Manager Of Communications - Princeton University

The Manager of Communications is a vital member of the Keller Center's leadership team, working closely with the Executive Director, Center faculty, and other leadership peers to shape the Center’s policy and strategic direction. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Manager participates in short- and long-term planning, supporting the development of a comprehensive communications strategy that aligns with the Center’s goals. This includes creating a strategic communication plan that defines priorities, metrics, and high-level branding, as well as driving continuous improvements in communication processes.

In overseeing daily communication and event activities, the Manager manages the overall communications schedule and leads content creation across channels like the website, social media, email, and print. Responsibilities include writing stories, covering events, and editing team content, as well as collaborating with faculty and program managers to tailor communication solutions for key stakeholders. The Manager also supervises two direct reports, the Communications Coordinator and Events Coordinator, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes clarity, growth, and high performance within the team.

Execution of Communication & Event Deliverables:

Manage the overall schedule for communications and event activities across the department. Ensure resources have been assigned to execute all required tasks. Play a role as an individual contributor in executing some of those tasks. Manage outside vendors as required.

Regularly meet with academic and programmatic leaders within the department to understand their communications and event needs and translate those needs into agreed upon deliverables with required due dates. Meet all promised deadlines.

Play the role of lead editor of content created by others across the department.

Ensure the Keller Center’s website is a dynamic information resource for news and information on academic and co-curricular programs, events, and awards. Align all marketing and communications activities including news coverage, social media, newsletters, posters, etc. in service to the goals of the Center.

Utilize effective composition, visual design, and editorial skills to ensure that communications adhere to the Keller Center’s visual standards and comply with University policies and embody usability best practices.

Oversee the department’s event activities including managing the events coordinator. Collaborate with the Event Coordinator around event design decisions. Ensure event activities are well coordinated with the academic and co-curricular arms of the department.

Ensure events are well promoted and attended. Attend events when appropriate.

Develop and Steward Center Communication Strategy:

Develop and implement communication strategies that convey the Center’s mission and priorities, increase visibility, and expand ecosystem engagement. Promote the Keller Center’s programs, events and outreach activities to engage broad audiences including faculty, students, alumni, and the public.

Develop and evolve the strategic branding, graphics and messaging frameworks for the Center that serve as the high-level communications architecture that all other communications end products produced by the Center fall within. 

Personnel Management:

Manage two direct reports. Set role expectations, provide weekly guidance, offer ongoing feedback and coaching and conduct annual performance reviews. Ensure direct reports have the resources they need in place to accomplish their objectives.

Support the Executive Director with hiring, performance improvement, reclassifications, staff development, award nominations and terminations of Keller's administrative staff. Supervise the professional development and personal needs of staff.

Center Leadership:

Be a thought partner to the Executive Director in addressing department level issues and opportunities. Partner with Executive Director in supporting the department’s annual and long-term strategic planning processes. Systematically assess, develop, enhance and implement the necessary business practices, processes, systems, protocols, and standards to support staff, student, faculty and program alignment goals of the Center.

Be a key decision maker on certain operational topics allowing the Director to have more time to concentrate on executing the department’s strategic priorities. Collaborate with the Executive Director in setting agendas for department wide meetings and oversee follow-up of resulting key action items.

Campus Wide Communication Representative:

Represent the Keller Center at campus wide communication meetings. Ensure Center communication approaches operate within University guidelines. Identify synergistic communications opportunities with other campus partners. Leverage University investments in communications technologies for the benefit of the Center.

Essential qualifications:

• Demonstrated leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and communications skills.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading and executing the communications plan for an organization over an extended period of time.
• Ability to fulfill short term needs in alignment with long term strategic priorities.
• Ability to bring creativity into the problem-solving process and develop approaches that are superior and enduring.
• Experience managing direct reports within the communications and event realm.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop talent.
• Broad knowledge of the communication field crossing both digital media, traditional media, branding, the content development (written, video, photography).
• Strong writing and editing skills. Strong collaboration skills including the ability to define and fulfill internal customer requirements.
• Superior organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities. Ability to anticipate and initiate appropriate action in support of the Center's strategic vision.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate in a manner that is professional, objective, and easily understood.

Preferred

• Master’s or advance degree preferred
• 7 - 10 year’s experience within the communications discipline
• 3 - 5 years managing direct reports
• Previous experience working within higher education or the innovation/entrepreneurial ecosystem a plus

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS