Communications Director

at  University of WisconsinMadison

JOB SUMMARY:

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (VCFA) is hiring a Communications Director. The VCFA is a committed partner in advancing UW-Madison’s teaching, research, and public service mission through collaborations across campus, and exciting and evolving initiatives (https://finadmin.wisc.edu/).
Reporting to UW-Madison’s Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (VCFA) Chief of Staff, the Communications Director plans and leads strategic communications within the VCFA portfolio and across campus, and advises other campus stakeholders on effective communication strategies. This position will work closely with the Office of Strategic Communication to ensure internal UW-Madison messaging is effective and coordinated. The director will oversee VCFA communications across schools, colleges and divisions, and will take an active role in serving on campus-wide communication councils, committees, and task forces with a wide range of constituencies.
The VCFA Communications Director will partner with the Offices of University Relations and Strategic Communications in developing and implementing communications with local policymakers and community and corporate partners, and to develop protocols to enhance and maintain a divisional brand strategy for all divisional communications and events, promoting awareness across communication platforms.
This role will work closely with the Office of Strategic Communication on the VCFA’s initiatives and projects. The Communications Director will lead and coordinate messaging to ensure visibility of VCFA priorities across campus.
The VCFA Communications Director will be a key stakeholder to track and report out on progress to stakeholders on their Key Performance Indicators towards the VCFA’s Strategic Plan, including sharing success programs and spotlights. They will be relied upon to be part of the team that periodically updates the VCFA Strategic Plan and initiatives that support the plan.

EDUCATION:

Preferred
Bachelor’s Degree

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Significant experience managing and/or directing a comprehensive communications strategy.
• Significant experience in senior level communication in a large, complex organization.
• Strong record demonstrating a high degree of judgment, integrity, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Demonstrated exemplary oral and written communication skills.
• Experience and/or familiarity with working in a decentralized organizational structure.
• Demonstrated success interacting with local and regional media.
• Proven understanding of emerging communication technologies and channels including blogs, social networking sites, and other new media and a vision for using them strategically.
• Experience and a history of success in the leadership and management of a mid-sized work group, including but not limited to personnel and budgeting issues.

Preferred Experience

• Knowledge of higher education issues in the public sector.
• Experience leading communications relations with state and/or federal governments, alumni, and other important external and internal audiences.

HOW TO APPLY:

To begin the application process, click the “apply now” button. Please submit a resume and cover letter detailing your related work experience and professional background to the qualifications and duties in this job description.

Directs communications strategic planning, and execution. Provides approval and guidance for communications including staffing and budgetary planning in support of communication goals.

• 20% Develops, implements, and monitors strategic communication initiatives for designated audiences and internal stakeholders to maximize engagement and strengthen collaboration efforts
• 15% Identifies, establishes, and directs media relationships and partnerships with internal and external sources
• 15% Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revived operational policies and procedures
• 15% Audits and directs day-to-day operational plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives
• 15% Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
• 10% Supervise Communications Specialist to assist VCFA communications
• 10% Lead all VCFA communications and coordinate essential communications across all units