Director of Communications and Strategic Outreach

Director of Communications and Strategic Outreach

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Director of Communications and Strategic Outreach

Job Profile Title
Director, Communications

Job Description Summary
Perry World House (PWH) is a center for interdisciplinary scholarly inquiry, research, international exchange, policy engagement, and public outreach on pressing global issues. PWH facilitates critical conversations about solutions to global policy challenges and fosters interdisciplinary research on these topics. It organizes workshops and colloquia, welcomes distinguished visitors, and produces content for global audiences and policy leaders so that the knowledge developed at Penn can make an impact around the world. PWH's mission is to bring the academic knowledge of the University of Pennsylvania to bear on some of the world's most pressing global policy challenges, and to foster international policy engagement within and beyond the Penn community. PWH leverages the extraordinary range of expertise found across Penn's 12 schools and dozens of research centers, connecting Penn with policymakers, practitioners, and researchers from around the world to develop and advance innovative policy proposals.

The Director of Communications and Strategic Outreach will have primary responsibility for driving overall outreach, strategic engagement, and reputation building institutional communications strategy, including digital and social media. The Director will translate and leverage PWH's research and other written and other outputs into accessible, policy-relevant content with the power to shape current debates in global affairs, particularly related to Perry World House's two priority research themes (“Global Shifts: Urbanization, Migration, and Climate Change” and “The Future of the Global Order: Power, Technology, and Governance”) and their sub-themes, as well as other emerging themes, such as human rights. The Director will help shape and steward the process of content generation (by Penn faculty, visitors, and others), including dissemination to, and engagement with, key policy audiences in the U.S. and abroad. The Director will supervise one communications staff member and potentially external consultants. The Director will build strategic partnerships with the PWH communications team and with select senior communications staff of partners and stakeholders, both within and outside the University. The Director will be responsive to internal stakeholders and colleagues, while providing strategic focus and consistency across the organization for defining and elevating PWH's profile and impact. The Director will work to raise broader awareness and engagement of our contributions among target audiences, including policymakers, students, faculty, donors, peer academic and think tank institutions, alumni, etc.

The position will be responsible for developing and executing multi-platform communications strategies to build awareness and amplify the work and reputation of PWH with various stakeholders, within and outside of the University. The position is the institutional engine for translating and leveraging PWH's research and other outputs into accessible, policy-relevant content with the power to shape debates related to Perry World House's two priority research themes (“Global Shifts: Urbanization, Migration, and Climate Change” and “The Future of the Global Order: Power, Technology, and Governance” and their subthemes, as well as other emerging themes, such as human rights. They will grow Perry World House's reputation across various fields. This position will have responsibility for envisioning, articulating, and implementing PWH's communications strategy. This will include the development and continued evaluation and refining of a strategic plan, as well as creating and driving content production by identifying research and collaborative opportunities; bringing written, digital, and other products to completion; and creatively packaging PWH's thought leadership.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Build and use pre-existing relationships with national and international media to expand PWH's reach and influence. Envision, articulate, and implement a strategic, long-term communications plan and develop metrics for measuring effectiveness. Maintain brand and messaging consistency, advancement of brand awareness, and visibility of efforts with our various constituencies and stakeholders across platforms and various mediums. Leverage data and analytics to drive strategy. Track analytics to ensure digital content engages target audiences. Direct management of social media platforms; Draft and produce Annual Report. Oversee development of announcements, digital newsletters, and development materials. Create editorial and production schedules for projects, releases, publications (e.g. policy briefs, papers, colloquium reports, etc.). Seek new opportunities and implement strategies to grow PWH visibility and reach. Ensure timely accurate delivery of final products, including process management.
• Supervise and develop direct reports. Promote a culture of high performance, collegiality, mutual support, and continuous improvement that values learning and high-quality work.
• Work in partnership with PWH leadership to develop, lead, and manage strategic partnership-building, including partnership identification, outreach, maintenance and expansion with a specialized focus on global policy-oriented entities.
• Be an internal resource to affiliated faculty, staff, and visitors to shape, market/pitch, and place their policy-relevant writing to reach new policy audiences, decisionmakers, and outlets with their ideas on global policy.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree and 5 to 7 years of experience leading successful strategic communications efforts, or equivalent combination of education and experience, are required; Master's degree and 7 to 10 years of experience preferred.
• Expertise in aligning communications strategies and implementation with organizational priorities is required.
• Strong competency across the entire scope of strategic integrated communications, including external communications, executive communications, thought leadership, stakeholder strategic engagement, etc., is required, with a demonstrated commitment to and interest in global policy.
• Pre-existing relationships with national and international media and experience proactively building and sustaining media relationships, including shaping opportunities and positioning content to achieve high-impact placements.
• Must be an exceptional and quick writer and editor, and an excellent team player who prioritizes communication and building, fostering, and nurturing relationships within PWH, across the University, and with external stakeholders. Ability to think strategically and creatively while working in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional at multi-tasking, follow-through, and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, coach, and create focus and clarity in your team, communicate on an ongoing basis to provide leadership and vision.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead a high-performing team with competing priorities; thrives in big picture possibility and strategy while focusing on the details needed for high-quality execution.
• Proficiency in all digital platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and a passion for emerging platforms.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Desire to thrive in a global and multicultural environment, with strong cultural competencies and ability to effectively communicate to a diverse, global audience.
• Familiarity with academic institutions.
• Ability to work independently and to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the University and outside of Penn.
• Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous projects with professionalism.
  

Application Requirement

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Penn Global

Pay Range

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
  
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
  
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
  
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
  
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
  
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
  
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
  
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
  
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
  
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
  
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
  
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
  

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay


To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Perry-World-House/Director-of-Communications-and-Strategic-Outreach_JR00072832



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