The Director of Executive Communications and Engagement serves as a strategic partner to the President by crafting clear, compelling, and consistent messaging that reflects the President’s voice and the University’s mission. This position leads executive speechwriting, messaging development, and branded presentation creation for diverse internal and external audiences, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and University Marketing and Communications. The role also provides sophisticated event handling and advance support, preparing briefing materials, managing run‑of‑show logistics, and accompanying the President to key engagements to ensure seamless execution and real‑time responsiveness. As a liaison and planning partner with campus leaders, donors, board members, and external stakeholders, the position supports relationship building through personalized communications and high‑level coordination. Additionally, the role collaborates closely with the Chief of Staff to align presidential messaging with strategic initiatives, track emerging issues, and contribute to the planning and execution of signature university events. This position requires exceptional judgment, discretion, communication skills, and the ability to anticipate needs in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining a polished and professional presidential presence.

How to Apply: Interested candidates may apply online at https://jobs.coastal.edu/postings/122317. Applicants must submit cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three (3) professional references. Deadline to apply: August 7, 2026.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, political science, public administration, or a related field. At least five (5) years of professional experience in executive communications, speechwriting, strategic messaging, public affairs, or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in communications, journalism, English, public administration, higher education leadership, or a related field. Experience working in higher education, government, nonprofit leadership, or another mission‑driven sector. Background in executive‑level speechwriting for presidents, chancellors, elected officials, CEOs, or similar high‑visibility leaders. Experience serving as an advanced lead or event handler for dignitaries, high‑profile speakers, or senior executives. Experience developing presentations, visual communication materials, or branded content for diverse internal and external audiences. Experience with issues management, message frameworks, or strategic communication planning. Experience working collaboratively across departments and with high‑level stakeholders.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Executive Communications Development: Lead the creation, refinement, and delivery of high‑impact presidential communications—including speeches, remarks, talking points, presentations, and strategic correspondence—ensuring accuracy, consistency of voice, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Strategic Messaging & Issues Support: Research key topics, synthesize complex information, and develop messaging frameworks that support the president’s engagement on emerging issues, governance matters, and institutional initiatives.
• Presidential Event Preparation & On‑Site Support: Prepare comprehensive briefing materials and run‑of‑show documentation for presidential appearances and provide on‑site advance support to ensure smooth execution, optimal visibility, and effective real‑time decision‑making.
• Stakeholder Engagement Planning: Serve as a strategic liaison between the President’s Office and internal/external partners — including advancement, marketing, academic leadership, and community leaders — to coordinate messaging, event planning, and executive engagement opportunities.
• Administrative & Strategic Partnering: Collaborate closely with the chief of staff as a confidential advisor to ensure presidential communications and engagements are timed, framed, and executed to advance university goals; maintain discretion in handling sensitive information and support special projects such as sponsorship review and development of presidential materials.

Director (UP03/61123210/ FTE -S01175P), full-time position with benefits. Salary range $80,000.00 – $95,000.00. Normal work hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Must be flexible to meet the special scheduling needs of the university. May require occasional overnight travel. May require evening or weekend work to meet deadlines or handle high-priority issues.

Coastal Carolina University is a public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, South Carolina, just nine miles from the Atlantic coastal resort city of Myrtle Beach. Coastal Carolina University enrolls over 12,000 students from 48 states and 53 nations. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate and master’s degrees of national and/or regional significance in the arts and sciences, business, humanities, education, and health and human services, a specialist degree in instructional technology, and PhD degrees in marine science: coastal and marine systems science and education sciences.

The University provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, national origin, or because an employee or applicant for employment is an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, an Armed Forces service medal veteran, a recently separated veteran, or an active-duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, or other “protected veteran,” as defined by law. Coastal Carolina University is an EO/AA employer.

The Director of Executive Communications and Engagement serves as a strategic partner to the President by crafting clear, compelling, and consistent messaging that reflects the President’s voice and the University’s mission. This position leads executive speechwriting, messaging development, and branded presentation creation for diverse internal and external audiences, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and University Marketing and Communications. The role also provides sophisticated event handling and advance support, preparing briefing materials, managing run‑of‑show logistics, and accompanying the President to key engagements to ensure seamless execution and real‑time responsiveness. As a liaison and planning partner with campus leaders, donors, board members, and external stakeholders, the position supports relationship building through personalized communications and high‑level coordination. Additionally, the role collaborates closely with the Chief of Staff to align presidential messaging with strategic initiatives, track emerging issues, and contribute to the planning and execution of signature university events. This position requires exceptional judgment, discretion, communication skills, and the ability to anticipate needs in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining a polished and professional presidential presence.

How to Apply: Interested candidates may apply online at https://jobs.coastal.edu/postings/122317. Applicants must submit cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least three (3) professional references. Deadline to apply: August 7, 2026.

Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, English, political science, public administration, or a related field. At least five (5) years of professional experience in executive communications, speechwriting, strategic messaging, public affairs, or a closely related field.

Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in communications, journalism, English, public administration, higher education leadership, or a related field. Experience working in higher education, government, nonprofit leadership, or another mission‑driven sector. Background in executive‑level speechwriting for presidents, chancellors, elected officials, CEOs, or similar high‑visibility leaders. Experience serving as an advanced lead or event handler for dignitaries, high‑profile speakers, or senior executives. Experience developing presentations, visual communication materials, or branded content for diverse internal and external audiences. Experience with issues management, message frameworks, or strategic communication planning. Experience working collaboratively across departments and with high‑level stakeholders.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Executive Communications Development: Lead the creation, refinement, and delivery of high‑impact presidential communications—including speeches, remarks, talking points, presentations, and strategic correspondence—ensuring accuracy, consistency of voice, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Strategic Messaging & Issues Support: Research key topics, synthesize complex information, and develop messaging frameworks that support the president’s engagement on emerging issues, governance matters, and institutional initiatives.
• Presidential Event Preparation & On‑Site Support: Prepare comprehensive briefing materials and run‑of‑show documentation for presidential appearances and provide on‑site advance support to ensure smooth execution, optimal visibility, and effective real‑time decision‑making.
• Stakeholder Engagement Planning: Serve as a strategic liaison between the President’s Office and internal/external partners — including advancement, marketing, academic leadership, and community leaders — to coordinate messaging, event planning, and executive engagement opportunities.
• Administrative & Strategic Partnering: Collaborate closely with the chief of staff as a confidential advisor to ensure presidential communications and engagements are timed, framed, and executed to advance university goals; maintain discretion in handling sensitive information and support special projects such as sponsorship review and development of presidential materials.

Director (UP03/61123210/ FTE -S01175P), full-time position with benefits. Salary range $80,000.00 – $95,000.00. Normal work hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Must be flexible to meet the special scheduling needs of the university. May require occasional overnight travel. May require evening or weekend work to meet deadlines or handle high-priority issues.

Coastal Carolina University is a public comprehensive liberal arts institution located in Conway, South Carolina, just nine miles from the Atlantic coastal resort city of Myrtle Beach. Coastal Carolina University enrolls over 12,000 students from 48 states and 53 nations. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the baccalaureate and master’s degrees of national and/or regional significance in the arts and sciences, business, humanities, education, and health and human services, a specialist degree in instructional technology, and PhD degrees in marine science: coastal and marine systems science and education sciences.

The University provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, national origin, or because an employee or applicant for employment is an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, an Armed Forces service medal veteran, a recently separated veteran, or an active-duty wartime or campaign badge veteran, or other “protected veteran,” as defined by law. Coastal Carolina University is an EO/AA employer.