts research to inform strategies; establishes defined goals and develops metrics to track success; and adjusts processes or approach as needed. Routinely reports on results to key leaders. Ensures Dean, CCO and other senior leaders are regularly informed of potential issues and communications-related activities of the team. Seeks opportunities to initiate process improvements and implements changes as needed.

Meets regularly with College of Medicine and UF Health Communications leadership, including the Dean of the college and the Chief Communications Officer. Supports special projects or other activities and communications initiatives of strategic importance to the college, the university and/or UF Health.

Our Commitment

The University of Florida College of Medicine is committed to diversity, inclusion and heath equity through the efforts of actively finding, developing and including the best talent to support our vision of being “a premier institution focused on promoting health and alleviating human suffering through exceptional education, discovery, innovation and patient-centered health care of the highest quality.”

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the University is committed to non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status in also aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotion, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits and training.

We welcome nominations of and applications from anyone who would bring additional dimensions to the university’s teaching, research and clinical mission, including women, members of underrepresented groups, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

Expected Salary:

Salary starting at $120,000; Commensurate with education and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

Master's degree in an appropriate area and six years of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and eight years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Exquisite writing, editing, proofreading and oral presentation skills, with the ability to conceptualize, develop and produce content for a variety of communications channels.
• A commitment to creativity, accuracy, attention to detail and a customer service-oriented attitude.
• Significant supervisory experience and the ability to effectively manage, coach, mentor and motivate others while holding them accountable for well-defined goals and deliverables within specified timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and collegially with a diverse team in an energetic, fast-paced environment.
• Effective time management and organizational skills; the ability to successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• High level of diplomacy and tact.
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Superior spelling, punctuation and grammar skills.
• Experience with fundraising communications at a large university or in the health science advancement environment.
• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse constituencies, meet deadlines, be self-motivated, and work independently.
• Accuracy, attention to detail and a customer service-oriented attitude.
• Competency in problem solving.
• Working knowledge in these areas: Associated Press style, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Microsoft Access. Working knowledge of a donor database, contact management and tracking system.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To be considered for this position, candidates must apply online at https://jobs.ufl.edu/ and should upload the following:

• CV/Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your special qualifications for this position.
• Please include an example of a plan or project that reflects a strategic communications initiative you guided, along with a set of writing samples relevant to the role, in particular pieces in the news, feature and/or magazine writing genre.

Nominations and applications are invited for the position of Director of Communications in the College of Medicine. Applications and nominations will be kept confidential.

Review of applications will begin on May 18, 2022. Inquiries and nominations can be sent to Jenna Glendinning, Human Resources Business Partner with the College of Medicine at jtagliapietra@ufl.edu or 352-273-9910.

If accommodations due to a disability are needed to apply for this position, please call (352) 392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.

This requisition has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not apply.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required:No

Advertised: 20 May 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 27 May 2022 Eastern Daylight Time