Your Role on the Team

The School of Physical Sciences seeks a Director of Communications and External Relations. The position is a member of the senior management team and is responsible for organizational strategic direction, planning and implementation related to internal and external marketing and communications for the School, including but not limited to executive communications, alumni communications, public and media relations, community relations, and event engagement. Develops, executes, and oversees a comprehensive marketing and communications program for the school, requiring a wide variety of communications media, including written, visual, digital and electronic, and associated technical applications. Determines appropriate strategies for reaching communications and external relations goals, researches, identifies, writes, edits news releases/advisories, places university faculty in the media, solicits media, develops and manages publication production, and web development. Writes messages, written reports, and other materials to be used by School faculty and administrators in presentations to a variety of constituents in School publications, and other venues as appropriate. Maintains close liaison to the University Communications office, and works directly with the Dean and School management to develop and execute organizational communication and market branding strategy. Represents the School to the campus and community on all matters related to external relations, marketing and communications matters. The Director of External Relations plays a key strategic role in establishing the perception and visibility of the school. The position is responsible for the consistency of School materials and messages, and is critical for designing, developing, and implementing marketing and communications strategies to develop and continuously improve the reputation/brand of the School of Physical Sciences and its influence within campus wide operations. The position is directly responsible for the supervision of 2.0 FTE and has budget authority to support marketing and communications operations and activities. This position is eligible for hybrid work on a schedule that meets the business needs of leadership and the unit.

• Content Production: Produces a variety of communication pieces in a variety of venues including written, visual, digital, and electronic communications. Conceptualizes, designs, writes, and distributes school's newsletter. Oversees and writes press releases, feature stories, and media advisories as well as print and electronic communication used to promote school accomplishments and activities to university audiences, external media, and community constituents. Prepares remarks and speaking materials for the Dean, as needed, and at times in collaboration with the Director of Development. Responsible for graphic design of publication projects and photo work (either shooting photos or scheduling conceptual photo shoots with campus photographer). Identifies and works with key contacts and builds and maintains relationships with university offices to achieve wider reach for school-focused content and presence. Coordinates and serves as subject matter expert for school-level marketing and communications materials. Attends monthly strategic communications meetings, represents the school on the university communications strategic management team. 25%
• Strategy Implementation: Manages complex comprehensive internal and external marketing and communications efforts and activities, including written, visual, digital, and electronic communications, for the School of Physical Sciences. Works with departmental, school and campus administration to create, develop, and implement comprehensive long- and short-term strategic marketing and communications plans. Develops, executes, and oversees established objectives for the school's internal and external marketing and communications, including the design, development, and implementation of strategies in line with the Dean's vision. Coordinates and serves as the key contact point for internal and external school-level marketing communications materials. Provides advice and counsel to all levels of School leadership, faculty, staff, and administration on all aspects of marketing and communications, including effective messaging and problem resolution. Works with dean and faculty to produce opinion and thought pieces geared to generating an impact (increased visibility among key audiences, increased funding). Positions faculty experts when news is breaking or developing about relevant subjects. Design and implement community events and partnerships that further the dean's vision and goals. 20%
• Team Leadership: Independently supervises staff working to support scientific writing, event coordination and outreach assigns daily duties and long-term strategic priorities; performs constructive employment evaluations biannually; provides learning opportunities for career growth; responsible for recruitment and selection process when positions become vacant. Directs budget activities for the office, including review, analysis, and decision making on budget requests; and developing sound fiscal practices, plans, and strategies to deploy financial resources. As needed, solicits external vendors for print, design and/or photography requiring RFP and invoice processing. 15%
• Brand Management: Works with school management to build an organizational brand and create tools for positioning the organization strategically with the organization's clients. Oversees all publications and collateral material along with the standardization of the school's graphics and identity program. Establishes guidelines and standards for use of the school logo and for the look, style, and design of all school communications. 10%
• Digital Strategy: Responsible for school's website strategy, which includes design direction, functional and organizational layout, content generation and continual content maintenance of the Physical Sciences website. Serves as point of contact for all school-sponsored departments, research centers and school office sites. Ensures that design, structure, and content effectively represent the school's mission and activities, and are appropriately directed toward the school's various target audiences. Works with units to ensure accuracy and relevancy of content. Manages process of redesign and upgrade of current website. Informally directs the work function of the school's web programmers to manage and maintain a viable web presence. Provides training and support to department managers, assistants, graduate students, and faculty on web-related tools and features. Develops and utilizes new avenues in order to reach wider audiences including development and continued management of social media presence and creation of the school's e-newsletter (responsible for design, artwork, content and distribution management) as well as other targeted newsletters and html emails for departments, research centers and programs. Develops the school's video strategy including conceptualization, coordination, filming, production and distribution of targeted research, promotional and recruitment videos. 10%
• Media Relations: Conceptualizes and writes media advisories, press releases, and expert pitches. Actively pitches story ideas, news, program announcements, and faculty experts to office of strategic communications staff and to targeted national and international media outlets focusing on high-impact stories. Develops, recommends, and implements strategic media relations plans based on an informative review of the academic programs and research activities within the School. Monitors university and media outlets for potential new angles of relevance for Physical Sciences faculty, student, donor, and alumni news. Coordinates contact between journalists and the faculty and works with university communication to effectively position the school in the media. Serves as School's representative on all-campus integrated marketing communications team; takes leadership roles on priority sub-committees to ensure school-level representation. Works with key campus and external constituents to achieve wider reach for school-focused content and presence. 10%
• Events: Responsible to assess, develop, coordinate, and implement a schedule of events to support alumni relations, outreach and important initiatives in the school. Assess and determine which events are appropriate for external relations to communicate the dean's vision. Coordinate associated communications regarding these events and oversee event support and logistics. 5%
• Department Support: Works directly with units to coordinate and assist in implementation of unit-level communication efforts and leverage resources among them. Coordinates and ensures integrity and consistency of all communications from the school. Collaborates to develop communication strategies and identify the most effective use of marketing and communications resources. Identifies and establishes relationships with key communication and marketing services vendors. 5%

What It Takes to be Successful

Required:

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communications, including strategic planning for various media venues, technical aspects and requirements of various venues, and most appropriate and effective applications.
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of technical applications to direct professional technical staff, and personally perform technical work, including design concepts, various media, and applications.
• Advanced skills to create, develop, and implement long and short term strategic communication plans.
• Advanced skills to advise and consult management on all aspects of communications, ranging from developing effective communication strategies to appropriately responding to inquiries regarding sensitive or complex issues or information.
• Expert written, verbal, interpersonal communications, active listening and political acumen skills to initiate, develop, and maintain good working relationships throughout the organization and with outside constituencies.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, project management, and problem recognition, avoidance, and resolution skills., including skills in setting and meeting program / project goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.
• Thorough knowledge of location protocols and channels for communication internally and externally.
• Experience working in higher education.
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Excellent levels in maintaining confidentiality.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• 4-6 years of successful communications related experience, preferably in higher education, or, any equivalent combinations of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.

Preferred:

• Strong knowledge of current affairs and issues in higher education and the physical sciences.
• Advanced knowledge of the organization, including its mission, vision, goals, policies, and infrastructure.
• Demonstrated skill in managing staff.
• Experience working in higher education STEM fields.

Special Conditions:

• May work long hours to meet event/communications/marketing commitments.
• Must pass a background check.
• Local and regional travel is required. National travel may be required.

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

The expected pay range for this recruitment is $100,100- $143,800 (Annual).