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Senior Director of Strategic Communications

About the Opportunity

The Director of Strategic Communications within the College of Professional Studies (CPS) at Northeastern University will lead the building and execution of key internal and external communications to engage, inform and inspire the entire CPS community. This is a high visibility leadership role working with CPS senior leadership to clearly communicate the strategic vision of the college. Reporting to the Executive Director of CPS Enrollment Marketing (EDEMC) & Communications, the incumbent will work directly with the Dean as a strategic thought partner responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic internal communications plan with the goal to promote strategic vision to the entire CPS community. In addition to strategic responsibilities, he/she will function as the lead writer, presentation owner, social media activator, project manager and cross-functional liaison to the EDEMC and the Dean on communications for the entire CPS and the senior leadership.

Additionally, working with the EDEMC and the Director of Communications, this role will develop, oversee, and maintain the communications standards across the college to ensure adherence to brand and messaging guidelines.

The individual in this role will also function as the end-to-end coordinator for Dean and EDEMA-sponsored campaigns, partnering with senior leadership that includes Marketing, Finance, HR Strategy, Academic units, and Subject Matter Experts and functional leaders across the college and at the University.

This role is ideal for an organized and solution-focused leader with a balance of strategy and execution who is able to partner with key stakeholders across the college to develop and execute strategic internal communications efforts involving change initiatives, employee engagement, culture transformation, leadership vision and alignment, and partner communications. The successful candidate will bring exceptional capabilities as a writer, ambassador, collaborator, problem-solver, creative thinker, and project manager to an ambitious and rapidly evolving business environment.

Essential Duties:

• Develop and implement the Dean's office strategic internal communication plan and craft multi-channel communications that reinforce CPS strategy in a consistent manner across all stakeholder groups.
• Collaborates in development of annual strategic marketing and guides communications planning that supports College reputation and awareness, and enrollment generation in support of college goals.
• Lead the design and execution of strategic internal communication campaigns creating content around strategic vision, change initiatives, culture transformation and employee engagement including, but not limited to, talking points, videos, panel discussions, decks, bylines/pitches, LinkedIn postings, and other avenues as relevant.
• Effectively and efficiently collaborate with US and global colleagues to grow understanding of strategic priorities and translate leadership objectives in a manner that results in culture engagement from employees, alumni, and partners.
• Advise leadership on internal communications strategy, recommending and facilitating the best approach, channels, and tools to support strategic priorities.
• Support the Dean by developing and executing college-wide written and visual communications through a variety of avenues with the dean's voice.
• Develops integrated communications programs focused on driving engagement with CPS stakeholders such as alumni and external partners.
• Develop and implement a social media and thought leadership strategy for the dean in partnership with the Associate Director of Social Media.
• Tracks the performance of internal communications programs and provides regular updates to the Dean and Executive Director, recommending program adjustments when appropriate.
• Collaborates with internal partners across the college to help devise creative solutions to help effectively cascade Dean's Office communications, provide timely updates and announcements.
• Counsels the Dean and sr. leadership on internal communications issues and opportunities by staying apprised of central Northeastern communications efforts as well as peer colleges and universities and industry trends.
• In partnership with the Assistant Director of Web Design and Development, develop and maintain the Dean's website and high-level pages.
• Manages and executes work to a timeline and budget, ensuring milestones are met, execution is flawless.
• Works with high level of independence, challenges status quo, offers new ideas and techniques to improve communications outcomes.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in English, creative or business writing, communications, or journalism required. Master's preferred.
• 10+ years of internal or executive communications experience; higher education experience preferred.
• Ability to navigate a matrix organization. Large enterprise or agency experience preferred.
• Executive presence, confidence, and professional maturity.
• Experience planning, creating and implementing regular communication strategies and written communications for large, dynamic organizations.
• Excellent written and communication skills with employees of all levels.
• Exceptional time management and multitasking skills; ability to receive and give feedback to enhance the organization.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to anticipate changing needs and adapt resources and priorities accordingly.
• Intellectually curious, embracing challenges and tackling problems with a solutions mindset.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite, particularly PowerPoint.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

1 Dean's Office Communications

50% - Develop Dean's Office communications plan, executed through multiple written, graphic, and audio-visual channels by channeling the dean's voice to the US and Global Network to grow understanding of the strategic priorities in a manner that results in shared vision with college/university personnel, alumni, and partners. Advise leadership on communications strategy with best practices, channels, and tools to support them. Implement the expansion of Dean's office communications through social and web channels that provide timely and relevant information to constituents.

2 CPS Strategic Communications Planning & Execution

25% - Collaborates with leadership and marcom teams in the development of annual strategic marketing plans and guides communications planning that supports College reputation and awareness, and enrollment generation in support of college goals. Lead the design and execution of strategic internal communication campaigns creating content around strategic vision, change initiatives, culture transformation and employee engagement including, but not limited to, talking points, videos, panel discussions, decks, bylines/pitches, LinkedIn postings, and other avenues as relevant.

3 Operations

24-Working with a high level of independence that challenges the status quo and offers new ideas, incumbent will also manage and work to timelines and budgets ensuring milestones are met. Tracks the performance of internal communications programs and provides regular updates to the Dean and EDEMC, recommending program adjustments when appropriate.

Financial Measures

Provide the annual operating budget that the job manages: Up to $250K

Position Type

Marketing and Communications

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.


To apply, visit https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Senior-Director-of-Strategic-Communications_R112414







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