Overview
Reporting to the director of communications, the assistant director of communications will support external and internal communications for the Office of the President. Through speeches, reports, presentations, op-eds, web content, and collateral material, and with guidance from senior colleagues, the assistant director will translate complex concepts into powerful language for a wide range of audiences. They will exercise sound editorial judgement and maintain discretion. The assistant director will work alongside the senior writer responsible for drafting presidential correspondence and other materials. The person in this position will work closely with colleagues across the university to ensure mutual alignment with institutional messages, themes, and priorities. This role is not remote.
Essential Duties
- Under the direction of the director of communications, analyze the landscape of higher education routinely and stay up to date on the president's priorities and activities to implement communications strategy to advance the university's mission, protect Yale's reputation, and amplify the university's standing.
- Conduct research with guidance from the director and collaborate with colleagues across the university to find grounding elements from Yale's history and examples of current excellence for the 100+ presidential communications deliverables that are completed each year.
- With guidance from the director, write speeches, talking points, and narratives for emerging issues on tight deadlines, taking into account multiple stakeholders and the complexities of the current local and national climate.
- Prepare polished drafts of high-level strategic communications for internal and external audiences, including researching, consulting with relevant colleagues, and writing original works.
- Translate complex concepts into powerful language for a wide range of audiences, including speeches, reports, presentations, op-eds, web content, and collateral material.
- Work with the senior writer responsible for drafting presidential correspondence and other materials to ensure alignment across presidential communications.
- Collaborate closely with peers, including Office of Public Affairs and other university colleagues.
- Assist with responses to media inquiries.
- Perform related duties & responsibilities as assigned.
Required Skills and Abilities
- Ability to write powerfully, effectively, creatively, and clearly across a range of media-often while working under tight deadlines.
- Ability to capture the distinctive voice of the president in speeches, remarks, op-eds, presentations, and other written works.
- Demonstrated ability to conceive and write publicly consumed material for senior leadership for internal and external audiences. Skilled in authoring web content, news stories, talking points, and other materials with superb attention to detail and context. Skilled in translating academic content and adapting writing to a variety of audiences and media. Excellent editing, fact-checking, and proofreading skills.
- Ability to develop and manage communications plans, identify communications vehicles relevant to key audiences, and transmit messages. Ability to understand community needs, incorporate community members' perspectives, and formulate communications.
- Ability to work with high degree of independence. Capacity to be proactive, manage multiple projects, and meet tight deadlines. Strong work ethic and eagerness to contribute in a highly visible, fast-paced environment. Commitment to confidentiality and integrity with attention to preserving and enhancing the reputation of the Office of the President and Yale University.
Preferred Skills and Abilities
- Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field and two to three years of experience in speechwriting, public relations, journalism, corporate communications, or political work, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience in conceiving and writing publicly consumed material and material for internal audiences.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Yale, its organization, alumni, students, and faculty members.
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