Director of Communications, College of Education

Director of Communications, College of Education

Job no: 529553
Work type: Officer of Administration
Location: Eugene, OR
Categories: Communications/Public Relations/Marketing, Education, Executive/Management/Director

Department: College of Education
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: Typical starting range is $73,530 - $93,600 annually; commensurate with experience
Compensation Band: OS-OA08-Fiscal Year 2021-2022
FTE: 1.0
Application Review Begins
June 17, 2022; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
To ensure consideration please submit the following with your online application:

• A resume of your educational and professional work experience.
  
• 2-4 examples of your communications work, including any writing or website design content.
  
• A cover letter in which you clearly describe:
  - how your skills and experience meet the minimum and preferred qualifications for the position.
  - specific information about any related software and/or tools that you are proficient in and/or that you use regularly in your work.
  - your commitment to diversity and/or any specific contributions you have made towards creating an equitable environment and products that actively respect, include, and engage all communities.
  Department Summary
  The University of Oregon (UO) College of Education (COE) is organized into four academic departments and 14 research and outreach centers. All departments include both tenure and career non-tenure-track faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs addressing the full range of issues present in educational and social systems. Our faculty are devoted to inspiring and mentoring the approximately 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students in the COE who will be the next generation of educational and social science leaders. A range of academic degrees and majors are offered, including communication disorders and sciences, elementary and secondary education, school psychology, counseling psychology, couples and family therapy, special education, education studies, administrators, and research methodologists. As noted in our mission statement, COE faculty, staff, and students are committed to developing and validating programs that prepare scholars and practitioners, while promoting respect for diversity, equitable opportunities, and inclusive environments. The COE is currently ranked 5th among all public institutions, and 14th among all public and private institutions nationally (U.S. News and World Report, 2019). College of Education graduate programs are some of the highest-ranked in the country for both research scholarship and graduate education, including the Educational Leadership, Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, and Special Education Programs. Faculty are dedicated to enhancing multicultural competencies, promoting social justice, and promoting education and prevention sciences and practices.
  
  The COE communications team plays a critical role in ensuring that accomplishments, updates, and general information about the college are shared regularly and strategically with students, faculty, and staff within the college and across campus and that stakeholders, alumni, and prospective students nationally are aware of the college's strengths and current achievements.
  Position Summary
  The Director of Communication designs and leads the execution of a targeted communication strategy dedicated to building a clear voice, reputation, and brand equity for the College of Education. As a key member of the leadership team, the director will be responsible for all aspects of strategic communication (i.e., advertising, communicating, and public relations) both internally and externally. A primary goal of this position requires designing and implementing systems to effectively use traditional, interactive, social, and innovative media strategies to engage diverse audiences, including prospective and current students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, Eugene and Portland communities, and relevant academic and professional groups. This position requires strong strategic and tactical skills and knowledge of visual, written, and formal communication; evidence of effective project management experience; the ability to coordinate and produce quality work on deadline; and experience effectively managing staff, students, and freelancers. A commitment to support the University's emphasis on academic excellence in a culturally diverse environment is critical.
  
  The Director of Communications is the primary communications liaison between the College of Education and University Communications. In this role, the director is responsible for ensuring that the college's priorities, communications strategy, and objectives are shared with University Communications leadership, working to identify opportunities for coordination, collaboration, and amplification. The Director of Communication also works with his/her/their team to ensure compliance with University of Oregon brand standards and consistent messaging on UO-wide initiatives.
  
  The College of Education Dean and University Communications' Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff supervise this position. The work of this position will impact the entire College.
  
  The Director of Communications supervises the COE's Digital Communications and Marketing Specialist and Public Information Assistant as well as a varying number of student employees.
  Minimum Requirements
  
• Bachelor's degree.
  
• Five years of proven experience with communications, public relations, marketing strategies, and social media with successively high levels of achievement.
  Professional Competencies
  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to craft clear messages for broad audiences from a variety of academic source content.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with university staff, faculty, and others.
  
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues from different departments and units to deliver successful projects.
  
• Commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  
• Proficiency in the use of personal computers with computer software including Excel, design, web applications, page layout, and email marketing tools.
  
• Ability to work with print, digital and social media strategies, tools, and platforms and knowledge of current and emerging best practices.
  
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing a variety of projects at once while simultaneously always searching for operational efficiencies.
  
• Strong project and intake management skills, with the ability to take creative ideas from conception to execution
  
• Ability to think and act strategically, understanding the needs of different constituents, and the ability to think creatively to address those needs.
  
• Demonstrated abilities in, and a strong commitment to, using data analytics as part of strategy formulation.
  
• Demonstrated ability to apply an entrepreneurial, problem-solver mindset.
  Preferred Qualifications
  
• Bachelors or advanced degree in strategic communications, marketing, public relations, or journalism.
  
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing successful communications strategies.
  
• Experience working in a higher education or arts non-profit organization environment.
  
• Strong understanding of a research university.
  
  FLSA Exempt: Yes
  
  All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background inquiry.
  
  University of Oregon students and employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For additional information see: https://coronavirus.uoregon.edu/vaccine.
  
  The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.
  
  The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.
  
  UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.
  
  In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.
  
  
  
  To apply, visit https://careers.uoregon.edu/en-us/job/529553/director-of-communications-college-of-education
  
  
  
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