Job Details

Director of Communications, Academics

FLSA Status: Exempt

Months Per Year: 12

Employment Status: Full-Time

Work Model: Hybrid Eligible*

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Position Description

The Director of Communications, Academics is a seasoned communicator who serves as the primary liaison supporting communications for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education while also supporting overall university communications.

The position plays a critical role in elevating the reputation of SU and supporting enrollment priorities across earned, owned and paid media and by highlighting the impact of students, alumni, faculty and staff. The position works closely with the college deans, the marketing liaison to the colleges, and other areas of the university on communications, news, media and storytelling.

In alignment with LiftSU and the Strategic Direction for Inclusive Excellence, the position requires understanding of the nuances and complexities of communication to diverse audiences, and experience and comfort with centering the voices of BIPOC colleagues, alumni, and students.

The position reports to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications within Seattle University’s Marketing Communications Division with a dotted reporting line to the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education.

General Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements communication strategies that raise the profile of the university’s academic reputation and highlight the impact of SU’s faculty, staff, students, alumni and research.
• Works with other MarCom colleagues to identify faculty experts and potential stories to share with media and generate earned media coverage.
• Contribute to SU’s news and storytelling operation, including the optimization of all owned media (e.g., print, publications, social media, website, email, events).
• Seeks and maintains awareness of campus, local/regional, national and international developments, happenings and news that interrelate with SU’s mission and Strategic Directions in order to advise Deans and university leaders of communication opportunities, thought leadership and supportive information and resources.
• Serve as a strategic partner to peers within the division, the colleges and across the university, working in close collaboration with marketing and communications, university advancement and external affairs staff to ensure alignment of communication priorities.

• Continually evaluate the effectiveness of existing and proposed communication strategies and vehicles. Establish defined goals, objectives and metrics for all communications activities and monitor progress toward fulfillment.
  

CAS Specific Responsibilities:

• This position will retain responsibility for all communications related to College of Arts and Sciences and its departments.
• Lead high visibility college events with external partners.
• The communications director will meet regularly with the CAS Dean, faculty and leadership.
• The communications director will retain and oversee student worker who contributes to social media, website work and project management.
  

COE Specific Responsibilities:

• The communications director will work with COE Dean and COE staff to identify stories to share with media, SU community and partners.
• The communications director will assist COE staff with internal communications to strengthen collaboration between leadership, faculty and staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field.

• Minimum 7 years’ experience serving in leadership roles in strategic communications, public relations, media relations, journalism or related fields.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion and the university's mission, vision, and values.
• Experience in higher education preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working on complex communication issues with an organization’s leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to understand complex issues and convey them publicly in clear, concise and compelling communications.
• Proven ability to work in close collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders to generate great ideas and gather and incorporate feedback from across the organization.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, written and management skills.

Application Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified. 

Compensation at a Glance:

Salary Range: $80,000 - $85,000

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance:

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/ 

Hybrid Eligible*
This position may be eligible for a hybrid schedule after successful completion of an introductory work period of 3-6 months. This may mean that a hybrid eligible role will begin on-campus initially and then will transition to hybrid format following onboarding and training. Flexible work plans are subject to periodic review and may be changed or terminated at any time for any reason at the university’s discretion.