Senior Vice President, Higher Education

About the Company

BerlinRosen is part of Orchestra, a strategic communications and marketing company built for today’s complex and fragmented world. From decoding audiences to designing bold strategies, Orchestra integrates people, platforms, and stories that stick to help clients build lasting influence. The company offers programs that span from high-level strategic business counsel through to tactical execution. Orchestra brings together 700+ people with experience across consumer and lifestyle, technology, nonprofit and philanthropy, real estate, sports, travel, hospitality, and more. Made up of leading firms BerlinRosen, Civitas Public Affairs Group, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward, and Small Girls PR. It also launched Brightmode, a talent acquisition firm for communications professionals, and Versus Media Group, a strategy-first political media team.

About the Team

The Higher Education team brings deep expertise in guiding colleges, universities, and academic institutions through today’s complex communications landscape. The work spans paid, earned, social, content, and crisis communications, delivering fully integrated, cross-channel strategies that drive impact. The team partners with leading institutions spanning the Ivy League, elite R1 research universities, and flagship public university systems, helping them elevate their voices, protect their reputations, and engage key audiences in a competitive and fast-changing higher education environment.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced strategic communicator to join our growing Higher Education team. This senior leader will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, leading complex communications programs and providing strategic counsel to senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have experience managing large, high-profile accounts, navigating complex client environments, leading teams, managing budgets, and driving new business opportunities. This role is preferred to be based in our New York City, NY or Washington, DC offices, with a hybrid schedule of three days per week in office. We will also consider candidates based in our Boston, MA or San Francisco, CA offices.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior strategic counselor to clients, providing executive-level communications guidance and helping institutions navigate complex reputational, policy, and industry challenges
• Lead the development and execution of integrated communications campaigns that leverage public affairs, earned media, social, and digital tactics to reach key audiences and achieve client goals
• Directly manage and mentor staff and provide overall strategic direction and feedback for their development and client work
• Draft high-level materials including strategy decks, communications plans, messaging, and op-eds
• Collaborate closely with the management team to develop and inspire our team of strategists to be innovative and creative
• Serve as a key voice in new business development efforts, including identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and participating in pitches and client growth conversations

Requirements

• 11+ years of relevant strategic communications experience, including experience in PR agencies, higher education communications, public affairs, nonprofit, corporate communications, or related environments
• PR agency experience strongly preferred, including demonstrated client management skills and strong business acumen
• Avid consumer of news, with a strong news sense and knowledge of the media and experience engaging and maintaining strong relationships with key reporters covering the top issues of the day
• Experience engaging with media for both rapid response and long-lead stories
• Strong written and oral communications skills
• Experience managing, prepping, and staffing high-touch principals or organizational leaders
• Ability to multi-task easily, including handling multiple assignments at once, working quickly, and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment while paying close attention to details
• Experience in successfully motivating, leading, and mentoring a diverse team to meet objectives
• Strong business development skills, including experience growing client relationships, contributing to pitches, and identifying new opportunities

Benefits

Senior Vice Presidents are eligible for end-of-year bonuses based on firm, team, and individual performance.

Pay

Salary range: $155,000–$175,000

Schedule

Hybrid schedule of three days per week in office.