Senior Director, Executive Communications and Speech Writer

The Sr Director for Executive Communications and Speech Writer will serve as a key part of the University Marketing Communications leadership team. The person in this role will build awareness, understanding and engagement in the University, leading development and implementation of an executive visibility strategy and speechwriting for the University President. Reporting to the Vice President for Communications, and working closely with the President and the President's Office, the Sr Director will articulate the vision, strategies and priorities of the President and her cabinet, in engaging and creative ways, to a variety of key audiences.

The Sr Director is an experienced communication professional and content developer who brings demonstrated experience in development of strategies and content that inspire action amongst a broad set of stakeholders. The person in this role will develop a range of engaging content, including speeches and op-eds; master emerging new policy and strategic priorities, successfully develop objectives- and results-driven stakeholder engagement strategies that inspire audience engagement and extend the priorities of the President and her cabinet.

This position is primarily in the office with some opportunity for flex work.

Primary Responsibilities

The Sr Director participates in a wide variety of policy and public relations issues - developing strategies and content that reflect the vision, priorities, and voice of the University's President. The person in this role develops and leads implementation of a comprehensive executive visibility strategy for the University President, doing so in collaboration with partners in University Marketing Communications and across the University. The position also requires exceptional writing, content development and communications skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across the University.

Specifically, the Sr Director will:

• Develop and lead implementation of a comprehensive proactive internal and external visibility strategy for the University President - ensuring the President inspires engagement of faculty, staff, student, alumni, benefactors, policy makers, elected officials, business and civic leaders, community, state and national leaders that align to the University mission and strategic priorities.
• Identify and secure speaking opportunities inside and outside the University for the University President, furthering mission and strategic priorities and inspiring engagement among key stakeholders.
• Partner with University Marketing Communications colleagues and marketing communications colleagues across the University to build strategies that amplify the President's communications content across all University platforms.
• Develop and ensure input and approval of a wide range of content, including University-wide updates and announcements, speeches, talking points, statements, and scripts for the President on topics that include University mission and strategic priorities, examples of academic excellence, special events and University, community, state, national engagements.
• Partner with the President's cabinet, and University partners, to strategize and shape University messaging, content and social media.
• Ensure alignment with University brand positioning, key messages, mission and strategic goals and priorities.
• Draft correspondence for the President, maintaining consistency in tone, messaging, and branding across all communications.
• Draft essays, op-eds, and other thought leadership pieces.
• Route materials through various levels of review, overseeing quality control to ensure accuracy, clarity, coherence, and adherence to style guidelines.
• Maintain up-to-date links to presidential public communications on the President's website.
• Participate in University's contingency planning around public issues or controversies which might require presidential communications.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, business administration or in a related field.
• At least 12 years of professional experience.
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the University and/or a similar large, complex higher education or not-for-profit mission-driven organization. environment.
• Commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate effectively and confidently at all levels of the organization to promote and gain approval for ideas and plans.
• Strength in critical and strategic thinking.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, resourcefulness and ingenuity.
• Ability to collaborate with and in some cases convene teams that include participants from other areas of the unit and organization to integrate the deliverables of the functions and achieve common goals to successfully support the mission of the University.
• Demonstrated skill in gathering information and data to author complex correspondence, reports, policy, financial and planning documents.
• Demonstrated strong business acumen and analytical skills and ability to contribute to strategic thinking while also being able to accomplish tactical tasks.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills, with the ability to independently manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellence in developing objectives and performance metrics driven strategies.
• Excellent writing skills that inspire engagement and meet audience expectations.
• Demonstrated experience making data-informed decisions.
• Ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities and situations.

Pay Range: $200,000 - $220,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment, 12 month

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Priority consideration will begin on June 23, 2025.

For a complete application, please include a resume and cover letter. Finalists will be asked to provide references.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota is a world-class research university and one of the largest in the United States. The University leads the way on mission-driven work opportunities, strong employee engagement, a strong benefits package including tuition reimbursement, all in an always-something-new work environment.

Founded in 1851 as a land-grant university, the school now serves more than 70,000 students from 130 countries enrolled on our campuses, thousands of study abroad students, more than 26,000 employees on five campuses across Minnesota, and half a million alumni worldwide.

The University consistently has advanced its mission with exceptional vigor-distinguished by a comprehensive commitment to integrating public engagement deeply into teaching and learning, research, and discovery. The University also strongly embraces equity and diversity as foundational values and has made both engagement and diversity central to systemwide strategic plans.

The Twin Cities campus is in the heart of a dynamic metro area that is a global economic leader, an education and culture hub, and renowned for its abundant natural resources. The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro is home to the fourth-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies nationwide and thriving entrepreneurial and small business sectors. Ranked as one of the country's leading "creative economies," the Twin Cities is renowned for its arts and nonprofit sectors, as well as many lakes, parks, and a wealth of recreational and entertainment opportunities. Spanning locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities straddles the Mississippi River and adjoins a national park.

The University is an anchor institution for a globally competitive region and state with notable strengths in areas critical to today's knowledge economy-including biosciences, medical devices, and agriculture and food production. The campus is also located in an increasingly diverse region, with 11 federally-recognized tribal nations, the largest urban Native American population in the country, and growing African American, Latino and Chicano, and Asian American populations.

The Twin Cities campus is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of Indigenous people. The University resides on Dakota land ceded in the Treaties of 1837 and 1851. The University acknowledges this place has a complex and layered history and is committed to ongoing efforts to recognize, support and advocate for American Indian Nations and peoples.