"Executive Director of Communications"

Position Details

Position Information

Posting date
02/19/2026

Closing date
Open Until Filled
Yes

Position Number
1129526

Position Title
Executive Director of Communications

Hiring Range Minimum
$130,000

Hiring Range Maximum
$150,000

Union Type
Not a Union Position

SEIU Level
Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status
Exempt

Employment Category
Regular Full Time

Scheduled Months per Year
12

Scheduled Hours per Week
40

Location of Position
Hanover, NH

Remote Work Eligibility?
Onsite only

Position Purpose
The Executive Director of Communications serves as the senior communications and engagement leader for the Provost’s Office and the Provost’s Division. Reporting to Provost’s Office this role is responsible for shaping, advancing, and assessing a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy that supports the university’s academic mission, priorities, and institutional values.

The Executive Director ensures clear, consistent, and compelling messaging across internal and external audiences. The role plays a central part in strengthening trust, transparency, and shared understanding between academic leadership and the faculty community, while positioning the Provost’s Office and academic enterprise as thoughtful leaders in higher education.

Working closely with vice provosts, leaders across the Division, and campus partners, the Executive Director integrates strategic communications with engagement practices that foster dialogue, consultation, and community across schools and divisions.

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp
Masters plus 6 or more years' experience or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in communications, media, publishing, or public affairs.
• Progressive leadership experience in higher education or a comparably complex, mission-driven organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading communications strategy within an academic, research, or higher education context.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills across multiple formats and audiences.
• Demonstrated success in strategic communications, faculty engagement, and stakeholder relations.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, senior leaders, and institutional partners.
• Sound judgment and discretion in managing sensitive academic and institutional matters.
• Ability to synthesize complex academic issues into clear, accessible communications.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through communications and engagement practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate or professional degree strongly preferred.
• Experience working closely with academic leadership
• Background in academic strategy, institutional research, or reputational advancement
• Familiarity with shared governance structures and faculty culture

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries
Kyle Hastbacka
kyle.m.hastbacka@dartmouth.edu

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title
Marianne Thomson, Acting Senior Associate Provost for Operations and Chief Operations Officer

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Academic Communications - 30%
Develops and implements a comprehensive communications strategy for the Provost’s Office aligned with institutional academic priorities. Serves as principal author and editor for high-impact Provost’s Office communications, including speeches, messages to faculty, presentations, reports, op-eds, and talking points. Oversees the development of Provost’s Office communications channels, including newsletters, websites, reports, and internal communications. Ensures consistent, accessible, and compelling academic messaging across platforms and audiences. Aligns academic messaging with institutional branding, media strategy, and reputational priorities. Establishes metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of academic communications and continuously refine strategies based on feedback and results.

Senior Communications Advisor - 25%
Serves as a trusted advisor to the Provost on communications strategy, messaging, and stakeholder engagement. Advises on crisis communications related to academic affairs in coordination with central communications and leadership. Supports the Provost’s participation in internal and external engagements through briefing materials and strategic messaging. Prepares the Provost and Vice Provosts for internal and external engagements by developing messaging and guidance on anticipated questions, concerns, and areas of sensitivity. Monitors trends in higher education and advises on implications for academic positioning and messaging. Supports communications for the Board of Trustees’ Academic Excellence Committee, including preparation of materials, briefings, and presentations. Assists the Provost in articulating academic priorities, progress, and impact to trustees and external stakeholders. Coordinates information flow between the Provost’s Office and Board committees related to academic affairs.

Faculty Engagement - 20%
Designs and leads strategies to strengthen engagement, dialogue, and trust between the Provost’s Office and faculty across all schools. Plans and coordinates faculty forums, town halls, listening sessions, and other engagement opportunities. Develops mechanisms for gathering, synthesizing, and responding to faculty input to ensure transparent two-way communication. Embeds feedback loops and assessment practices to inform policy refinement and communications improvement.

Cross-Institutional Collaboration - 20%
Facilitates communication and alignment across schools, centers, and institutes within the Provost’s Division. Serves as a primary liaison between the Provost’s Office and key partners, including: President’s Office, Office of General Counsel, Federal and Community Relations, Advancement (on academic and philanthropic communications). Supports Centers & Institutes in aligning local communications with division-wide academic priorities and messaging. Promotes shared standards and best practices for academic communications across schools and departments.

Strategic Planning and Thought Leadership - 5%
Collaborates with academic leaders to align communications with institutional strategy and long-term academic goals. Monitors trends in higher education and advises on implications for academic positioning and messaging. Supports thought leadership initiatives that elevate the visibility of the Provost’s Office and the university’s academic enterprise. Contributes to scenario planning and narrative development around academic growth, faculty investment, and program evolution.

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume

Optional Documents
1. Writing Portfolio
2. Additional Document #1
3. Additional Document #2

Quick Link
https://searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/84710