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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNIV COMMUNICATIONS
Job Title: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNIV COMMUNICATIONS
Job Code: 2601
FLSA: E
Job Level: 17
Revised Date: 08/01/2023
Job Family: JF 28
Occupational Summary
Responsible for the day-to-day editorial operation within University Communications, including but not limited to coordinating a comprehensive and diversified media relations program; serving as a member of the University Communications leadership team; contributing to setting the editorial direction and priorities for the office; and investing in understanding and supporting university leaders, their work, and the work of their teams.
In addition, this position assists the associate vice president of university communications with UComms operations and represents the office at meetings and on projects when the AVP is unavailable.
Works in collaboration with, and serve as a consultant to, colleagues within the Public Affairs and Government Relations division and throughout Duke University and Duke University Health System.
Responsible for developing and executing communications strategies that build and protect Duke's global reputation and tell the story of its outstanding faculty, administration and academic programs, and convey the university's impact on and contributions to the world.
Work Performed
Coordinate the daily editorial content supporting the missions of the university and department to ensure alignment with the strategic goals of the university and department.
Manage the day-to-day editorial operation of University Communications, including supervising a staff of professional writers responsible for providing editorial and news content.
Contribute to the editing of external content written by UComms staff, as well as the editing of media releases by writers from other university departments, and oversee the distribution of these articles on Duke's channels as well as to targeted lists of local, national, international reporters.
Build department awareness about student-facing communications, employee communications, development communications and other areas of institutional importance.
Assist AVP with the news media during university emergencies, which may include (but are not limited to) weather events, police incidents or institutional crises.
Help coordinate UComms interactions with other offices involved in student communications, employee communications, development communications and other areas of institutional importance.
Partner with UComms' digital team, and with colleagues across the institution, to integrate editorial content with multimedia storytelling.
Provide strategic communications advice to faculty; plan, promote and implement an ongoing media training program for faculty and others. Consult with faculty, deans and administrators on university activities and programs, including publicizing and promoting their activities.
Manage daily office activities of the editorial team, including the scheduling of vacation, to ensure proper distribution of assignments and adequate staffing. Oversee after-hours phone schedule to ensure media can reach UComms on weekends and holidays.
Lead the planning, coordination and execution of livestreamed faculty media briefings for reporters on newsworthy topics.
Ensure institutional communications policies are current and appropriate and are implemented by communicators and others across the campus.
Set priorities, allocate resources, identify career opportunities and development plans for team members; ensure there is team backup and shared knowledge.
Lead Duke's international media relations efforts: oversee the creation, approval, and execution of an international media engagement strategy that includes proactive pitching, responding, visits, and events to build the reputation of our office, increase the knowledge and value of Duke, and to promote faculty, programs, and initiatives.
Partner with the teams at DKU and at Duke to raise the profile, reputation, and value of DKU. Likewise, partner with teams at Duke-NUS and with teams across campus engaged in global work to promote the work and impact of faculty, students, and staff.
Develop strategies for select U.S. and global media outlets that results in effective engagement with news media; contribute to promotion of academic and administrative leaders, focusing on intellectual thought leadership and partnering with colleagues in schools and units around campus to know what our leaders can and are willing to speak to, and to generate opportunities for them to engage positively with media.
Work closely with the Duke in DC office to understand priorities and align efforts around communications strategies and tactics.
Develop effective practices to set metrics, measure and report on the work, and adjust on an ongoing basis.
Actively monitor known issues and flag concerns.
Help set the strategic direction for Duke's global reputation and media efforts, including collaborating with university partners and senior leadership to ensure strategies are aligned with organizational objectives.
Develop and maintain strong, productive relationships with key press and other external stakeholders.
Act as a liaison for journalists, including fielding requests for Duke experts, coordinating as appropriate with university colleagues.
Write news releases, media guides, newsletter articles, and other content.
Build and maintain a strong network of partners across the university.
Develop relationships with international journalists and influencers, and manage programs to familiarize them with Duke research, expertise and educational programs.
Contribute to the management of Duke's international social media presence, and identify and evaluate new opportunities to expand the university's global social media presence.
Guide Duke's best practices and implementation of targeting by geography and language spoken on social platforms. Identify opportunities for segmenting Duke's global audience and translating content into other languages.
Identify and facilitate opportunities for Duke faculty to develop and place op-eds internationally.
Advise faculty and staff on content (web, video, publications, etc.) prepared for global audiences, and to advance Duke's global mission and programs.
Coordinate communications and marketing support for presidential and senior officers' international travel to create media opportunities and events for select audiences.
Serve as a member of an International editorial team, including working with colleagues from University Development, Duke Alumni Affairs and the Office of Global Affairs to curate and edit The Blue Note, a monthly newsletter for international alumni.
Serve as a university-wide resource for best practices in global communications.
Evaluate global communications opportunities, activities and needs across the university and Health System.
Partner with colleagues at Duke Corporate Education, Duke Kunshan University in China and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore to identify and act on opportunities for shared media relations, social media and global reputation building activity.
Monitor international media and social media activity related to Duke; prepare and distribute summary reports to university community members.
Oversee systems for tracking international coverage, and work with colleagues to integrate international media coverage into existing media reporting practices at Duke.
Use research and analytics to guide global communications and engagement strategy. Identify and analyze existing data to inform global media and reputation management activities, and support market research and data collection efforts.
Required Qualifications at this Level
Education/Training
Bachelor's degree in English, media, communications, journalism or a related field.
Experience
This work requires 10 years of related experience in communications such as public relations, media and communications, and at least three years of institutional communications experience at a university or similar organization.
Skills
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions
Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
