Responsibilities

• Strategic Advisory & Portfolio Planning Lead integrated communications strategies for assigned enterprise initiatives, from early planning through implementation and ongoing optimization. Serve as the principal communications adviser to executive sponsors, project leaders and business owners, connecting project goals to audience needs, messaging and implementation plans. Translate institutional strategy, project roadmaps and operational decisions into clear communications objectives, stakeholder strategies and measurable outcomes. Develop a cohesive approach across a fractional portfolio while accounting for each initiative's scope, audiences, timing, risks and operating environment. Maintain a portfolio-level view of communications activity, identifying competing demands, dependencies, overlapping audiences and opportunities to coordinate messages. Anticipate peak periods of communications demand and recommend changes in fractional assignments, sequencing or specialist support. Assess stakeholder concerns, change readiness, reputational considerations and operational risk, recommending proactive communications responses. Determine which needs can be addressed directly and which require collaboration with specialized MarComm teams or institutional partners. Ensure initiative communications align with enterprise strategy, brand standards and the broader positioning of Dell Medical School and the academic health system. Apply advanced judgment to complex or sensitive communications challenges with limited oversight and substantial latitude for independent decision-making.
• Enterprise Communications Planning & Execution Plan, develop and execute communications across web, email, presentations, toolkits, print, video and editorial channels based on the needs of each initiative. Translate complex changes in systems, processes, roles or services into clear information that helps stakeholders understand what is changing, why it matters and what action is required. Lead communications workstreams across the project life cycle, including planning, design, implementation, launch and optimization. Develop stakeholder and audience strategies that account for how proposed changes affect different employee groups, leaders, patients, partners and other audiences. Create or oversee messaging frameworks, leader materials, presentations, talking points, FAQs, announcements, implementation updates and other core communications products. Sequence communications across initiatives to reduce conflicting messages, avoid unnecessary duplication and help employees navigate concurrent changes. Define communications scope, timelines, roles, approvals and deliverables in collaboration with project leaders and cross-functional partners. Manage large or complex communications projects with limited oversight, coordinating contributors and ensuring timely, accurate delivery. Monitor stakeholder questions and feedback throughout implementation and adjust messages, channels or timing as needs change. Balance planned project work with emerging needs, setting realistic expectations and recommending approaches proportionate to the audience, opportunity and institutional risk.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Organizational Alignment Serve as the lead MarComm partner to executive sponsors, project leaders, business owners and other stakeholders for assigned initiatives. Develop sufficient knowledge of each initiative’s purpose, decisions, stakeholders and dependencies to provide credible strategic counsel and maintain continuity throughout the work. Participate in project governance, planning meetings and working groups early enough to identify communications needs before they become urgent. Build alignment among leaders and partners on communications objectives, key messages, timing, responsibilities and approval processes. Coordinate with human resources, information technology, clinical operations, finance, academic units and other functions as relevant to each initiative. Clarify communications ownership and decision-making responsibilities for work that spans multiple teams, operating environments or institutional partners. Advise project leaders on sensitive, high-visibility or high-risk communications and facilitate appropriate institutional review. Surface conflicts, dependencies or stakeholder concerns that could affect communications effectiveness or project adoption. Maintain trusted working relationships across the institution and help resolve differing organizational needs or competing considerations.
• MarComm Integration & Project Leadership Serve as the primary connection between assigned enterprise initiatives and the core MarComm team. Engage specialists in internal communications, executive communications, strategic content, media relations, brand, creative services and digital engagement when initiatives require deeper expertise or additional production capacity. Remain actively involved after engaging specialists to provide project context, coordinate stakeholders and maintain accountability for the overall communications approach. Identify matters that require escalation, specialized review or a coordinated institutional response. Develop clear briefs for MarComm specialists and establish realistic scope, timing, roles and expectations with project teams. Coordinate initiative communications with institutional editorial calendars, executive priorities, employee communications and other enterprise projects.
• Measurement, Governance & Continuous Improvement Establish practical measures for communications reach, engagement, stakeholder understanding, readiness and completion of required actions. Track communications milestones, decisions, risks and deliverables within project-management systems and provide clear status updates to project and MarComm leaders. Use analytics, stakeholder feedback and employee pulse measures, when appropriate, to evaluate effectiveness and adjust communications strategies. Develop reusable templates, toolkits and planning resources that improve consistency and reduce duplication across enterprise initiatives. Document communications roles, approval processes and governance expectations for each assigned initiative. Conduct after-action reviews for major project phases and apply lessons to future work. Identify recurring questions or points of confusion and recommend changes to content, channels, sequencing or leader support. Monitor the cumulative communications burden on shared audiences and recommend coordination when multiple initiatives compete for attention. Stay informed of emerging communications technologies and practices, including generative AI and automation, and recommend appropriate applications that improve project delivery.
• MARGINAL OR PERIODIC FUNCTIONS: Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure. Performs related duties as required.
• EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or a related field. Eight years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, public relations, content strategy or a related discipline. Demonstrated experience independently leading complex, cross-functional marketing or communications initiatives. Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. According to Executive Order No. GA-48 of the State of Texas: for all positions that research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), Business and Commerce Code, it is required that both candidates for employment and employees have the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Requirements

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism or a related field.
• Eight years of relevant experience in marketing, communications, public relations, content strategy or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex, cross-functional marketing or communications initiatives.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• According to Executive Order No. GA-48 of the State of Texas: for all positions that research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), Business and Commerce Code, it is required that both candidates for employment and employees have the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.

Preferred

• Experience in academic medicine, health care, higher education or another complex and regulated environment.
• Experience supporting enterprise transformation, technology implementations, operational redesign or other major organizational initiatives.
• Experience developing communications strategies that support stakeholder understanding, readiness, adoption and sustained change.
• Experience working with executive sponsors, project leaders, functional teams and subject-matter experts in a matrixed organization.
• Experience serving as a communications adviser within an organization that also includes specialized communications functions.
• Experience managing communications for multiple concurrent initiatives or a fractional project portfolio.
• Experience coordinating communications across multiple organizational entities, programs, brands or approval structures.
• Experience advising senior leaders and managing sensitive or high-profile communications.
• Experience with web content management systems, email platforms, employee communications channels, analytics platforms and project-management systems.
• Familiarity with The University of Texas at Austin and the Central Texas health care environment.