Associate Director for Strategic Communications (HR title: Manager, Marketing Communications)

Southern Methodist University - Dallas, TX

Full-time - Manager

Dallas, TX

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Director for Strategic Communications (HR title: Manager, Marketing Communications) at SMU is a pivotal role that requires a dynamic individual to lead a small team in developing high-level content and supporting executive communications and events. This position is based on-campus and is designed for someone who can work collaboratively with various stakeholders across the university, particularly in supporting the President and other administrative leaders with their messaging, presentations, and correspondence. The role involves overseeing the production of visuals for executive-level messaging and ensuring that all audio-visual needs for meetings and events are met. In this role, the Associate Director will be responsible for researching, writing, and preparing communications for executive-level administrators and university programs. This includes crafting speeches, reports, presentations, and other materials that require a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. The individual will manage project flow and deadlines, ensuring that all communications are consistent and align with the university's messaging across various platforms. Additionally, the Associate Director will support the Director of Strategic Communications in preparing annual reports and managing crisis communications when necessary. The position also entails managing a digital marketing specialist who will assist in creating visuals and supporting live streaming for executive meetings. The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills, a customer service orientation, and the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of constituencies. This role is essential in promoting the university's mission and enhancing its visibility both internally and externally.

Responsibilities

• Research, write and prepare communications for executive level administrators and university programs, including speeches, introductions, reports, presentations, videos, statements, articles, correspondence and other materials.
• Manage deadlines and project flow of communications including setting internal deadlines as necessary and working with colleagues in Marketing and Communications, DEA, and SMU schools and units to see projects through to completion.
• Share and access communication materials with the broader MarCom team to ensure consistent messaging across platforms.
• Ensure the accuracy of all communications content in speeches, statements and quotes by researching topics, rigorously fact checking, writing, editing and consulting with the extended team and others.
• Watch videos, read past content and attend events to learn the voice of executive leaders and to establish relationships and good communications with the university's many diverse constituencies.
• Work with appropriate staff to ensure all the audio-visual and technical aspects of a presentation are covered.
• Support Director of Strategic Communications with preparation of annual reports required to comply with various state and federal mandates.
• Provide support on issue management and crisis communications, assisting with drafting messages and correspondence for internal and external audiences.
• Occasionally support Director of Internal Communications on internal strategies/tactics that effectively communicate the vision and goals of SMU in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Manage the digital marketing specialist position who prepares all the visuals and A/V for executive-level meetings and presentations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree is required; degree in Communications, English, Journalism or similar degree is preferred.
• A minimum of five years of professional work experience in journalism, professional speech writing and/or communications.
• Some supervisory/management experience is also required.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies.
• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills, with the ability to translate complicated concepts into clear, compelling language.
• Demonstrated ability to develop content for effective executive communications requiring minimal rewriting and editing.
• Strong organizational, planning and time-management skills with the ability to proactively manage multiple priorities and work under pressure.
• Ability to be resourceful and proactive while working independently and collaboratively.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions.
• General knowledge of the Clery Act and previous experience managing or supporting emergency or crisis communications is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint; knowledge of and/or experience with Slack, Box and/or Asana preferred.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with Adobe Creative Suite, RAVE, Veoci, social media, and/or Wordpress desired.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with content management systems such as SiteCore is a plus.

Benefits

• Broad, competitive array of health and related benefits including health, dental, and vision plans.
• Wide range of wellness programs to support and retain employees.
• Array of retirement programs that benefit and protect employees and their families throughout their working years at SMU.
• Access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.