Senior Director, Strategic Communications

The Senior Director for Strategic Communications develops and leads the execution of internal and external communications strategies for the University of Minnesota. The Senior Director is a vital part of the University Marketing Communications leadership team, responsible for the University's issues management and crisis communications strategies.

The Senior Director partners with senior leaders across the organization to ensure consistent messaging across all internal and external channels in response to emerging University issues and at the institutional, local, regional and national levels. In collaboration with the Senior Director, Public Relations, the person in this role is responsible for ensuring timely and effective response to inquiries on various issues from news media and both internal and external stakeholders.

The Senior Director reports to the University of Minnesota Chief Communications Officer and effectively leads and inspires excellence in a cross-functional team that develops integrated issues management and crisis communications response strategies, both within the University Marketing Communications team and across the marketing communications function of the University.

Working in close collaboration with department leadership, the Senior Director is also responsible for building proactive strategies that further the University's mission and priorities, including developing thought leadership, partnering with the Board of Regents Office to support visibility for and communications support of the regents; University government relations and community engagement and other University priorities.

The Senior Director provides strategic counsel to University leadership, builds relationships with key stakeholders, and works to protect and enhance the University's reputation, advance its mission and priorities and drive awareness, understanding and engagement across internal and external stakeholders.

Work Location

This position is primarily in-person - at least three days per week and as needed for other in-person meetings, events.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Communication Leadership and Planning

• Provide strategic leadership for the University's comprehensive issues / reputational risk management and crisis communications strategies
  • Stay abreast of emerging University, local regional and national issues, partnering with leaders across the University, including members of the Cabinet, Chancellors and Deans, to develop comprehensive, integrated strategies that preserve and enhance the University's reputation.
  • Ensure that University crisis communications strategies are implemented successfully and response protocols and processes are in place. The person in this role will provide oversight for maintaining an issues playbook and implementing a regular training cadence to ensure that marketing communications professionals across the department and the University understand their roles and responsibilities and actively participate in response strategies. Collaborate with administrative and functional leadership to manage storytelling opportunities and reputational threats and serve as a University spokesperson. Ensure timely and effective response to inquiries related to University issues management topics and crisis from news media and stakeholders.
• Develop objectives and performance-driven, proactive communications strategies that support the University's mission and priorities and drive awareness, understanding and engagement among both internal and external stakeholders.
• In partnership with the University's government relations and community engagement leaders, develop strategies to further awareness, understanding and engagement in the University's federal and state legislative agendas.
  • Build communications strategies that further the University's legislative agendas and reflect collaboration and integration with University campuses, colleges and units.
    • Build bi-directional communication strategies with influencers in Minnesota and across the nation to further the University's mission and priorities.
    • Identify opportunities for University leaders to enhance relationships with important community partners to represent the University across communication workstreams with key advocacy organizations
• Ensure development and successful implementation of objectives and metrics-driven strategies that support key University priorities, including the Board of Regents.
• The Senior Director, Strategic Communications will actively participate in and ensure successful development and implementation of a variety of strategies, tactics that further the University's mission and priorities, including:
  • Develop or lead development of regular blog posts and op-eds and build training modules that support University leaders and their marketing communications team members.
  • Build strategies that afford opportunities for University leaders to speak publicly; share expertise on social media; and publish op-eds.
  • Develop and implement performance metrics strategies to ensure effectiveness of strategies and campaigns and steward financial resources.
  • Report results to University Marketing Communications and University leadership.
• As an integral part of the University Marketing Communications leadership team, the Senior Director:
  • Serves as a primary account lead for University Marketing Communications with a key University college, campus or unit, facilitating formulation of a collaborative model and integrated strategy and activation of department resources to support successful implementation.
  • In partnership with the unit's senior directors, builds a collaborative, supportive environment that facilitates a culture of professional growth, learning and success.
  • Contributes to an environment where every member of the team has meaningful work and is fully engaged in support of the unit's strategic priorities.

Required Qualifications

• BA degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field, and at least 12 years of experience in strategic communications, public relations, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience as an organizational spokesperson on complex, high-stakes issues, along with demonstrated ability to successfully prepare others to effectively represent the University in these situations.
• Proven ability to translate organizational objectives into compelling and propelling communications strategy and engagement.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling content, develop key messages and instill these skills in team members and others.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and track progress.
• Familiarity with various communication channels, including media relations, social media, digital marketing, and internal communications.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends and measure the effectiveness of communication strategies and tactics.
• Experience in developing and executing crisis communication protocols, procedures and plans.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a broad and diverse set of stakeholders.
• 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.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing teams, either formally or informally
• Ability to collaborate with and in some cases convene teams that include participants from other areas of the department and organization to integrate the deliverables of the functions and achieve common goals to successfully support the mission and priorities of the University.
• 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

• The role is ideal for a mission-driven, strategic communications leader with demonstrated success in building and implementing objectives and performance metrics-driven strategies.
• Demonstrated experience making data-informed decisions.
• Project and vendor/contractor management experience.
• Ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities and situations.
• Comfort adopting the latest communications tech.

Pay Range: $175,000 - $205,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

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.

Please include a resume and cover letter in your application for consideration. For priority consideration, please submit your application by Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis.

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 fantastic 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.