Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

Harvard Law School - Cambridge, MA

Full-time - Executive

Remote - Cambridge, MA

About the position

Harvard Divinity School seeks an innovative, thoughtful, and forward-thinking Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO) to creatively elevate the school's mission, research, and contributions to their fields of study to the public in creative ways to expand the global reach of the school. As part of the leadership team and reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at HDS will lead communication strategies and advise senior leaders and colleagues on various initiatives to champion the school's mission, academic offerings, research endeavors, faculty, students, alumni, and noteworthy events to both internal and external stakeholders. Heading a high performing team of 8, the CCMO will oversee and develop communication strategy and execution, crisis management, media relations, and engagement campaigns, engaging diverse and unique audiences. Additionally, the CCMO will lead internal communications, publications, the Harvard Theological Review, project management, admissions, and development communications. Constituencies are broad-ranging and diverse, including faculty, staff, students, Harvard University agencies and departments, the news media, alumni, friends, financial supporters, and the public—locally, nationally, and globally. The CCMO partners with Harvard Public Affairs and Communications and the HDS associate dean for development and external relations regarding media events, external relations, and campaign communications strategy and implementation. The CCMO serves as public information officer for the school, actively supporting and participating in university-wide communications meetings and planning activities. The CCMO provides vision and conducts long-range planning for School publications, while also supervising production details with the staff and/or relevant contract employees. This position also works closely with the director of information technology and media services, leading communications, and IT staff in expanding the attractiveness and usability of the HDS websites. The CCMO serves as the school's principal communications strategist and advisor, developing creative strategies to promote the school's vision, priorities and identity and brand, through visual, verbal, digital, and printed media, and messages—including digital content, events, and publications—to ensure that HDS is recognized as a thought leader and to build awareness of and engagement with HDS's mission and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead communication strategies and advise senior leaders and colleagues on various initiatives.
• Oversee and develop communication strategy and execution, crisis management, media relations, and engagement campaigns.
• Lead internal communications, publications, project management, admissions, and development communications.
• Develop and implement internal communications strategies and tools to ensure awareness of School programs and priorities.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive digital and social media strategy.
• Oversee a publications and editorial strategy for the school that promotes quality and consistency in editorial content and design.
• Provide strategic advice and guidance on issues management and crisis communications.
• Manage responses to any School-related incidents that may attract media attention.
• Oversee local, national, and international media relations plans.
• Develop plans to understand and act upon trends in the field of graduate religious education worldwide.
• Develop and promote the brand of HDS and its distinctive attributes.
• Oversee the Office of Communications with overall responsibility for fiscal management and effective staff engagement and development.
• Develop long-term strategic and annual operating plans, budgets, and goals for the Office of Communications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Expertise in interdisciplinary marketing and communications in the context of mission driven organizations.
• Demonstrated progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, team building, relationship management, and interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills essential.
• Commitment to collaborative leadership, proven strategic planning and execution experience, and demonstrated evidence of innovative communication and marketing strategies.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, inclusion and equity and belonging.
• Must understand the complexity of higher education issues and the intellectual environment.
• Skill at adeptly and diplomatically prioritizing and managing diverse requests from various stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience creatively leveraging integrated digital communications strategies.
• Must be able to manage multiple programs simultaneously and to develop and implement forward-thinking and creative strategies.

Nice-to-haves

• Advanced degree in relevant field preferred.
• Experience in a university/academic environment helpful but not required.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year, 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess, 3 personal days per year, and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary caregivers.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits.
• Child and elder/adult care resources including on-campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs.
• University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Programs and classes at little or no cost for professional development, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Various commuter options including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes, and biking benefits.