Assistant Vice President of Communications

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

Reporting to the vice president for university marketing and communication, the assistant vice president of communications (AVP) directs the team responsible for internal, external, and executive communication strategies and initiatives, including proactive and reactive media relations focusing on brand reputation and enhancement. The AVP serves on the university marketing communication division’s senior leadership team and manages all crisis communications and issues. As a member of the divisional leadership team, the AVP will collaborate on and lead the university’s integrated, multi-channel efforts to ensure a unified institutional voice and compelling, results-oriented creative campaigns and collateral. This senior leader advises on all issues and crisis communications on behalf of the university, including strategy, messaging, distribution, and responding to media.

The AVP oversees a team of four full-time professionals who serve as communications counselors, media champions, and brand ambassadors to others at the university. This group works closely with other divisional colleagues to create compelling narratives and messaging, maintain quality control of internal communications tools and deployment across the university, and ensure collaboration and a cross-functional approach to plans and initiatives to achieve maximum impact and measurable outcomes. The AVP also ensures strategic partnerships with schools and divisions to develop public relations strategies that help raise awareness of Loyola University Chicago and its various schools, centers, and departments.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of seven years of progressive experience in public or media relations, strategic communications, or marketing is required; an advanced degree is preferred.

Loyola University Chicago is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse, mission-driven workforce and enabling a culture of inclusiveness in an environment that values service excellence, stewardship, personal well-being, and professional development for all employees. The search committee particularly encourages applications from candidates who are strategic leaders, adept at identifying and implementing best practices, and dedicated to developing and supporting a creative and resourceful team within the context of Loyola’s Jesuit, Catholic mission.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders indicated that the successful candidate should be someone who:

• Is a strong writer and confident communicator.
• Demonstrates a proactive style of leadership.
• Is a seasoned strategist.
• Consistently exhibits grace under pressure with diplomacy and emotional intelligence.
• Has a strong sense of the universe of journalists.
• Stays abreast of industry trends and leads a best-in-class program based on benchmarks and best practices.
• Is committed to an integrated marketing-communications approach to protecting and enhancing Loyola’s brand and reputation.
• Is highly collaborative, asks the right questions, and leads productive meetings and conversations.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE ROLE

In transitioning to Loyola University Chicago, the assistant vice president of communications will encounter the following opportunities, priorities, and challenges, as shared by key campus stakeholders:

• The assistant vice president of communications role is a highly strategic, sought-out, and engaged role within the university. The next AVP must quickly earn the confidence of university leadership outside of the division, especially related to crisis and sensitive issues management. At the same time, the AVP will need to thoughtfully manage expectations and work demands for the strategic communications team.
• With the exception of the director of executive communications, the three other roles on the communications team have evolved and are filled with team members ranging in experience from junior to mid-level. The new AVP will lead an audit and review process to ensure that each position on the team represents the proper role and responsibilities individually and in partnership with the other roles across the communications and broader UMC team.
• A university messaging rubric is currently being developed. The new AVP will lead the process of refining and formally adopting the rubric.
• The crafting of a strategic communications plan is one of the most critical needs at LUC, especially in the context of President Reed’s vision.
• LUC has elements of a crisis communication plan in place, and stakeholders indicated a strong desire for a comprehensive crisis communication book that can provide clear yet flexible guidance on university response. The new AVP will build out the existing document with detailed scenarios, vetted statements, and appropriate owners and spokespeople.
• University marketing and communication (UMC) aspires to be a model for strategic communications functions within higher education, especially in relation to its Jesuit, Catholic peers. The AVP will assess the current landscape among this peer group, identify and communicate appropriate benchmarks, and develop a plan to elevate the work of the strategic communications team.
• UMC has recently launched a biweekly internal newsletter, Loyola News, and executive leadership would ultimately like to see it published every week. While an intake process for content submission is in place, a content calendar that is coordinated with other partners is in development. The AVP will be charged with developing the strategy to drive the content calendar creation that will feed the Loyola News website and newsletter while also being integrated with other marketing and communications plans.
• UMC has also recently launched a biweekly newsletter, Inside Loyola, for faculty and staff. The new AVP will assess its content and performance and help build out Loyola’s internal communications plans to ensure that the “Loyola experience” bolsters and amplifies the university’s brand promise.
• As part of Loyola’s focus on enhancing its brand and reputation, the new AVP will identify, media train, and promote Loyola experts in various fields through owned and earned channels.
• The new AVP will help design meetings and structures to facilitate coordinated intake and distribution of communications with UMC leaders, central team members, and embedded marketing communication personnel.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

The items listed below will define the new assistant vice president’s success throughout the first year of employment:

• The AVP is contributing consistently and at a high level to the UMC senior leadership team.
• The AVP has built strong, trusting relationships with key leaders across the university, particularly the executive leadership team.
• The AVP has gained the confidence of President Reed and is a valued partner in communicating the president’s vision and priorities.
• The AVP has ensured a high-performing team is in place and working against strategic priorities efficiently and effectively.
• The announcement of LUC’s next provost has been planned and executed successfully.
• A university messaging rubric with attending scenarios and vetted messages has been crafted, pressure-tested, and adopted.
• A communications editorial calendar has been developed that centers LUC’s brand and thought leadership work.