DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS - University of Washington

Req #: 237723 Department: COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Appointing Department Web Address: https://cultivatelearning.uw.edu/ Job Location Detail: Cultivate Learning. Position will be local/hybrid. Posting Date: 08/15/2024 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $8,334 - $10,000 per month Shift: First Shift Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230701\_a11y.pdf ) As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. The University of Washington (UW) is proud to be one of the nation's premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoy outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty. Cultivate Learning fosters the quality that makes access to learning meaningful. Backed by the University of Washington, our research-powered innovations and hands-on partnership create a fertile environment for smarter teaching and learning. We advance opportunity by lowering barriers to entering the profession and guiding educators to success. And we identify the building blocks of quality along with the path to use them - in Washington state and across the country. Every child deserves to flourish from a foundation of quality learning. This core belief drives our work to provide talented learning professionals the support they need to build that foundation. At Cultivate Learning, we translate insight into learning opportunities. Cultivate Learning has an outstanding opportunity for a **Deputy Director of Communications.** **POSITION PURPOSE** Reporting to the Executive Directors and serving as an integral member of the executive management team, the Deputy Director of Communications will be responsible for the development of Cultivate Learning's communication strategy and will contribute to Cultivate Learning's strategic planning process. The Deputy Director of Communications will develop a world-class communications plan for Cultivate Learning, directly managing communications activities that promote, enhance, and protect the organization's brand reputation. The Deputy Director of Communications will be responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities relative to the strategic direction and positioning of the organization and its leadership. This individual will be an ambassador for the organization and will need to build relationships with the media. The goal is to advance the organization's position with relevant constituents, as well as to drive broader awareness and donor support for the organization. The role will also ensure that program communications needs are met while advancing the goals of Cultivate Learning at large. The Deputy Director of Communications will be responsible for Cultivate Learning's varied and integrated communications products and services including newsletters and other print publications; web, e-news and other online communications; media and public relations; and marketing. **DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES** Communications Strategy, Vision and Leadership: + Develop and implement an integrated strategic communications plan to advance Cultivate Learning's brand identity; broaden awareness of its programs and priorities; and increase the visibility of its programs across key stakeholder audiences. This also includes developing and managing communications budgets for the work + Create marketing/public relations strategy that will allow Cultivate Learning to develop and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media and key influencers. + Develop a consistent cadence of content that is relevant, features a wide range of voices, is mission-focused, persuasive, and engaging to national leaders as well as practitioners. + Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization. Work with executive leadership and staff to recognize internal and external communications opportunities and solutions and define and execute appropriate strategies to support them. + Provide communications expertise and support to program teams including identifying communications needs and opportunities for projects/initiatives and supporting with targeted communication efforts. + Oversee development of Cultivate Learning print communications including the annual report, marketing collateral materials and electronic communications; manage relationships with associated vendors. + Provide executive level media strategy including but not limited to building relationships with influential media outlets to pitch stories and respond to media inquiries. Keep the executive team aware of relevant trends and communications opportunities. + Exercise judgment to prioritize opportunities, and prepare talking points, speeches, presentations and other supporting material as needed. + Lead the digital communications strategy including social media campaigns and digital-savvy pieces that support Cultivate Learning's programs and initiatives. + Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality **MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS** + Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, or related field is required, an advanced degree is preferred + Minimum 5+ years of experience in a Senior Management role either in-house or with an agency **Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.** **ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS** + Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements + Extensive successful writing and editing experience (externally focused) with a variety of print and online communications media + Demonstrated experience and leadership in managing a comprehensive strategic communications, media relations, and marketing program to advance an organization's mission and goals + Creative and thoughtful on how new media technologies can be utilized + Demonstrated experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories + Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output + Excellent judgment and creative problem solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution skills + Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented + Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs + Excellent and persuasive communicator + Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal and presentation skills and the ability to effectively interface with executive leadership and staff + Ability to operate as an effective tactical as well as strategic thinker + Passion for Cultivate Learning's mission and commitment to the Cultivate Learning values. **DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS** A minimum of five years of experience in planning, writing, editing, and production of newsletters, press releases, annual reports, marketing literature, and other print publications and directories. **Application Process:** The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.