Director of Communications, 150 Forward at University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas

Director of Communications, 150 Forward

Fayetteville, AR (Unknown)

Salary Not AvailableDirector/ExecutiveFull time

Posted 6 weeks ago

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Job Summary

Translate complex university priorities into clear, audience-centric messaging and lead change communications that align leadership goals with broad campus audiences.

Strategic Communications: translate priorities into messaging and executive-ready content across speeches, briefs, and campus communications.
Stakeholder Engagement: tailor communications for faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and governance bodies plus manage feedback loops.
Change Management: oversee campus-wide transformation communications and coordinate with colleges for consistent, aligned messaging.

Job Description

Responsibilities

Strategic and Executive Communications: Develop and implement strategic communications plans supporting 150 Forward priorities and executive leadership initiatives
Strategic and Executive Communications: Serve as a communications advisor to university leadership on messaging, stakeholder engagement, and communications planning
Strategic and Executive Communications: Draft and edit executive communications including speeches, talking points, presentations, campus messages, reports, op-eds, briefing materials, and strategic correspondence
Strategic and Executive Communications: Translate complex institutional priorities, initiatives, and organizational changes into clear, compelling, audience-centered messaging
Strategic and Executive Communications: Build communications frameworks that reinforce institutional mission, strategic goals, and university reputation
Strategic and Executive Communications: Coordinate proactive communications strategies related to institutional transformation, change management, and campus-wide initiatives
Stakeholder Engagement and Change Communications: Lead communications efforts that support organizational alignment, engagement, and adoption of strategic initiatives
Stakeholder Engagement and Change Communications: Develop audience-specific messaging and communications strategies for faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, governing bodies, and community stakeholders
Stakeholder Engagement and Change Communications: Coordinate communication timelines, channels, and deliverables aligned with institutional milestones and leadership priorities
Stakeholder Engagement and Change Communications: Facilitate feedback mechanisms and stakeholder listening strategies to inform communications planning and decision-making

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, English, higher education administration, or a related field
Experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans and stakeholder engagement strategies
Experience with writing, editing, and storytelling across multiple communication formats and audiences

Preferred

Master's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, higher education, organizational leadership, or a related field
Experience in higher education, public-sector, healthcare, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations
Experience supporting organizational change initiatives or transformation efforts
Experience with executive speechwriting and presentation development
Experience collaborating across decentralized organizations with multiple stakeholder groups
Familiarity with digital communications strategies, analytics, and audience engagement practices

Benefits

The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas is Arkansas' only R1 research institution and is the flagship land-grant campus of the U of A System. We provide an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs and contribute more than $2.2 billion in economic impact to the state of Arkansas. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3 percent of colleges and universities in America with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring to provide all students with life-changing opportunities. The U of A is dedicated to Arkansas and works to build a better world.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA

10K employees (618 in marketing)

linktr.ee/uarkansas