Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Communications & Brand Management (Hybrid)

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Advising: Represents the Vice Chancellor with authority to make decisions on high-level task forces and long- and short-range strategic planning as it relates to public relations, marketing, branding and internal communications. Consults directly with senior academic and administrative leadership to achieve solutions with high level stakeholders such as faculty, deans, senior administrators, Office of the President, public agencies and the community to enhance UC Merced's reputation and build strategic regional strategies through public relations, marketing. This includes coordinating efforts with and among campus partners to include the Chancellor and the Provost, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Office of Research and Economic Development, Recreation & Athletics, Auxiliary Enterprises, etc. Creates, develops, implements and sustains proactive public relations, earned media and brand strategies that will enable UC Merced to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media, prospective students and families, prospective donors, corporations and foundations and key business and community leaders, and other influencers. Serves as a liaison between the Office of the President and UC Merced on executive communications, engagements, and public relations and marketing initiatives. Works with leadership team and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support key initiatives. Inspires creative thinking and fosters solutions-oriented problem solving. Prioritize strategic initiatives and projects that will impact the campus and institutional reputation and overall brand while providing leadership for institutional brand strategy and governance. Measures and monitors progress toward achievement of the organization's strategic initiatives, utilizing market research and analytics to drive decision making. Leads planning for and responds to institutional crises and emerging issues.
• Public Relations, Brand Marketing, Internal Communications Management: Establishes staff performance and development goals, including performance metrics and accountability. Promotes a culture of high performance, teamwork, collaboration and continuous improvement through learning. Mentors staff. Works collaboratively with subject matter experts throughout the university to design frameworks and strategies around shared responsibility for content development. Ensures a high quality of varied and integrated marketing, communications and event products and services including brand building, print and digital publications, websites, and multi-media, social and other media align with institutional priorities. Sets priorities with input and buy-in from key internal partners, including deans and vice chancellors. Exercises judgment to prioritize new opportunities as they arise. Works collaboratively with and across divisions, schools and subject matter experts to create frameworks and strategies for shared responsibility for content development; works with academic and administrative leaders to identify and achieve marketing and messaging goals. Oversees the operational budget and staffing plan for public relations, marketing, internal communications, and associated programming.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or related field; and
• Advanced degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or related field (preferred);
• Ten years of related experience with 5 years in a senior management role either in-house or with an agency (required);
• Experience in a non-profit educational or cultural setting (preferred);
• Valid CA Driver's License (required).
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communications, including strategic planning for various media venues, technical aspects and requirements of various venues, and the most appropriate and effective applications.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of technical applications including design concepts, various media and mediums, applications, etc. to effectively manage/supervise professional technical staff.
• Thorough knowledge of the location, including its mission, vision, goals, policies, and infrastructure; strong knowledge of current affairs and issues in higher education and/or health sciences.
• Excellent skills to create, develop and implement long and short-term strategic communications plans and brand awareness plans.
• Excellent skills to advise and consult management on all aspects of communications and branding, ranging from developing effective communications and branding strategies to appropriately responding to inquiries regarding sensitive or complex issues or information.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or related field (preferred);
• Experience in a non-profit educational or cultural setting (preferred);

Benefits

• For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University of California visit: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/