Executive Director, Strategic Communications

The Opportunity:

Are you a thoughtful communicator with a passion for storytelling that makes an impact? UCF is seeking an Executive Director of Strategic Communications to lead a high-performing team responsible for developing and delivering integrated communications that support our leaders and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, this position will partner closely with university leadership to shape messaging for presidential communications, institutional initiatives, and issues of strategic importance. This role oversees executive speech writing, strategic storytelling, and executive-level creative services, ensuring that all communications are compelling, cohesive, and aligned with the university's voice, values, and goals.

Classification Title: Director, Communications III

Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic and executive communications support. This includes speeches, talking points, social media posts, presentations, correspondence, and websites, and other communications touchpoints that convey the university's vision, amplify impact, and demonstrate aligned thought leadership on key topics.

• Oversee strategic communications planning and content development for major institutional priorities and university initiatives. Ensure messaging is aligned with the university's mission, brand, and strategic plan and tailored to match the voice and vision of individual executive leaders.

• Collaborate with leaders, communicators and other stakeholders across the university to identify, shape, and promote stories about people and work that elevate UCF's reputation for academic excellence, research achievement, and societal impact.

• Champion message discipline and alignment across university communications by developing messaging frameworks, strategic toolkits, and editorial guidance, while leading cross-functional coordination to ensure consistency and impact.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 10+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years of leadership experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership experience in strategic communications, executive communications, or related fields within higher education, government, industry, or other large, complex organization.

• Exceptional writing and editing ability, with demonstrated success in developing messaging strategies that support executive priorities, brand identity, and institutional goals.

• Proven ability to partner with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to align communication strategies across multiple audiences.

• Experience managing high-performing teams of writers, designers, and communication professionals, and fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and accountability.

• Strategic judgment in navigating sensitive, high-visibility, timely issues that impact institutional reputation.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

This position will work occasional evenings and weekends as university needs arise.

Applicant must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer, as sponsorship is not available for this position.

Classification Title: Director, Communications III

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions

• Education assistance

• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

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As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.