"Communications Director"

Job Details

Communications Director

The Communications Director leads a sub-team within the DAR Communications (DARCOMM) department within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) and reports to the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications.

This role serves as the most senior Project Manager for the DAR Communications unit and will manage a small portfolio of key projects. Additionally, the role provides strategic oversight and guidance to our team of Communications Coordinators/Project Managers, ensures delivery of complex projects from initiation to completion, and implements best practices in project management. This role demonstrates exceptional communication and problem-solving skills to ensure all projects are aligned with DAR brand objectives and delivered on time within budget. This crucial leadership position is responsible for driving project excellence and fostering a collaborative, high-performing environment.

This position collaborates with other team leadership to develop marketing plans to meet division units’ goals, aligning the DARCOMM team (designers, web specialists, writers, etc.), and managing projects through completion. The position writes and reviews press releases, blog posts, web copy, advertisements, etc. as needed in collaboration with the writing unit and the Assistant Director of Editorial Content. The Communications Director, along with each member of their team, is positioned to lead meetings, ask direct questions of their units, build plans, and align the specialists to execute those plans. This position sets processes to help everyone work efficiently and mentors the team on everything from writing to relationship-building. DAR Communications executes extensive planning twice per year to ensure goals and priorities are clear, resources are available, and timelines are laid out. The Communications Director is responsible for coordinating and executing this effort with the assistance of other team project managers.

This position coordinates Vice Presidential communication, including scripting of talking points, and development of presentations, LinkedIn posts, and the monthly Pulse e-newsletter.

Aside from the Executive and Senior Directors, this position is the only team member who directly addresses issues with members of the press and/or coaches DAR staff to interact with the press. They manage all non-digital advertising on behalf of the division, including both planning, purchasing, and managing relationships with advertisers.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 10 years of professional experience to include 3 years of supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications

• At least five years of experience in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, or a related field of work
• At least five years of experience managing a team and coaching team members to be successful
• At least five years of experience in a project management role
• Experience working within complex project management platforms
• Experience in client services/customer service
• Experience in media relations, digital advertising, email marketing, and/or social marketing
• An eye for design and/or knowledge of design programs is a bonus
• Experience in nonprofit and/or higher education is desired
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Detail-oriented
• Ability to multi-task
• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment
• Strong writing and proofreading skills with knowledge of AP Style and correct grammar
• Knowledge of marketing, communications tactics, and trends
• Ability to navigate complex projects and ensure they are completed on deadline
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal)
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service
• Ability to collaborate with others and enlist buy-in from different groups
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct
• Effective leadership and people management skills

Additional Division Expectations

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Work in a standard office environment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb
• Work evenings and weekends, as necessary
• Travel in and out of state, as necessary

Duties/Responsibilities

(55%) Lead team of Communications Coordinators and Communications Associates to develop marketing plans to meet DAR units' goals, align the DAR Communications (DARCOMM) team.

• Build communication plans for Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) units.
• Lead team who will cultivate relationships between DARCOMM and other DAR units.
• Identify goals and projects where units overlap and may benefit from working together – or where DARCOMM may be able to work more efficiently.
• Participate in planning with units and identify creative solutions that can help the division and specific units reach their goals.
• Help prioritize projects to ensure the team is focused on the most strategically important work.
• Ensure DARCOMM has an efficient project management system in place to get projects completed in an efficient manner.
• Help to cultivate relationships between DARCOMM and other divisions and schools, colleges in preparation for partnering on major initiatives.
• Ensure DARCOMM is consistently putting forth excellent work that is both high-quality and accurate.
• Help direct reports develop and reach their goals.
• Ensure roles and expectations for each direct report are clear and align with the overall goals of the team.
• Manage human resources functions for direct reports, including tracking leave time, evaluations, etc.

(20%) Oversee a portfolio of DAR projects and responsibilities

• Lead select, high-profile projects from start to completion.
• Organize planning meetings with all DAR partners twice a year.
• Manage non-digital advertising on behalf of DAR including assessing needs based on DAR goals, identifying best non-digital advertising partners based on budget and strategic priorities, and managing relationships with advertising partners.

(15%) Coordinate Vice Presidential Communications

• Develop, write, and send the monthly internal division email newsletter (The Pulse).
• Develop the Vice President’s talking points and presentations for speaking engagements.
• Develop social media posts on LinkedIn in coordination with digital strategists.

(10%) Serve as a DAR liaison with internal and external communications partners and support media relations on behalf of the division.

• Attend StratComm meetings on behalf of DARCOMM and provide pertinent updates to the team.
• Respond to press inquiries, as necessary.
• Recommend media relations strategies and tactics to help DAR reach its goals.
• Foster a relationship with the Marketing & Communications media relations team.
• Support team members in building and executing media relations strategies.

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the Division of Development and Alumni Relations

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.

About the Development and Alumni Relations' Office of Communications

We serve as an in-house marketing agency for the Development & Alumni Relations division (DAR) at the University of Georgia. Twice a year, we plan. The rest of the time, we design mailers, build websites, write, film, photograph, tweet, and a lot more. Collaboration is how we do our best work. White-boarding and idea-bouncing get us going. Data and analytics teach us how to do better next time. We love to learn from one another. We often partner with the Marketing & Communications division to help further the UGA brand. We streamline and dot-connect. And always do our best to consider our audiences’ perspectives. We are always searching for new ways–more creative ways–to reach our alumni and donors. To help our division achieve its mission and help every DAR unit achieve its goals.

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).