The Office of the Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences seeks to fill its inaugural Associate Director or Senior Associate Director of Internal Communications role. The Associate Director/Senior Associate Director will develop and execute the internal communications strategy and manage communications to internal audiences such as faculty and staff, driving awareness and engagement with key strategic goals.
Serving as an individual contributor (with the potential to manage additional team members should hiring become necessary), this person will be part of a newly created Marketing team that is oriented towards strategy, problem solving, bias for action and collaboration. This individual will play a critical role in elevating and operationalizing the top priorities of Arts & Sciences. Reporting to the Senior Director of Executive and Internal Communications (E&IC), the Associate Director/Senior Associate Director will align closely with the school’s strategic objectives:
Plan, coordinate and manage communications shared with internal audiences (faculty, staff, students, etc.). These communications include but are not limited to: emails, website copy, presentations, editorial copy, and remarks.
Support Arts & Sciences’ Senior Leadership Team (Senior Associate Deans and Associate Deans) and lead monthly 1:1 stakeholder meetings with them to coordinate and support upcoming communications.
Streamline and formalize internal communication processes for clarity and efficiency; make recommendations based on broader A&S feedback and implement accordingly
Tailor messaging based on audience, message, medium and scope.
Collaborate with Senior Director of E&IC to ensure thoughtful, proactive communication to faculty, staff, chairs & directors, and department managers in a way that is thoughtful and proactive.
Continue development, and have ultimate ownership, of a weekly internal email newsletter for faculty and staff, ensuring timeline and relevant updates.
Recommend improvements for communication tools, channels, and strategies based on data and feedback, driving results and leading through change management.
Develop training resources and playbooks/standard operating procedures for effective internal communications across teams beyond Marketing
Support development of a Marketing-wide editorial calendar and partner with Content team to ensure accuracy.
Establish process to measure communication effectiveness and engagement; manage ongoing measurement, and distill data into insights and action
Create concise, engaging messaging that fosters connection and action, utilizing platforms like Marketing Cloud (or similar tools).
Develop and manage an annual internal communications editorial calendar, ensuring consistent, proactive communication.
Ensure broader community messaging is appropriately amplified in collaboration with the Marketing team and key Dean’s Office stakeholders.
Anticipate challenges and plan for responsive or crisis communications.
Operate with a sense of shared urgency and a bias for action.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree and at least eight (8) years of related experience OR a Master’s Degree and six (6) years of related experience.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with ability to synthesize complex concepts and translate into simple and clear communications.
Strong attention to detail.
Experience envisioning, developing, and implementing a successful strategic communications plan based on goals and priorities.
Preferred Qualifications:
Proven track record creating and delivering effective internal communications programs that translate strategic thinking into output.
Strong knowledge of best-in-class internal communications practices.
Demonstrate critical thinking skills and strong problem-solving capabilities.
Bias for action and exceptional project management (familiarity with tools like Asana or Basecamp a plus). Experience in higher education or working with high profile leadership teams.
This position is located in Charlottesville, VA. A hybrid work schedule may be available, dependent upon the needs of the department and the incumbent's performance.
This is an Exempt level, benefited position. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
This position will remain open until filled. Review of applications begins October 11, 2024. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
To Apply:
Apply online at https://jobs.virginia.edu and search for posting #R0065763 (or through Workday for internal applicants), complete the application, and attach the following:
Resume
Cover letter to include your interest in the position and your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences that will make you a successful candidate in this position
***Please note ALL REQUESTED documents MUST be uploaded in the resume box.***
***Applications that do not contain all the required documents will not receive full consideration.***
For questions about the application process, please contact Rhiannon O'Coin, Senior Academic Recruiter, rmo2r@virginia.edu
For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.
The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.