VP of Communications

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, seeks an innovative, results-oriented strategic communications professional with higher education experience; a proven record for working effectively with journalists; and a high level of skill in identifying and writing externally newsworthy stories, to include science and technology-focused content. By generating earned media placements with influential outlets, the Vice President for Communications plays a primary role in advancing the university's overall brand visibility and reputation. Through accurate, well-written external news stories, events, and one-on-one interviews, the Vice President elevates Embry-Riddle's status as an aviation, aerospace, science and engineering powerhouse, and supports goals related to enrollment, industry partnerships, philanthropy, and more. The Vice President further keeps the university community informed and engaged through internal channels. In a crisis, the Vice President serves as the university's designated spokesperson, responsible for swiftly developing, vetting, and deploying appropriate responses.

Under the auspices of University Administration, the Vice President for Communications supervises a team of writers and communicators, including those focused on external news stories, internal messaging, and executive communications. The team's focus is to advance the mission of Embry-Riddle through internal and external channels by generating external media placements; keeping the university community abreast of Embry-Riddle news, events, policies, and more; and supporting communication by the President as well as other members of Core Leadership Team. In addition, the Vice President collaborates extensively with colleagues across the university's Enrollment Marketing, College Brand Management, Multimedia, and Social Media teams to deliver and amplify strategic messages in a coordinated fashion, in keeping with the university's Strategic Plan.

The Communications team generates compelling, diverse news content that is propagated across the university's website and through an array of external channels. The Vice President develops comprehensive communication plans to ensure the successful deployment of promising university news stories. Content to be generated by the Vice President and the Communications team should be newsworthy, first and foremost, but also consistent with Embry-Riddle's strategic goals and messages related to enrollment, student success, research and innovation, global strategy, and philanthropy. Media placements generated by the Vice President, in concert with a talented consortia of Communications as well as Marketing colleagues, are intended to help to increase the value of degrees that students are earning, while also elevating Embry-Riddle's reputation as a thought leader in higher education and applied research.

The successful candidate will work collegially in a team environment to position Embry-Riddle as the go-to source of innovative solutions for industry, and as a high-value university where students can successfully pursue their most ambitious goals. Leveraging written and multimedia storytelling platforms, the Vice President will develop media stories and propose them to journalists; efficiently handle incoming media queries; and take the lead in managing crisis communication situations, at the direction of the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Further, the Vice President will assist university leadership in crafting top-level messages to students, faculty, staff, and parents, as needed; and counsel colleagues regarding their internal communication needs.

Taking direction from University Administration, the Vice President will serve three different campuses - Daytona Beach, Florida, Prescott, Arizona, and Worldwide. The Vice President will develop strategies that leverage traditional as well as digital and multimedia assets to raise visibility and reputation among all stakeholders, from students and their families, to donors, industry partners, and alumni.

Nature and Scope:

The Vice President for Communications will increase awareness of Embry-Riddle as a premier teaching and applied research institution, and as journalists' go-to source for authoritative, objective information on key aviation and aerospace topics. The Vice President will develop and execute university-wide strategic communications plans and messaging aligned with the Embry--Riddle's strategic goals. The successful candidate will place emphasis on discovering, developing, and distributing externally newsworthy stories university-wide, and therefore must have exceptional writing skills. Through all such efforts, the Vice President will strive to generate positive-sentiment earned media, consistent with the institution's strategic goals and messages. The Communications team further produces op-ed articles, speeches, testimony, letters, and other materials for the President and other senior leaders. Providing essential communications support for university leadership, the Vice President will also guide internal communications and collaborate effectively with creative professionals across multiple departments. Additionally, the Vice President must have the ability to respond both quickly and strategically to issues and topics impacting the three university campuses, working closely with key leadership.

Description:

This position will report to, and be a key advisor for, the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and President, while working in partnership with all university and academic leadership.

Hours / Location

The Vice President will be located at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus. This is a full-time, on-site position. The Vice President will work on-site during normal business hours. Further, as the university's primary crisis communicator, the Vice President will be expected to be available at other times, in case of emergencies.

Embry-Riddle is committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students are treated fairly and provided equal opportunities for employment, advancement, compensation, training, and other benefits of employment. Embry-Riddle makes employment decisions - including hiring, promotions, compensation, and other terms of employment - based on individual merit, qualifications, and abilities. Embry Riddle is strongly opposed to discrimination and harassment, and such behavior is prohibited by university policy. Embry Riddle does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, veteran status, predisposing genetic characteristics, age, religion, or pregnancy status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law, in its employment, educational programs, admissions policies, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. For further information, please visit our website.

• Master's degree in communications, journalism, or a similar field
• 10+ years of professional experience in communications, with significant experience specifically in a higher education setting
• Experience in communications strategy, using multiple channels to further the mission of the university through effective storytelling
• Exceptional ability to write accurate, compelling news stories, including complex science and technology-related articles
• Ability to effectively manage crisis communications strategies
• Ability to appropriately, effectively serve as the designated University Spokesperson, as needed, particularly during crisis communication situations
• Proven track record for providing timely, appropriate responses to media queries and maintaining positive rapport with news media
• Demonstrated ability to pitch and place news stories (i.e., earned media)
• Experience organizing and executing press conferences and other media-related events
• Ability to collaborate with other diverse creative professionals to develop multimedia and digital assets that support story-telling, and to fulfill media requests
• Strong leadership skills and ability to guide a team effectively
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and oversee team projects
• Outstanding professionalism and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree, Ed.D., or Ph.D.
• 15-20 years communications experience, to include higher education experience, with substantial experience as a supervisor
• Outstanding writing skills across a broad range of topics and genres, including research news, for different audiences
• Proven leadership skills with ability to work effectively with many diverse colleagues and external constituents at all levels, from senior management and academic leadership, to faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and donors
• Exceptional public speaking and on-camera skills (i.e., ability to handle TV interview requests)
• Proven record of responding swiftly, appropriately, and effectively to crisis communications challenges
• Knowledge of aviation and aerospace sectors will be a plus

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptionally skilled at writing and copy editing, across all categories of content, for a variety of purposes and audiences
• Broad knowledge of a wide array of current story-telling tools and tactics
• Strong interpersonal skills to support effective teamwork with diverse colleagues, from staff members to faculty, to executive leadership and external stakeholders.
• Effective, fair, seasoned leader who establishes high standards and clear expectations, and works to maintain superior team morale, productivity, and effectiveness, and to support employee retention.
• Ability to calmly, effectively handle a variety of different projects and tasks, often under tight deadlines.

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