Executive Communications Specialist
- Employer
- University of Vermont
- Location
- Burlington
- Salary
- $68,000 to $75,000
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Executive Communications Specialist
Posting Summary
The Executive Communications Specialist serves as the principal writer and communications professional for the President of the University of Vermont, the state's flagship public, land-grant research university. This role is responsible for crafting, refining, and stewarding the President's voice across all platforms and audiences—ranging from major addresses and significant announcements to correspondence, digital presence, event materials, and institutional announcements and related messaging. The specialist will likewise prepare remarks, announcements, talking points, PowerPoint presentations and other communications on behalf of senior leaders including the Provost and the Vice President for Finance and Administration. Additionally, this position will support communications for the university's strategic plan, translating executive vision into compelling narratives that build institutional alignment and engagement.
As an important point of connection between UVM's leadership and the broader university community, this position ensures that all communications attributed to the President and other senior leaders clearly and authentically reflect strategic priorities, institutional values, and UVM's mission of education, research, and public service. In supporting the rollout and ongoing momentum of the strategic plan, this role will build communications that connect day-to-day campus strategies and initiatives back to overarching vision of university leadership. The role ensures consistency, alignment, and strategic coherence between executive messaging and university-wide communications.
Key Responsibilities:
Executive Voice Mastery
Demonstrates a sophisticated ability to internalize and authentically represent the President's voice, tone, and rhetorical style across a wide range of formats and audiences.
Strategic Communication
Thinks holistically and strategically about how presidential messages are received, what they signal to internal and external audiences, and how they advance UVM's long‑term institutional goals and public reputation.
Discretion & Confidentiality
Exercises sound judgment and the highest level of discretion when handling sensitive, confidential, or privileged information, maintaining the trust and confidence of the President, the Office of the President and executive leadership.
Organizational Excellence
Manages complex workflows, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders with efficiency, professionalism, and attention to detail.
Institutional Alignment
Understands and actively advances UVM's mission, values, strategic priorities, and brand in all executive communications.
This position reports to the Executive Director of University Communications and serves as a part of the Strategic Communications central team, with a dotted line to the Chief of Staff and President's Office operations.
Required Attachments: Please include a cover letter, resume/CV, and two recent writing samples (no more than two pages each).
Minimum Qualifications (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in executive communications, speechwriting, or senior editorial roles.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with strong attention to nuance, clarity, and accuracy; familiarity with AP style.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build productive relationships across diverse academic and administrative communities.
- Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines.
Desirable Qualifications
- Advanced degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a related field.
- Experience in higher education-particularly at a public or land-grant institution-or in government or similarly complex environments.
- Experience working in a high-profile, confidential executive office environment.
- Familiarity with the culture, history, mission, and values of the University of Vermont.
- Background in brand stewardship, institutional identity, or reputation management.
Anticipated Pay Range
$68,000 to $75,000
Other Information
Special Conditions
A probationary period may be required, Occasional evening and/or weekends required (if non-exempt position, may result in overtime), This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with an option to split time between campus and elsewhere, in accordance with the university telecommuting policy, Background Check required for this position
FLSA
Exempt
Union Position
No
Job Location
Burlington, Vermont, United States
Job Close Date (Jobs close at 11:59 PM EST.)
Open Until Filled
Department
Office of Strategic Communicat/30570
Standard Hours at 1.0 FTE
37.5
Term (months per year)
12
For full job description and to apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9761864"">https://www.uvmjobs.com/postings/87830
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Organization
The University of Vermont’s hilltop campus looks out across one of America’s most vibrant small cities to Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains beyond. Here, students’ educational experience and activities are enriched by our location — from the energy and innovation of Burlington to the forests, farms, and independent spirit of Vermont.
UVM is a Public Ivy and top 100 research university of a perfect size, large enough to offer a breadth of ideas, resources, and opportunities, yet small enough to enable close faculty-student mentorship. With a commitment to undergraduate education, UVM professors — world-class researchers, scholars, and artists — bring their discoveries into the classroom and their students into the field.
You’ll find UVM faculty and students studying the effects of climate change aboard the Melosira, a research vessel and floating lab; testing new vaccines at the on-campus medical center; launching local start-ups; and working with refugees at Burlington community centers.
Since 1791, the University of Vermont has worked to move humankind forward. The fifth oldest university in New England, UVM boasts a legacy of important firsts in education: the first college to declare public support of freedom of religion and the first to admit women and African-Americans to Phi Beta Kappa.
Today, the university continues to provide endless ways to explore the world, challenge ideas, and dig in on the most pressing issues of our time.
At a glance:
- Founded in 1791, became a Land Grant university in 1862
- Home to seven undergraduate schools and colleges, the Honors College, Graduate College, Larner College of Medicine, and Division of Continuing and Distance Education
- Enrollment: 10,267 undergraduates, 1,462 graduate students, 461 medical students, 23 post-baccalaureate certificates, 892 non-degree students
- 1,556 full- and part-time faculty
- Offering 100+ bachelor’s degree programs, 50 master’s programs, 29 accelerated master’s programs, and 22 doctoral programs
- 18 Division I athletic teams
- “UVM” stands for Universitas Viridis Montis, Latin for University of the Green Mountains
Our vision
To be among the nation’s premier small research universities, preeminent in our comprehensive commitment to liberal education, environment, health and public service.
Our mission
To create, evaluate, share and apply knowledge and to prepare students to be accountable leaders who will bring to their work dedication to the global community, a grasp of complexity, effective problem-solving and communication skills, and an enduring commitment to learning and ethical conduct.
About Burlington:
UVM’s hometown perennially appears on national rankings that laud its livability, access to nature and recreation (including the best skiing in the northeast), thriving food and music scene, rising identity as a technology and innovation hub, and its status as a top college town. City perks include an active pedestrian marketplace in the heart of downtown, 8 miles of waterfront along Lake Champlain featuring stunning sunsets over the Adirondacks beyond, and a 12-mile paved bike trail that runs along the lake. Burlington’s nickname, BTV, comes from the code for its airport, just 10 minutes from campus. With Montreal a 90-minute and Boston a 3.5-hour drive away, international and metropolitan culture are easily accessible for weekend adventures.
With a metro-area population of approximately 210,000, Burlington is Vermont’s largest city. In addition to UVM, large local employers include Global Foundries, GE Healthcare, Keurig Green Mountain, Dealer.com, Seventh Generation and Ben & Jerry’s Homemade. Vermont’s public K-12 schools are perennially ranked among the best in the nation.
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