Description 
The Communications and Marketing Director is responsible for communications leadership and support for the College of Veterinary Medicine, including leading the communications team, developing and implementing a strategic communications plan, marketing, digital communications, media relations, internal and external communications, crisis communications and branding. The director will lead a staff of professionals and report to the Associate Dean of External Partnerships and Engagement.
This position is a key member of the CVM Advancement Team, charged to advance the CVM mission, raise and access resources, build reputation and knowledge-transfer. In coordination with the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Communications and Marketing will work collaboratively to support the collegeâ™s advancement efforts across multiple channels and initiatives. The Director will work to position the CVM by crafting overall key messages and strategies to clearly articulate the mission of the college to all external facing relationships, including alumni, donors, clients, governmental agencies, commodity groups and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

55% - Communications leadership 
Provide leadership direction, visioning, strategic alignment, and resource allocation for marketing and communications activities for the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Develop and execute short-term and long-term targeted strategic communications plans for the CVM. 
Advance the College of Veterinary Medicine with constituents and stakeholders including donors, alumni, media, and clients of the hospitals, faculty, students and public partners in local, national and international forums. Plan, coordinate and implement effective communications strategies across the CVM that promotes the collegiate mission and goals.
Identify internal and external stakeholders and work with them to better understand and address their communications needs. 
Provide expert advice to a broad range of constituents including administration, faculty, and staff on the most effective and efficient methods of achieving their internal and/or external communications goals.
Oversee media relations and public relations strategies. 
Manage crisis communications, which include developing a crisis communications plan and managing all communications and channels during a crisis to protect CVM reputation.  
Supports development of executive communications, including talking points and presentations delivered to the Board of Regents, federal and state legislators, federal and state agencies, public and private partners and funders.
Develop and direct an internal communications plan to ensure that faculty, staff and students have the information and communication channels they need to effectively collaborate and perform their jobs.  


25% - Communications Team Management 
Supervise communication staff, including editor, graphic design and web positions.
Developing communications department budget, resource allocations, selecting and overseeing vendors.
Coordinate and support the work of the CVM Communications Department to expand communications capacity throughout the College and ensure coordinated efforts across units. 

15% - Branding and Marketing 
Oversee CVM and University brand standards among faculty, staff and students to ensure brand compliance across the College. 
Ensure key messages and brand are reflected in all communications, outreach, marketing government affairs and promotional materials that align with the University's mission and the College's strategic plan.
Lead CVM digital strategy and its digital channels including Web, email, Facebook, YouTube, X, LinkedIn and other platforms.

5% - Other duties as assigned

 

Required Qualifications
BA/BS degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism or related field
10 years of progressive responsibility in communications and marketing
Minimum of at least 5 leadership experience, leading and developing teams 
Experience developing strategic communications plans and executing integrated communications strategies
Demonstrated success in project management, including organizational and planning skills

Preferred Qualifications
Public relations or public affairs work experience.
Past communications leadership experience in a higher education setting. 
Success working and leading in a complex, multi-layered collaborative environment.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively and orally across all levels of the organization.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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