• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $95,000-115,000

Position Summary

The Provost is Columbia University's chief academic officer. In consultation with a team of Vice Provosts, the Provost directs the development and implementation of Columbia's academic plans and policies, and supervises the work of its faculties, departments, institutes, and research centers. The Office of the Provost works to support the academic mission and the needs of faculty, deans, and schools at Columbia through innovative, engaging programming and streamlined, responsive processes managed by a well-supported, expert team.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Executive Director of Communications will work closely with the Provost and Chief of Staff to support the priorities and programs of the Office of the Provost and communicate those to the campus community and external stakeholders.

The Executive Director provides oversight of internal and external communications initiatives for the Office of the Provost, including development and implementation of the Office’s strategic communications plan, communications calendar, and the voice of the Provost and the Office.

The role manages communications for the Office of the Provost to foster the flow of information about vital institutional issues between the Provost and internal and external constituencies. They will develop processes to identify the communications needs of a range of internal and external University audiences, and to respond to those needs through the delivery of useful and timely information. They will work closely with colleagues in the University's Office of Public Affairs, the Office of the President, and school leadership teams on messaging, media relations, and rapid response.

The Executive Director will provide executive communications support to the Provost by preparing speeches, briefings, announcements, press releases, correspondence, and other essential communications products. They will oversee the Office of the Provost website, including developing content and managing maintenance. The incumbent will help to develop, implement, and monitor select Office of the Provost initiatives of high importance, and will be responsible for independently managing aspects of key projects and strategic efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for communicating University initiatives, programs, and policies to the campus community and channels and forums for communication with key stakeholder groups.
• Identify and leverage opportunities to use existing and new communications technologies to expand outreach.
• Promote awareness across campus of the programs and resources the Office of the Provost.
• Translate university research and policy into communications for faculty, administrators, and other constituencies.
• Develop communications protocols and guidelines for the Office of the Provost to optimize and deploy communications resources.
• Advise Office of the Provost leadership on communications tactics and trends and identifies new opportunities for shaping and delivering messaging.
• Create and edit materials to support the Provost’s leadership through briefings, talking points, and speeches.
• Write and edit executive communications, including public announcements and official correspondence.
• Support editorial consistency and timely distribution of important campus-wide and time-sensitive Provostial announcements, incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders and maintaining close attention to detail.
• Oversee an initiative to refresh the Office of the Provost website.
• Develop content and guidelines for the website and manage its ongoing maintenance. Identify approaches to increase site visibility and traffic.
• Engage in analytics of communications and develop recommendations to increase effectiveness and impact.
• Respond to and resolve critical inquiries from faculty, administrators, and external organizations.
• Serve as key liaison with the Office of Public Affairs and other university offices in developing communications to various audiences and stakeholders, responding to media inquiries, and issue management.
• Work with Columbia IT and other partners to manage and deploy digital communications; identify opportunities to use new tools and platforms for communications.
• Serve as communications representative on university working groups.
• Provide day-to-day management of an Assistant Director in connection with their communications activities.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and minimum 7 years experience. Advanced degree preferred.
• Employment experience in higher education/faculty-facing settings is preferred. 
• Demonstrated outstanding skills and experience in writing and communication and ability to communicate effectively to a variety of constituent groups required.
• Candidates should have a proven ability to manage multiple projects effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Applicants should be able to function effectively both independently and in teams and foster a collaborative approach.
• Must be a service-oriented professional who demonstrates creativity and innovation in performing assigned tasks and can both think strategically and execute tactically.
• Positive, forward-thinking, mission-oriented attitude and sense of humor are a must.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.