"Director of Executive Communications"

Position Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is seeking a Director of Executive Communications for the New Brunswick Chancellor. Reporting to the Chancellor, the Director of Executive Communications serves as the principal strategist and lead architect for the Chancellor's communications, messaging, and public positioning.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• Shapes and elevates the voice, visibility, and impact of the Chancellor of Rutgers–New Brunswick, advancing the institution's mission, vision, and priorities through consistent, compelling, and data-informed executive communications.
• Functions as a strategic advisor to the Chancellor, providing counsel on messaging and public engagement.
• Works closely with the Vice Chancellor for Communications & Marketing to align communications strategy while ensuring the Chancellor's distinctive voice and brand identity are consistently represented.
• Leads the development and execution of clear, compelling, and consistent messaging for the Chancellor across written, digital, and spoken formats.
• Drafts, edits, and produces a wide range of communications including speeches, emails, talking points, statements, presentations, and constituent responses, ensuring accuracy, tone alignment, and message discipline.
• Anticipates communication needs by monitoring campus issues, national trends, and feedback from university leadership.
• Manages day-to-day operation of the Chancellor's communication channels and ensures content is aligned with the Chancellor's priorities.
• Manages the Office of the Chancellor email inbox ensuring timely, coordinated, and comprehensive responses.
• Coordinates with senior leaders; and school/department communicators, to ensure message alignment and appropriate sequencing.
• Reviews engagement and performance metrics and provides recommendations to improve clarity, reach, and resonance.
• Produces and manages content for presentations, high-profile events, video scripts, talking points, op-eds, multimedia pieces, and major campus announcements.
• Develops messaging frameworks and thematic narratives for annual priorities, major initiatives, and Chancellor-led projects.
• Prepares the Chancellor for public appearances, meetings, and interviews through well-researched briefing materials, background notes, and key message guidance.
• Maintains and updates content on the Chancellor's website, LinkedIn page, and emerging platforms, ensuring a cohesive executive digital brand.
• Tailors messaging to diverse internal and external audiences and adapts communications based on engagement insights and audience response.
• Supports the planning and rollout of high-visibility university initiatives by coordinating messaging, timing, and supporting materials across stakeholders.
• Builds relationships with campus partners to gather information, ensure readiness for announcements, and streamline communication flow.
• Helps identify authentic visibility opportunities such as thought-leadership placements, campus engagements, and community/partner communications.
• Coordinates logistics and communication needs for public events and appearances, ensuring the Chancellor is fully prepared with accurate and impactful materials.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree preferably in communications, public relations, journalism, public policy, English, marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in executive communications, speechwriting, strategic communications, or related roles.

City

New Brunswick

State

NJ

Equipment Utilized

Software and platforms such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Adobe Creative Suite (or equivalent), CMS tools, social media management dashboards, and project management platforms.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

General office environment requiring extended computer use. Ability to attend events on campus and occasionally work evening or weekend hours to support high-profile engagements or urgent communications. Must be able to travel between Rutgers locations as needed.

Posting Number

26ST0120