Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: Limited
Employment Type: Regular
Job Profile: Communications Director (Inst)
Job Summary: The Communications Director serves as a communications strategist and trusted advisor in the Office of the Provost on executive, internal and institutional communications. The director operates as both a strategic advisor and an operational leader, balancing high-level counsel with hands-on execution across a broad portfolio of work.
This role is responsible for:
Executive and strategic communications
- Leads the development and execution of communications strategies that support the Office of the Provost and advance the academic mission of the University
- Ensures that high-level communications are reflective of the campus strategic framework
Internal communications leadership
- Leads communications efforts related to academic initiatives, leadership transitions, organizational priorities, policy changes and operational updates
Communications coordination
- Strengthens alignment and supports the institutional brand across the Provost's portfolio
- Develops communication that supports transparency, alignment, engagement and change management across complex academic units
- Develops a communications strategy workflow, and smooth execution on daily needs, as well as longer term projects
- Fosters connections and supports alignment and partnership among communicators in units reporting to the Office of the Provost
- Ensures alignment with central campus communication priorities and the Office of Strategic Communication Issues management
- Anticipates institutional risks, reputational considerations and opportunities
- Provides guidance on sensitive and high-profile issues, serves as a key liaison with university-wide partners, and assists in executing urgent or emergency communications
Content development
- Supports the provost's engagements with internal and external audiences
- Develops presentations, correspondence, speeches, remarks, web content and talking points
- Manages daily operational communication needs of the Office of the Provost
- As needed, support units reporting to the Office of the Provost
The Communications Director will report to the Chief of Staff in the Office of the Provost with a dotted line to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs and Institutional Communications in the Office of Strategic Communication to ensure communication coordination and alignment.
Key Job Responsibilities: - Identifies, establishes, and directs media relationships and partnerships with internal and external sources (20%)
- Develops, implements, and monitors strategic communication initiatives for designated audiences and internal stakeholders to maximize engagement and strengthen collaboration efforts (40%)
- Audits and directs day-to-day operational plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives (20%)
- Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revived operational policies and procedures (20%)
Department: Office of the Provost
Compensation: The minimum salary for this position is $125,000. Actual salary is negotiable and will depend on the selected candidate's qualifications.
This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid-time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Review the benefits summary for more information.
Required Qualifications: - 8+ years of progressively responsible communications experience
- Exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills
- Experience leading communications in complex environments
Preferred Qualifications: - Demonstrated organizational judgment, discretion, and ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters
- Experience prioritizing and managing multiple competing priorities
- Track record of building trust through clarity, follow through, and consistency
- Proven ability to build relationships and influence across multiple stakeholders without formal authority
- Experience managing organizational change or large-scale internal communications initiatives
- Demonstrated openness to learning, listening to different perspectives, and adapting strategies when presented with new information
- Understanding of communication technologies and channels and a vision for using them strategically
- Familiarity with higher education organizational structures, including shared governance; academic culture; and institutional decision-making processes
- Experience advising institutional leaders or senior executives on communication strategy and messaging
- Skilled facilitator
Education: Bachelor's degree required
How to Apply: To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following required documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. You must submit all required documents to be considered for this position.
Contact Information: Kory Breuer, HR Manager,
[email protected] 
