Position Description
The Vice President for Strategic Communication reports to the President and is the chief communication officer responsible for conveying the University’s mission, vision, and values internally and externally.
The Vice President proactively leads a team charged with key goals that support the University’s mission, vision, and strategic direction: to enhance the University’s visibility and stature locally, nationally and internationally; to establish University policies, procedures, and practices for strategic communication, crisis communication, and issues management; to foster long-term, positive relations with all University constituents; and to develop and implement cohesive, integrated, and disciplined communication plans that combine qualitative and quantitative research, public relations, marketing, and other elements that promote the University’s teaching, research, and service missions.
The Vice President provides strategic leadership, counsel, and assistance to the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, and Deans in the areas of communication, marketing, crisis management, and outreach, and may serve as the University’s spokesperson. The Vice President also provides leadership and administrative oversight to the Office of University Relations, University of Iowa Television (UITV), the UI Alumni Association, Hancher Auditorium, and the Center for Media Production.
In summary, the Vice President for Strategic Communication will serve as a major University advocate responsible for advancing the University’s mission and goals through effective communication with various constituencies, ensuring the appropriate direction and coordination of key communications that reflect the highest degree of quality, consistency, integrity, and effectiveness and are targeted to inform, educate, and garner support on behalf of the University. The Vice President will demonstrate extraordinary leadership experience, strategic vision, proven skills for conveying both internal and external messages, innovation, creative energy, and collaborative spirit.
Responsibilities
Primary areas of responsibility include leading development, coordination, and implementation of creative and effective communication plans that meet short- and long-term goals; guiding the University through institutional branding efforts; proactively promoting the University of Iowa, its programs, and its people through local, regional, and national campaigns; building ongoing public support for the UI; working in tandem with colleges and departments to garner recognition for UI programs, services, educational opportunities, research, and achievements; and developing strategies for enhancing communication with the University’s key stakeholders—prospective and current students, parents, faculty and staff, alumni and donors, business and civic leaders, policymakers, granting agencies, and others.
The Vice President for Strategic Communication acts as a key member of the administrative team and directs all aspects of the University’s central communication efforts, including marketing and promotion, outreach, media relations, public information, online and digital communication, graphic design, stewardship of the organization's brand, and development of messages that increase awareness and enhance the reputation of UI programs and initiatives.
The Vice President for Strategic Communication will:
- Work with University leadership to set policy on communication matters and to develop a comprehensive, integrated communication plan for the campus.
- Engage communication partners across the campus, including those units reporting to the VP and others, to promote a positive and consistent University brand and message.
- Provide central University leadership and liaison with the University of Iowa Alumni Association and work in a cooperative relationship with the UI Alumni Board.
- Provide central University leadership and administrative/budget oversight of Hancher Auditorium.
- Provide direction, planning, and implementation for issues and reputation management, as well as crisis communication.
- Serve as chief communication officer and counselor, providing strategic leadership and assistance to the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, General Counsel, and Deans.
- Work with University leaders to develop, expand, and enrich the University’s relationships with its many constituents.
- Design, develop, and implement strategies that enhance the University’s visibility and stature by promoting its teaching, research, and service missions; its unique areas of expertise; and its contributions to Iowa, the nation, and the world.
- Give strategic direction to the news and public relations/information functions, overseeing a proactive media relations program at the local, regional, and national levels, and recognizing the importance of effective media relations in a public university setting.
- Serve as steward of the University’s brand identity, advancing graphic and message guidelines for print and electronic materials, marketing campaigns, and other vehicles.
- Guide development of strategic, coordinated, and cost-effective publications, both print and electronic, that convey the University’s messages to key audiences.
- Provide media training and counsel to University leadership to encourage effective relationships with media and accurate, balanced stories on University issues.
- Provide visionary leadership for online communications, interactive media, and social networking tools, establishing priorities, developing policies, and identifying emerging opportunities.
- Develop campus partnerships related to software acquisitions, market research, and other communication development and assessment tools.
- Develop and manage the strategic communication budget.
- Design, implement, and report on quantitative measures of effectiveness related to key accountabilities, such as institutional image and reputation.
Required Qualifications
- A Master’s degree in Marketing, Public Relations, Communications, Business Administration, or Journalism, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ten years or more of senior level communication experience working in an integrated marketing and communication setting within a large and complex organization.
- Strong analytical aptitude which shows an ability to develop, design, and implement marketing and communication strategies and programs that facilitate a bold creative vision and brand development.
- Experience in reputation and crisis communication management.
- Ability to forecast, develop, and implement organizational initiatives and successfully manage operations.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and managing complex budgets from various funding sources.
- Demonstrated commitment to promoting a diverse environment.
- A strong record demonstrating a high degree of judgment, integrity, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated exemplary oral and written communication skills.
- A record of using multi-disciplinary teams to achieve communications goals and objectives.
Desired Qualifications
- Knowledge of higher education issues in the public sector, including relations with state and federal governments, alumni, and other important external and internal constituencies and audiences.
- Experience and/or familiarity with working in a decentralized organizational structure.
- Demonstrated success interacting with local, regional, and national media and developing proactive relationships with journalists.
- Proven understanding of emerging communication technologies and channels—including blogs, social networking sites, and other new media—and a vision for using them strategically to reach key stakeholder audiences and college student populations.
- Demonstrated experience in designing and/or specifying market research to serve as a tool in strategic communications.
University of Iowa Organizational Chart
Vice President for Strategic Communication Organization Chart