Senior Director, Strategic Communications

Senior Director, Strategic Communications

The Senior Director for Strategic Communications develops and leads the execution of internal and external communications strategies for the University of Minnesota. The Senior Director is a vital part of the University Marketing Communications leadership team, responsible for the University's issues management and crisis communications strategies. The Senior Director partners with senior leaders across the organization to ensure consistent messaging across all internal and external channels in response to emerging University issues and at the institutional, local, regional and national levels. In collaboration with the Senior Director, Public Relations, the person in this role is responsible for ensuring timely and effective response to inquiries on various issues from news media and both internal and external stakeholders. The Senior Director reports to the University of Minnesota Chief Communications Officer and effectively leads and inspires excellence in a cross-functional team that develops integrated issues management and crisis communications response strategies, both within the University Marketing Communications team and across the marketing communications function of the University. Working in close collaboration with department leadership, the Senior Director is also responsible for building proactive strategies that further the University's mission and priorities, including developing thought leadership, partnering with the Board of Regents Office to support visibility for and communications support of the regents; University government relations and community engagement and other University priorities. The Senior Director provides strategic counsel to University leadership, builds relationships with key stakeholders, and works to protect and enhance the University's reputation, advance its mission and priorities and drive awareness, understanding and engagement across internal and external stakeholders. Work Location This position is primarily in-person - at least three days per week and as needed for other in-person meetings, events.

Primary Responsibilities :

• Strategic Communication Leadership and Planning
• Provide strategic leadership for the University's comprehensive issues / reputational risk management and crisis communications strategies
• Stay abreast of emerging University, local regional and national issues, partnering with leaders across the University, including members of the Cabinet, Chancellors and Deans, to develop comprehensive, integrated strategies that preserve and enhance the University's reputation.
• Ensure that University crisis communications strategies are implemented successfully and response protocols and processes are in place.
• The person in this role will provide oversight for maintaining an issues playbook and implementing a regular training cadence to ensure that marketing communications professionals across the department and the University understand their roles and responsibilities and actively participate in response strategies.
• Collaborate with administrative and functional leadership to manage storytelling opportunities and reputational threats and serve as a University spokesperson.
• Ensure timely and effective response to inquiries related to University issues management topics and crisis from news media and stakeholders.
• Develop objectives and performance-driven, proactive communications strategies that support the University's mission and priorities and drive awareness, understanding and engagement among both internal and external stakeholders.
• In partnership with the University's government relations and community engagement leaders, develop strategies to further awareness, understanding and engagement in the University's federal and state legislative agendas.
• Build communications strategies that further the University's legislative agendas and reflect collaboration and integration with University campuses, colleges and units.
• Build bi-directional communication strategies with influencers in Minnesota and across the nation to further the University's mission and priorities.
• Identify opportunities for University leaders to enhance relationships with important community partners to represent the University across communication workstreams with key advocacy organizations
• Ensure development and successful implementation of objectives and metrics-driven strategies that support key University priorities, including the Board of Regents.

The Senior Director, Strategic Communications will actively participate in and ensure successful development and implementation of a variety of strategies, tactics that further the University's mission and priorities, including :

Qualifications :