Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Erikson Institute’s institution-wide communications strategy in alignment with the Institute’s Strategic Plan and presidential priorities.
• Partner with the President and Chief of Staff to provide strategic communications counsel and support executive messaging and institutional communications.
• Develop, write, edit, and execute high-quality communications, including institutional announcements, presentations, newsletters, web content, talking points, correspondence, and other communications that advance Erikson’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Coordinate institution-wide communications to ensure messaging is timely, accurate, consistent, and aligned across academic and administrative units.
• Lead communications planning and execution for major institutional initiatives, announcements, and strategic priorities.
• Develop and execute a proactive media relations strategy that strengthens Erikson’s visibility and reputation.
• Cultivate relationships with local, national, and trade media and proactively identify opportunities to elevate Erikson’s faculty, research, programs, and institutional leadership.
• Prepare messaging, press materials, media responses, and briefing materials for institutional leaders.
• Monitor emerging issues that may affect the Institute’s reputation and provide communications counsel to institutional leadership.
• Develop, maintain, and execute issues management and crisis communications plans in coordination with the President, Chief of Staff, General Counsel, Human Resources, and other designated leaders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible communications experience, including experience leading communications initiatives, projects, or teams.
• Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting executive communications, media relations, issues management, and reputation management.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff, managing consultants, and administering budgets.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholders and work effectively in a highly collaborative environment.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
• Demonstrated proficiency with digital communications, content management systems, social media platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• Experience in higher education, education, research, philanthropy, healthcare, or another mission-driven organization.
• Experience supporting presidents, CEOs, or other senior organizational leaders.
• Experience managing communications agencies, freelancers, or external consultants.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards, digital analytics, and emerging communications technologies.
• Experience with website content management systems, email marketing platforms, and multimedia storytelling.