Responsibilities

• Develop and lead implementation of a comprehensive strategic communications plan that aligns with University and OED strategic priorities, ensuring clarity and consistency in how initiatives—such as the Campus Climate Initiative and the Bridging Beliefs Project—are shared with the University community and external partners.
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement by creating compelling narratives, newsletters, multimedia content, and campaigns that highlight institutional progress, celebrate success stories, and demonstrate accountability through data-informed storytelling.
• Serve as the communications liaison to University Marketing Communications and other collegiate communications teams, ensuring OED’s voice is represented in University-wide campaigns and leadership messaging.
• Support media relations, crisis communication and rapid response efforts related to campus climate, bias incidents, and emerging equity issues, ensuring that OED provides timely, coordinated, and compassionate messaging.
• Contribute to issues and crisis management communications in close collaboration with the Senior Director of Strategic Communications, and other leaders, to advance the reputation of the University and minimize risk.
• Maintain web presence. Responsible for day-to-day management of the Office of Equity and Diversity website, including web strategy.
• Oversee web and content development in partnership with web development resources.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree and at least six years of experience in communications or related fields.
• Experience building integrated, comprehensive and strategic communications platform and familiarity with developing annual goals aligned to advancing these platform objectives.
• Excellent writing, editing and speaking skills, and the ability to effectively lead but also work as a member of a team.
• Demonstrated proficiency in core media relations skills, including: building/managing media relationships; coordinating/staffing media engagements; media training spokespeople; developing talking points, FAQs or other written materials; advising on presentations, speeches or other external engagements as needed; and strategic planning.
• The ability to demonstrate good judgment, respond quickly and deal successfully under pressure in a very open and public environment; experience in issues and crisis management is also important.
• Demonstrated strong business acumen and analytical skills and ability to contribute to strategic thinking while also being able to accomplish tactical tasks.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate effectively and confidently at all levels of the organization to promote and gain approval for ideas and plans.

Preferred

• Experience in or knowledge of higher education is preferred.
• Proven ability to effectively collaborate, convene, and lead in cross-cultural context with a diverse group of stakeholders and to integrate the deliverables in support of common goals to successfully support the mission of an organization.
• Experience leading communications strategies related to diversity and equity for a complex, matrixed organization.
• Strength in critical and strategic thinking.

Benefits

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area