Student Communications Director

About the role

Stanford University seeks a collaborative, strategic, and creative Student Communications Director to support the work of University Communications in both developing communications and providing strategic oversight of communications for and about students.

This role has a focus on institutional communications strategy in partnership with the programs and units across campus that directly support the student experience.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the development of key messages and strategies incorporating a university-wide perspective to communicate complex information to multiple audiences and constituencies, both internal and external.
• Execute communication strategies of moderate complexity which includes change management, issue management, digital media, etc., with knowledge of the university’s stakeholders and audiences.
• Contribute to devising and implementing creative and compelling ways to communicate the innovations, employee experience, academic excellence, and essential nature of the university.
• Collaborate with or within University Communications and school/unit/functional areas to ensure consistent and complementary strategic plans with overall university outreach and communications.
• Evaluate potential vendors’ quality, process, and cost and make recommendations for selection.
• Maintain knowledge by attending webinars, conferences, networking etc. to remain at the forefront of current industry standards, trends and technology.
• May participate in crisis communications and direct the university’s communications response if needed.
• May provide guidance on protocols and best practices to individuals responsible for communications in within school/units.

Requirements

Preferred Qualifications:

• Five years of progressively responsible experience in institutional, organizational, or higher education communications.
• Familiarity with student affairs, higher education administration, or student-facing program areas.
• Experience with media relations, including working with media relations professionals to develop story pitches and responding to press inquiries.
• Experience supporting executive or leadership communications.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication, including the ability to write for multiple formats, channels, and audiences.
• Experience developing and executing integrated communications strategies.
• Proficiency with digital content management systems and email marketing platforms.
• Excellent collaboration, partnership, and relationship management skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Broad and deep understanding of the communications role in institutions.
• Experience communicating at all levels and for all audiences.
• Strong influencing, negotiating, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to earn credibility and influence opinion leaders.
• Understanding of strategic communications principles.
• Capacity to write and synthesize complex materials and communicate highly technical or nuanced information in a manner easily understood.
• Ability to mentor, motivate, develop and train staff.
• Ability to guide cross-functions towards a common goal.
• Ability to discern a strategy to move forward and make or escalate decisions as appropriate.

Skills

Broad and deep understanding of the communications role in institutions.

Experience communicating at all levels and for all audiences.

Strong influencing, negotiating, and relationship management skills.

Ability to earn credibility and influence opinion leaders.

Understanding of strategic communications principles.

Capacity to write and synthesize complex materials and communicate highly technical or nuanced information in a manner easily understood.

Ability to mentor, motivate, develop and train staff.

Ability to guide cross-functions towards a common goal.

Ability to discern a strategy to move forward and make or escalate decisions as appropriate.