Vice President of Communications

Job Description

Who We Are:
The Office of University Relations is responsible for all official public communication regarding the Office of the President, which includes but is not limited to responding to requests from constituents, the news media for information, interviews and official statements.. University Relations also produces the weekly CU Connections, news and information for CU Faculty and Staff, collaborates on the systemwide marketing initiative and the implementation of an online communications outreach tool, among many other print, web and social media projects.

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Communication is the leader of University Relations and reports directly to the Senior Vice President for External Relations and Strategy (SVP). With policy direction provided by the president of the university and SVP, the Vice President of Communication serves as a member of the president’s executive staff and coordinates and facilitates internal and external communications and communications-related strategy for the University of Colorado (CU) System. 

The position coordinates and collaborates with communication colleagues on its four campuses (Boulder, Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, and Colorado Springs). The position provides strategic communication/issues management advice to the university president, SVP and the leadership team, as well as to the institution’s governing Board of Regents. Its primary duties include regular communications, executive communications for the president (and in selected instances, the university’s governing Board of Regents), issues management, crisis communications, media relations, and contributing to and providing support for other work of the external relations team in the areas of marketing, outreach, and engagement initiatives. The position often writes drafts of communications for the president, board of regents and other members of the executive team and works closely with the team to ensure an effective voice for the president in a variety of written and oral presentations. 

The vice president oversees a communications office of professional-level staff at the system level responsible for executive communications, social media, website content and management (cu.edu), and system-wide internal communications (CU Connections). The position also serves as media spokesperson and press secretary for the president and Board of Regents, in addition to selected media relations for state and national legislative issues. This position works closely with campus communications vice chancellors regarding awareness of campus issues that may affect the president and/or regents. 

The position convenes and leads regular meetings of the campus communication leaders to address items of common interest. The vice president also may need to coordinate with the University of Colorado Foundation’s leadership and communications team related to communications and issues management related to fundraising. 

This position reports to the Senior Vice President for External Relations and Strategy and is a member of the president’s executive staff, is an Officer of the Administration, and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff System.

Where You Will Work:
This position is located at 1800 Grant St. in Denver, Colorado, and is expected to be in the office 4 days per week. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as a member of the president’s executive team and leads the university’s communications, issues management, and crisis communications.
• At the direction of the SVP and in collaboration with leadership team, plans, directs, and executes the overall communications strategy for the president, Board of Regents, and system administration.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with the media across Colorado.
• Coordinates to advance the president’s goals, partnering with the president’s executive team and other team members on operational and key initiatives.
• Manages the University Relations office to include oversight of the department’s budget and supervision of professional level staff.
• Serves as media spokesperson on issues relating to the president, Board of Regents, system administration and selected legislative issues and selected fundraising issues.
• Coordinates with campus communications vice chancellors and convenes and chairs regular meetings of that group.
• Oversees executive communications, including the president’s monthly electronic newsletter (circulation of 500,000 students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, donors, regents, community members), social media, selected internal communication and speeches.
• Writes communications and presentations for the president, and for the board of regents or other team members as needed. Works closely with the executive writer on execution of materials for the president.
• In coordination with the SVP, provides strategic advice to university leadership.
• Works with External Relations team to pitch stories to the local media regarding outreach and engagement, legislative and advancement activities.
• Pitches media on stories that are a priority for the president and the university.  
• Under direction from the SVP, contributes to CU’s systemwide marketing, branding and communications vision and strategy.
• Manages social media, multimedia, and video content, to advance communications goals.
• Develops and implements crisis communications plans or major announcements, as necessary.
• Coordinates with CU Foundation and Advancement leaders and communicators on communications/issues management related to fundraising.
• Ensures all communications reflect the diversity of all of Colorado.
• Leads all public-facing communications to ensure timely updates on all outward facing platforms
• Performs other duties and special projects assigned. 

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or equivalent professional experience (professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis).
• Fifteen (15) years' professional experience in strategic communications, marketing, journalism, and/or public relations, which includes:
  • Building successful internal and external communications, issues management and communications programs and integrated strategies.
  • Experience in executive-level communications.
  • Experience in developing communication plans and crisis communication plans.
  • Experience in working directly with the media and serving as an organizational spokesperson.
  • Experience managing staff and budget.
• Seven (7) years' experience in a leadership role in a complex organization, which includes directing large-scale communication, issues management, developing and implementing strategies and initiatives, and managing personnel and finances. 

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