Executive Director of Academic Affairs Communications (Internal Applicants Only)

Unit: Office Of The Provost MBU

Department: Academic Operations

Duties & Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Communications, the Executive Director of Academic Affairs Communications is a senior communications leadership role responsible for elevating VCU’s national prominence by fostering a more unified, collaborative communications ecosystem across the university’s academic units. This role focuses on bridging the gap between the Office of the Provost, Enterprise Marketing and Communications and individual school-based priorities to support a cohesive institutional voice. The primary focus of this position is the implementation of broad institutional alignment initiatives and the operationalization of cross-campus brand strategies. This role is built on a foundation of marketing excellence, high-level relationship building, and the ability to navigate complex organizational structures to drive collective success. Communications and marketing professionals will collaborate closely with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to align content, storytelling and brand positioning with institutional priorities and standards.

Institutional Strategy & Alignment:

• Operationalize Integration: Operate within a decentralized communications model to find opportunities for highly-coordinated enterprise frameworks. This includes defining clear operating models, decision rights, and responsibilities between central marketing and academic units.
• Strategic Roadmap Execution: Plan and drive the implementation of academic-wide assessment recommendations aimed at strengthening the communications function, ensuring that strategic goals are met with measurable results.
• Policy & Protocol Development: Assist in creating academic-wide, and/or university-wide issues management frameworks with clear escalation pathways and communication protocols to protect and promote the academic mission.
• Issues management: Partner with VCU Enterprise Marketing & Communications on issues and crisis communications to ensure coordinated, timely and effective messaging across the enterprise.

Collaborative Relationship Building

• Cross-Unit Liaison: Serve as a key strategic partner to deans and academic communication leads, building trust and fostering a culture of mutual support.
• Consensus Building: Act as a "strategic bridge," aligning individual unit goals—such as specific enrollment targets or research initiatives—with the university’s broader national reputation goals and messaging appropriately in both directions. 
• Community of Practice: Lead and coordinate regular forums for university communicators to share best practices, surface high-impact stories, and identify opportunities for shared resources.

National Prominence & Brand Marketing

• Unified Brand Advocacy: Ensure that specialized brand platforms for the health sciences and other key academic areas are integrated seamlessly into the broader university narrative.
• Coordinated Storytelling: Work across academic units to identify and elevate "uncommon" stories of academic excellence, research innovation, and community impact that resonate on a national stage.
• Resource Optimization: Identify and implement enterprise-level tools and shared services that improve productivity and ensure brand consistency across all academic touchpoints.

Leadership & Performance

• Metrics & Evaluation: Develop shared metrics and evaluation standards to assess the effectiveness of marketing efforts across the academic enterprise.
• Professional Development: Assist in the modernization of job descriptions and performance standards within the marketing and communications job family to ensure the university is equipped with top-tier talent.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Performs other duties, as assigned, to help drive our vision, fulfill our mission, and support day-to-day business operation

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education/Experience: Bachelor’s in journalism, communications, public relations or a related field; Advanced degree preferred or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience to include 7+ years of progressive experience in communications or marketing leadership, preferably within higher education or complex organizations.
• Strategic Leadership: Substantial experience in marketing or communications leadership within a large, complex organization, preferably in a public research university setting.
• Exceptional Collaboration: A proven track record of building successful partnerships and influencing stakeholders across various levels of an organization.
• Change Management: Demonstrated experience leading organizational change or large-scale strategic initiatives that require high levels of coordination and buy-in.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to use data and analytics to inform marketing decisions and demonstrate the ROI of communications efforts.
• Commitment to Academic Mission: A deep understanding of the unique communications needs of a public academic enterprise and a commitment to fostering an environment of professionalism and civility.
• Commitment to VCU Culture: Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strategic Communications: Substantial experience in strategic communications, public relations or marketing leadership, ideally within a higher education or large, complex organization.
• Executive Consultation: Demonstrated success advising senior leadership and integrating communications across multiple units, ideally within a higher education
• Advancement Support: Demonstrated success in communicating institutional impact to support fundraising and philanthropic campaigns.
• Personnel Management: Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated experience managing, leading, and developing cross-functional teams. Demonstrated abilities in conflict resolution, employee coaching, and performance management.

The Office of the Provost is committed to the growth and professional development of the Academic Operations team and will provide opportunities to foster a culture of learning and career development during your tenure in the unit.

This position is open exclusively to current employees of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Salary Range: Up to $165,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid - Enjoy the flexibility and balance of in-person and remote work.  Candidates should be based within commuting distance of Richmond, Virgina, as on-site presence will be required at the manager's discretion in order to address key project milestones. 

University Job Title: Senior Administrator CM 1-3 (13914-13916)

Contact Information: 
Contact Name: David Oglethorpe
Contact Email: oglethorped@vcu.edu