Description

The Division of Marketing & Communications (MarComm) aims to strengthen DUs strategic position locally, regionally, and nationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels with focused support on the university’s value drivers: academics and research; enrollment and admissions, athletics, and advancement. Whether through public or media relations, digital strategies, social media, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, community relations or thought leadership and training, MarComm drives results through narratives that involve words, pictures, and design. With true understanding of and connection with our diverse audiences, we aim to foster collaborative problem solving, creativity and innovation.?MarComm speaks with a unified, authentic, and resonant voice to strategically advance the University of Denver’s brand with four goals in mind:

1. To promote and protect DUs reputation.
2. To inspire students to enroll and engage.
3. To increase inclusion.
4. To strengthen the University.

It is a moral imperative that all staff within MarComm not only feel they are in a safe environment but also that the community is actually safe and protective. MarComm’s community-created, shared sense of belonging definition says, that “A shared sense of belonging in MarComm means building a collaborative, trusting community where we feel and are safe, valued, and appreciated being ourselves as we contribute to something meaningful.” Being safe, seen, and heard was the impetus for developing a Bias Incident Protocol and Resources Guide, which provides a clear and accessible channel for reporting incidents of bias with the division.?

Position Summary

The Director for Communications will shape the messaging strategy around internal communication and other communication projects as they arise. This incumbent will report to the AVC for Communications and Issues Management and will help develop and manage the university’s internal communications strategy, overseeing all proactive communications efforts and supporting reactive efforts. This individual will cultivate relationships with key stakeholders and units, promoting key DU initiatives and furthering the brand to build internal ambassadors. In addition, this position will work as a close partner in the strategic crisis communications efforts, ensuring physical and reputational safety for stakeholders and DU as a whole.

Essential Functions:

• Shape messaging and strategy around internal communications initiatives and for strategic communications tools. 
• Collaborates with the AVC for Communications and Issues Management to develop, manage and implement the organization's communications strategies.
• Build and nurture relationships with key divisions such as human resources, student affairs, DEI, legal affairs, IT, and other university partners to achieve communications synergy and avoid unnecessary communications complexity and redundancy.
• Work with the AVC for Communications and Issues Management to support the development of communications goals, strategies, and tactics that advance the mission of DU.
• Cultivate and support a network of communicators at key peer institutions in the local Denver metro area for the purposes of professional development, best practice sharing, and crisis support.
• Generate communications plans for initiatives derived from the chancellor, cabinet, and deans.
• Identify new areas of opportunity to drive proactive communications outreach to further the brand and expand into new and emerging technologies for the betterment of the university’s connected community.
• Provide strategy for internal communications editorial calendar.
• Analyze situations and give sound professional judgment on priorities, initiatives, and emerging issues.
• Keep AVC informed of potentially controversial subject matter in the community.
• Participates as a senior member of crisis communications team requiring on-call emergency status.
• Support social media team in elevating internal priorities to both internal and external social media audiences.
• Support the creation of messaging support to senior leadership to ensure professional, consistent communication throughout the university; ensure leadership and all relevant employees have consistent messaging and clear talking points in advance of any important communications to stakeholders that will impact their areas of operation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Flexibility and sense of urgency within high-pressure and rapidly evolving situations.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and a passion for equitable strategic practices are critical.
• High level of integrity, trustworthiness, and respect.
• Experience handling and communicating sensitive issues.
• Ability to condense complex messages into consistent, easy to understand messaging, along with the ability to vary delivery to match audiences.
• Team player, willing to pitch in on tasks that may be outside of usual responsibilities.
• Ability to recognize opportunities to leverage trending stories to promote the brand.
• Ability to practice strategic thinking and brainstorming, turning plans into concrete action.
• Excellent writing and verbal communications skills.
• Attention to detail, organizational skills and project management experience a must.
• Strong collaborative and cross-functional skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work on several projects at once in a fast paced, deadline driven environment.
• Experience with planning and hosting events.
• Proficiency in AP style with adaptability to the DU style guide.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 7 years communications. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education setting or other complex organization.
• Experience in using technical and organizational tools to foster an environment of collaboration.

Working Environment

• The successful incumbent must live or be willing to relocate to the Denver metro. The Division of Marketing & Communications has a flexible work arrangement with its employees, allowing for both community and culture building in office and remote work from home.
• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding and manipulating a computer mouse; frequently required to move for varying lengths of time and travel moderate distances to perform work.
• Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts.
• Ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing required to perform essential functions.
• Receives regular managerial review of objectives.
• Collaborates with contracted paid media vendors as well as in-house team and University colleagues for completion of project/program related tasks as needed.
• Some travel as well as occasional weekend or after-hours work will be required to fulfill duties.
• Exposure to all weather conditions (within reason) may occur during creation of strategic content.

Physical Activities

• Some lifting may be required to support experience/activation activities.
• Vision and hearing abilities necessary, given audio/visual responsibilities required of the position

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) June 14, 2023.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 14.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $105,000-$125,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see nondiscriminationstatement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.