Director, University Communications

The mission of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is the development of professional health care practitioners through innovation, individualized, and quality classroom, clinical, and distance education.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Director of University Communications will collaborate with administrative and academic leadership and cross-functional partners across all USAHS campuses to build and implement internal communications strategies that keep University constituents informed, align with the University’s mission and core values, and support the brand position and reputation of the institution.

This role collaboratively develops and executes comprehensive internal communications tactics that advocate institutional priorities and objectives, promote engagement and inform internal audiences (including faculty, staff, students and alumni), and maintain the overall integrity of USAHS’ culture of commitment to excellence in health sciences education.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop high-impact communication strategies, channels, and vehicles to promote engagement with key constituencies and support the overall integrity of USAHS’ culture of commitment to excellence in health science education

• Ensure alignment of these strategies with USAHS’ business model, goals, and objectives
• Establish and maintain strong, collaborative, and coordinated relationships with administrative and academic leadership, cross-functional business partners and team members throughout USAHS to create and lead communications strategies that align with USAHS mission, vision, core values and culture
• Direct communications that build and protect the reputation of USAHS with internal audiences and key constituencies and that reinforce that students are always at the center of everything we do
• Lead and manage communication team members, including external agencies, consultants and contractors who contribute to and/or are accountable for day-to-day communications activities for USAHS

• Oversee core faculty and leadership biography and profile picture process to ensure new hires and changes are posted to the usa.edu website and communicated internally.
• Develop and/or create content in a variety of formats, including written communication and visual graphics.
• Manage, write and edit content for Campus Connection, the University’s weekly e-newsletter dedicated to sharing stories and informing faculty and staff. It provides information about the University, its people and the professions we serve.
• Create content for the University’s internal websites and intranet (MyUSA and Campus Connection) and post necessary cross-departmental updates.
• Coordinate, create and distribute alumni communications, including the biannual publication, Accolades, the monthly e-newsletter, Accolades Insider, and alumni emails. Oversee production with vendors, including printers, graphic designers and freelance writers.
• Oversee internal email calendar, moderation process and content support/review for University-wide and campus-wide student and/or employee emails.
• Collaborate with other departments such as PR, Alumni Engagement, Student Services, etc.
• Serve as an ambassador of the USAHS brand and consult on its proper use throughout all communications, internal publications and social media presence and any other environment in which the brand appears.

Monitor calendar, schedule, production and distribution arrangements and other details to ensure timely completion and quality control of internal communications activities/platforms.

Internal Communications:

• Identify and establish effective communication channels to reach internal target audiences including students, faculty, staff, and alumni; incorporate feedback mechanisms
• Establish strategies for measuring communication effectiveness and outcomes
• Build annual internal communications plan and calendar aligned with University goals and objectives
• Prepare and manage internal communications including newsletters, organizational announcements, emergency communications, etc. in collaboration with USAHS business partners
• Post content and monitor engagement on USAHS alumni social media platforms and usa.edu alumni web pages.
• Help identify alumni and students to record testimonials for USAHS and post reviews.
• Support internal communication to USAHS students, faculty and staff by creating and posting content to campus TVs.
  
  

Communications Compliance and Quality:

• Establish and maintain communications moderation/review processes to ensure quality and alignment of University-wide communications
• Ensure that USAHS communications comply with the institution’s regulatory and legal parameters; are sensitive to higher education as a regulated industry; and are reviewed/approved by appropriate subject matter experts as well as legal and regulatory representatives
• Provide communications leadership and counsel upon request from throughout the USAHS organization
• Distribute annual and other timely compliance-required communications to necessary audiences.

Crisis/Issue Management:

• Manage crisis communications processes and protocols, suggesting improvements and revisions as necessary
• Collaborate with USAHS leadership and external relations function on external communications to mitigate the impact of a crisis
• Develop, manage and lead creation of targeted messaging and talking points with speed and efficiency to support effective crisis management and student/employee safety
• Oversee dissemination of communications through approved channels

Informed Business Decision Making

• Measure, report and analyze USAHS internal communications activity, and use data/results to track performance and make improvement recommendations
• Recommend and test new/emerging communications channels to improve target audience reach and message retention

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May perform other duties and responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

POSITION IN ORGANIZATION

Reports to: Senior Director, Brand and Content

Positions Supervised: external consultants, agencies and contractors engaged to support internal communications efforts

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL & PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Incumbents will be evaluated, in part, based on performance of each essential function.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

·Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing or related field required; Master’s preferred

·Minimum 5-7 years corporate/internal communications experience required

• Outstanding professional writing skills are a prerequisite for this position as is the ability to tailor communication style to reflect the voice of the organization and its leadership for different communications and audiences
• Strong writing and editing skills and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external partners/co-workers; should be comfortable working with key internal leaders and all University departments.

• Must have expertise in project management, along with strong organizational, prioritization and time-management skills with ability to meet deadlines, multi-task and follow through on project timelines.
• Highly developed, demonstrated teamwork skills, with ability to adapt and work under pressure.

• Ability to serve as communications advisor and writer to senior-level leaders while maintaining sense of urgency, responsiveness and poise
• Ability to write for different audiences, from senior leadership to alumni to students
• Experience managing communications in a crisis
• Ability to write, and apply strategic and issues management skills with speed and efficiency
• Flexible with regard to availability (time zones, days of week) depending on the urgency of a particular assignment

• Ability to maintain in-depth understanding of the USAHS strategies in the higher education marketplace.

• Ability to multi-task, triage, prioritize and manage many project requests and initiatives simultaneously

TRAVEL

Ability to travel domestically, primarily to all USAHS campus locations

BUSINESS COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Collaborates - Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Is Resilient - Rebounds from setbacks and adversity when facing difficult situations
• Instills Trust - Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Drives Results - Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances
• Innovation - Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful
• Customer Focus - Builds strong customer relationships and delivers customer-centric solutions

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment but may involve exposure to moderate noise levels. Work involves operation of personal computer equipment for six to eight hours daily and includes physical demands associated with a traditional office setting, e.g., walking, standing, communicating, and other physical functions as necessary.