Communications Director - CCI

General Summary/Purpose:

Johns Hopkins University seeks a Communications Director for its soon-to-be-launched center focused on public sector innovation, city transformation, and civic engagement. The new center will become a globally recognized organization focused on advancing the art and science of public sector innovation, especially among local governments. The center will work to increase the legitimacy and impact of local government innovation with a special emphasis on the ways in which residents contribute to the design, development, and delivery of new services and policy approaches.

Working closely with the inaugural Executive Director, the Communications Director will play a senior leadership role at the center and direct an expansive communications effort. This includes forging a long-term communications strategy and supervising the work of a large communications team, which will operate an online hub for news and best practices related to government innovation for cities, elevate the work of the center and grantees in media, produce videos and infographics, provide communications assistance to city grantees, and share timely stories of impact within our community. The Communications Director will also work in close collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies, which has been a pioneer in supporting creativity with city halls for the past decade and is providing the initial funding for the new center.

The new center is committed to addressing structural and entrenched racism and recognizes the public sector’s role in perpetuating these legacies over time and addressing them today. We are looking for a leader committed to dismantling structural and entrenched racism and addressing these issues, both as they build a new organization and advance this work in communities.

This position reports to the Executive Director.

Note:Applications must be received by Monday, July 12, 2021 for consideration.

Specific Duties/Responsibilities:

• Active participation in the development of the center’s vision and strategy for driving public sector innovation and civic engagement in the US and abroad
• Creation of a long-term, integrated communications strategy that hones and elevates the center’s external voice as a preeminent and recognized authority on matters of civic innovation and gains independent validation for the center’s work
• Elevation of center staff and program participants as subject matter experts, positioning them to make impactful contributions to civic discourse
• Management of an editorial calendar spotlighting the work of programs, center experts, and grantees
• Directing the production of content for public dissemination, including videos, infographics, case studies, and news-style stories featuring grantee work and trends for civic innovation practitioners and the broader public
• Management of a new online hub for innovators aimed at building interest and commitment of local government officials to use data, innovation, and best practices in their efforts
• Overseeing the collection, refinement, and distribution of finger-on-the-pulse stories of impact from grantees for internal audiences, consolidating program information into succinct, timely email updates and reports
• Overseeing the management of events for civic innovation practitioners to make connections, exchange ideas, learn new skills, and spotlight the work of grantees; and
• Close coordination with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ communications team and external partners

Minimum Qualifications (mandatory):

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• Five years related experience.
• Advanced degree may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred qualifications:
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in developing and executing multi-faceted communications efforts

• A successful record of envisioning, developing, and implementing an effective and comprehensive long-term communications strategy with multiple partners
• Understanding of how city hall works and how communications can serve as a tool to advance programmatic goals
• Experience building the infrastructure for successful communications efforts in the context of programs with multiple partners and operating in multiple locations, from the collection of stories in the field to their prioritization and refinement among program partners to their dissemination to external audiences
• Demonstrated ability to proactively craft substantive and cohesive messages based on an institution’s strategic goals and mission and history; communicate messages successfully with key audiences; and adapt and adjust messages as appropriate over time
• Ability to inspire excitement about the power of communications and translate complex communications concepts for programmatic staff and partners
• Ability to write and edit quickly and clearly for both general and academic audiences, across the full range of communications products
• Experience managing a large team of communications professionals as well as coordinating with external communications partners (e.g., PR firms, content creators)
• Success in elevating the profile of institutions, organizational leaders, and subject matter experts
• Eagerness and ability to engage diverse constituencies, build professional relationships, and command the respect of colleagues and University leadership
• A record of professional achievements in public policy, public administration, or a related field is preferred
• Proven ability to develop, manage, and thrive in relationships with public sector executives and senior staffers
• Seasoned personnel skills to manage a team of mid-level professionals
• Ability to work in and lead teams in a result-driven workplace
• Familiarity with government, nonprofit, and philanthropic stakeholders

Special knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Experience with Microsoft Office, G Suite, and project management applications
• Familiarity with learning management systems
• Experience using project management and collaboration software such as Asana and Slack
• Demonstrated effectiveness in coordinating with subject matter experts
• Understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Excellent oral, written, communications, and research skills
• Commitment to a collegial workplace
• Capacity to work independently and in a results-oriented workplace
• Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently
• High level of independent decision making

Supervisory responsibility (indicate the number and type of persons supervised by incumbent):

• Current staff to be supervised by incumbent (3)

Classified Title:Sr. Communications & Marketing Manager
Working Title: Communications Director - CCI ​​​​​
Role/Level/Range: L/04/LD
Starting Salary Range:Commensurate with Experience
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: 5/37.5
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: 01-MD:Homewood Campus
Department name: 60006654-KSAS - Centers for Civic Impact
Personnel area: School of Arts & Sciences

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office atjhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711.

The following additional provisions may apply depending on which campus you will work. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

During the Influenza ("the flu") season, as a condition of employment, The Johns Hopkins Institutions require all employees who provide ongoing services to patients or work in patient care or clinical care areas to have an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved medical or religious exception. Failure to meet this requirement may result in termination of employment.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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