Details
Posted: 14-May-22
Location: Nashville, TN, United States,
Type: Full-time
Salary: Open
Categories:
Executive
Internal Number: 10002294
Vanderbilt University is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to serve as the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Executive Communications and Institutional Projects. The Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Executive Communications and Institutional Projects plays a crucial role in leading executive communications and institution-wide campaigns to expand and enhance Vanderbilt's visibility and reputation with key stakeholders to advance the mission and achieve the business objectives of the university.
Drawing upon a comprehensive background in managing executive communications and producing high-impact campaigns, this role leads a team to develop integrated communications strategies for and serves as a thought partner to, the Chancellor and the Provost to raise their profiles internally and externally, develop narrative platforms and position them as national and global thought leaders. The individual in this role should be highly organized, able to manage multiple projects and priorities, and must have experience working with and providing counsel to senior executives. This individual will be a trusted partner to senior leaders and play a significant role in identifying strategic external opportunities across the institution.
This position reports directly to the Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing and serves as a member of the Vice Chancellor's core leadership team. The AVC will be charged with working within the division and across the university to develop and manage high-value communications campaigns in support of crucial, high-visibility, university-wide special initiatives prioritized by the university's top leadership. The individual should demonstrate self-direction, creativity, and strategic thinking in finding new opportunities to showcase Vanderbilt as a premier academic and research institution. A successful candidate will excel at using compelling stories and data to convey important information to diverse audiences and will collaborate with partners across the university to do so.
The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt is a dynamic and collaborative group. The division serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing, and executing strategies that inform, engage, and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt University's global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for the mission-based work of the university, providing comprehensive communications and marketing plans and thoughtful analysis on messaging opportunities and constraints. The Communications and Marketing team delivers impactful marketing and communications results across key audiences to serve the larger mission, values, and priorities of the university.
This role requires the ability to report to work in person on the Vanderbilt University campus.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Create high-impact communication strategies and narrative platforms for executive leadership.
- Anticipate communication needs, opportunities, and risks for executive leadership including the Chancellor, the Provost, and the Board of Trust; proactively identify and offer solutions.
- Have constant and complete visibility into and management of all upcoming scheduled communication needs and oversee the planning, execution, and review of all associated communications, in close partnership with the Office of the Chancellor and Office of the Provost staff, as well as other relevant program staff as needed.
- Guide and manage executive-level work products including scripts, speeches, written messages, videos, and social media amplification plans, in partnership with colleagues on the public relations, university communications, creative, and marketing teams.
- Collaborate with key content producers and channel owners within the division to identify effective opportunities for content amplification across owned, earned, and paid media efforts.
- Continue to center the university's values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all communications as part of an ongoing effort to reach out to and engage with diverse audiences throughout the Vanderbilt community and beyond.
- Lead select university-wide campaigns and special initiatives, collaborating with colleagues in the division and throughout the university to create memorable experiences that result in measurable impact.
- Manage vendors and agencies in support of campaigns and special initiatives, proactively looking for new ways to increase engagement and optimize expenditures.
- Demonstrate excellent collaboration and relationship-building skills and partner with internal and external teams and operating units to achieve common objectives and support of business plans
- Demonstrate effective presentation skills, as well as the ability to effectively interface with and influence all levels of leadership; work seamlessly alongside senior executives and provide in-the-moment counsel.
- Have an entrepreneurial spirit and be able to turn big ideas into action.
- Demonstrate the ability to understand and assess complex issues and help translate them into clear messaging. Navigate ambiguity adeptly by identifying how new information (or the lack of information) may affect key stakeholders, helping to manage change in a rapidly shifting environment.
- Demonstrate strong organizational skills and capability to achieve results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, often on short deadlines.
- Lead and guide the Executive Communications and Institutional Projects team, facilitating a results-driven culture of collaboration, self-empowerment, and accountability. This includes setting goals across the team, monitoring progress toward results, and overseeing both performance and professional development.
- Direct and manage the Executive Communications and Institutional Projects budget.
- Recruit and retain talent.
- Represent the Communications and Marketing team at key events and meetings, both internal and external.
- Maintain fluency in current and ongoing developments in higher education and the broader communications and marketing industries.
- Demonstrate excellence in news judgment, written communications skills, and a sense of what is appropriate for the Vanderbilt University brand.
- Adhere to confidentiality and business ethics; demonstrate outstanding judgment and discretion.
- Demonstrate understanding of the university's mission, values, goals, and priorities, and an ability to ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies.
- Work outside regular business hours as needed to perform job responsibilities, including being officially on-call.
- Provide overall support as needed and assigned for institutional priorities.
- Perform other relevant duties as assigned.
Qualifications - A bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field is required .
- At least 10 years of experience in the communications, journalism, public relations, or marketing field is required .
- At least 5 years of experience working with executive leadership in a communications role is required .
- Experience managing large projects and budgets is required .
- Knowledge of computer applications and project management software, including Microsoft Office, Slack, Trello, Box, Monday (or similar) is required .
- At least 5 years of experience serving in a leadership, managerial or advisory role is strongly preferred .
- Proven experience and passion for change management is strongly preferred .
- Experience working with vendors and freelancers is preferred .
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.
Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.
Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.
