Executive Director of Strategic Communications

About the role

The Administrator III, Executive Director of Strategic Communications, serves as the official voice of Cal Poly Humboldt and shares the President’s vision, values and priorities while articulating a unified message about the university’s unique story. Reporting to the Vice President of University Advancement, this role oversees the News & Information team and is responsible for planning, implementing, and leading integrated, compelling communications strategies that reflect the overall university brand.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the university spokesperson, managing the creation of and directing strategic communications for the university while providing proactive guidance to departments and units in the creation of their communications strategies and tactics.
• Manages the creation of and directs strategic communications for the university while providing proactive guidance to departments and units in the creation of their communications strategies and tactics.
• Writes and edits speeches, remarks, talking points, scripts, letters, email messages and reports on behalf of senior leadership.
• Develops communication plans for leadership and strategic priorities, working closely with the Director of Marketing, the News & Information team, and campus communicators to identify opportunities to elevate university leadership priorities and brand messaging in storytelling content.
• Creates written, visual and audio content for the web, social media, email and other outlets in collaboration with the Director of Marketing and the News & Information and Creative Services teams within Marketing & Communications.
• Serves as the public information officer, directing media relations strategy and engagement with media outlets, and providing guidance to stakeholders who are contacted by the media.
• Leads and directs the work of the News & Information staff, ensuring that output aligns with the university's mission, vision, values, and priorities, and manages day-to-day functions of the communications unit.
• Defines performance metrics and measures the success of specific communications or campaigns, establishing departmental policies, practices, and procedures that have a significant impact on the university.
• Provides input and manages the communications budget in consultation with the Vice President, University Advancement, and partners with the Director of Marketing and other campus partners as needed to provide content and strategic input with earned and paid media projects.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, public relations, communications, graphic design, English or a related communication field.
• At least six (6) years of related professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience leading a dynamic communications and marketing organization in a higher education setting is highly preferred.
• Established relationships with reporters in national markets.
• Graduate degree in a related field is preferred.
• Experience with successfully leading a media relations program and strategy attentive to both earned and paid media.
• Experience as an on-camera spokesperson.
• Superior writing, editing and proofreading ability and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge and/or experience producing communications materials for both English and Spanish speakers.

Benefits

This is a full-time, benefited, exempt, 12-month pay plan, at-will position in the Division of University Advancement. This position is an Administrator III in the California State University Management Personnel Plan (MPP). Under this plan, incumbents are subject to normal management reviews and serve at the pleasure of the University President. Additional information can be found at: http://www.calstate.edu/HRAdm/policies/mpp.shtml.

The position comes with a premium benefits package that includes outstanding vacation, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, voluntary pre-tax health and dependent care reimbursement accounts, a fee waiver education program, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and 15 paid holidays per year. Additional benefits information can be found at https://www.humboldt.edu/hr/employee-benefits.

Application Procedure

To apply, qualified candidates must electronically submit the following materials by clicking the Apply Now button:

• A letter of interest
• A resume or curriculum vitae
• Contact information for at least three supervisor references

Application Deadline: The deadline to submit application materials is 11:55 p.m. on August 31, 2026. Any inquiries about this recruitment can be directed to careers@humboldt.edu or Cal Poly Humboldt’s Human Resources Office at (707) 826-3626.