Director of Strategic Communications, Yale Divinity School

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Overview

The Director of Strategic Communications is the chief communications and marketing officer for the Divinity School. Reporting directly to the Dean and a member of the leadership team, the position is responsible for internal and external messaging regarding events, initiatives, and the strategic direction of the school.

Strategic Communications:

Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that aligns with the School’s strategic plan and advances the mission and visibility of the Divinity School. Lead the ongoing development and stewardship of the School’s identity, ensuring consistency across all visual, written, and digital materials. Serve as an advisor to the dean and leadership team on strategic communications, positioning, and institutional messaging. Serve as a collaborative partner across Yale’s communications network. Work closely with Yale’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications (OPAC) to ensure alignment with University-wide communication policies, brand standards, and strategic priorities. Partner with OPAC to manage media relations, coordinate press responses, and develop effective crisis communications strategies.

Marketing & Public Relations:

Develop and oversee annual marketing plans and budgets that drive audience engagement and participation across programs and initiatives. Manage the School’s international, national and regional public relations strategy. Conduct and analyze audience research to inform marketing strategies and measure impact. Work closely with the Offices of Admissions and Development on marketing strategies for their constituencies.

Digital Strategy & Multimedia:

Oversee the design, content, and functionality of the School’s website and digital platforms. Lead the Divinity School’s social media strategy, ensuring creative, consistent, and data-informed engagement; grow the School’s social media profile. Supervise the production of digital media content, including photography, video, and audio for web and broadcast use. Supervise the publication of the School’s online magazine, Reflections, and the monthly Notes from the Quad. Maintain the School’s Style and Standards Guide and ensure adherence across all channels.

Writing:

Draft strategic communications to internal and external constituencies. Work with the Dean on communications for major events such as commencement and convocation. Screen and hire freelance writers for online newsletters and web articles.

Supervision & Management:

Supervise the marketing and communications staff, as well as student employees and interns. Manage external vendors, including design, PR, and media production partners. Chair the Art Committee and manage exhibits in the school’s two art galleries. Mentor and train student staff in professional communications and marketing practices.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Proven ability to lead strategic marketing and communications initiatives that engage diverse audiences and advance institutional goals within a mission-based and/or faith-based environment.
2. Exceptional oral and written communication skills; demonstrated editorial expertise across print, digital, and multimedia platforms and experience with press relations, media strategy, and analytics.
3. Strong proficiency in digital tools and platforms, including Adobe Creative Suite, web CMS (Drupal or similar), CRM systems, and presentation software.
4. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with professionalism and creativity.
5. Strong leadership and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively across departments, with students, faculty, staff, and community partners.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Master’s degree preferred. Experience in arts, culture, or higher education settings. Experience with religious or theological education is highly desirable. Demonstrated success in brand development, digital strategy, and multimedia production. Experience managing PR agencies and supervising cross-functional teams.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Manages relationships with external media sources. Pursues media coverage creatively and aggressively. Responds to inquiries from national and international news media, student media, the University community and the general public.
2. Enhances the overall quality of media relations for key stakeholders by preparing them for media interviews. Manages relationships with key campus stakeholders with a high degree of professionalism, judgment and understanding of stakeholder goals.
3. Creates compelling story ideas and narratives; produces content for both external and internal channels; writes copy and social media posts and manages content.
4. Plans social media strategies for key University communications and programs. Monitors University social media assets for negative comments or misinformation.
5. Supports short- and long-term communication planning with insights into audiences, channels and culture; coordinates with other communications professionals to achieve institutional goals; leads the communications process within developed standards and protocols.
6. Supports effective response strategies, often in crisis situations requiring 24/7 attention and intense media/public scrutiny, and articulates the University’s position via personal interviews or written responses.
7. Produces multimedia content and manages the work of graphic and web designers, student interns, printers, video producers and photographers.
8. Manages communication plans for all stakeholders by understanding the significance of campus initiatives and/or academic work; creates compelling stories and messages to translate the significance through language that is clear and accessible for public awareness.
9. Develops and maintains regular contact with media representatives in multiple disciplines.
10. Maintains the Yale brand and graphic identity standards; supports and maintains standard operating procedures; contributes to digital asset management.
11. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field and eight years of experience in public relations, journalism, television, corporate communications or agency work or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrated experience in developing communications for a range of media and working with creative professionals in design, photography or video.