What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Manager position at VP Facilities?
Job Description
The communications manager helps plan, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive communications program and marketing strategy for the Division of Facilities aligned with universitywide communications and marketing initiatives.
The communications manager works closely with key stakeholders to enhance knowledge-share with both the university community and the broader external community around divisional initiatives and critical work/activities on campus. The communications manager may represent the focus areas before university employees, professional organizations, and other important university audiences.
The communications manager will:
- In collaboration with the director for communications and engagement, oversee the execution of all strategic messaging and content creation for use on websites, social media, and print publications supporting the assigned portfolio.
- In collaboration with the director for communications and engagement, serve as a communications lead on divisionwide initiatives and projects and liaise with other communications professionals within the EVP enterprise and across the university to ensure aligned messaging.
- Collaborate with Communications and Marketing (examples include Virginia Tech News, social media, media relations, content creation, marketing, donor relations, etc.) to ensure engagement is appropriate, timely, and supportive of the university’s mission and vision.
- Collaborate with the Town of Blacksburg and regional government stakeholders around infrastructure and public safety communications projects.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders, both internal to the university and external, including contractors and government stakeholders to further communications objectives and divisional initiatives.
- Develop written content that advances divisional storytelling and customer service initiatives such as Virginia Tech News stories, campus notices, etc.
- In collaboration with the director for communications and engagement, pursue news media coverage opportunities, connecting media outlets with the appropriate enterprise spokespeople.
- Ensure that all materials produced meet standards for quality, accuracy, and timeliness and are consistent with divisional/university brand, editorial, and graphic design standards.
The communications manager will supervise graphic designers, web developers, communications specialists, content creators, and other communications team members as staffing needs arise.
The position will require evening and/or weekend responsibilities during peak times. This position is designated as “Emergency Personnel.” Must be available twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week to provide support during planned or emergency situations or events.
Required Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or related field
- Demonstrated skill in developing communication strategies and marketing materials, strong writing skills, with an emphasis on news releases, articles, and web and social media content, working knowledge and understanding of effective graphic design and branding principles, and the use of the internet as a medium of communication
- Familiarity with web development and management; social media management; and visual storytelling principles and strategies
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion
- Experience developing and ensuring content meets or exceeds digital accessibility standards
- Exceptional communication skills, interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to effectively interact and build trusted relationships with diverse internal and external constituencies
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects; excellent organizational, leadership, and delegation skills; and ability to work collaboratively
- Must have strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills to manage complex tasks and/or those that require balancing competing interests
- Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with ability to see patterns, be a fast thinker, and make decisions with strong attention to accuracy, detail, and local context
- Demonstrated patience, reliability, composure, and stability under pressure as well as a strong personal ethics commitment
- Demonstrated experience leading and managing large scale communications initiatives and/or events
- Demonstrated experience leading people, either as a supervisor, a colleague collaborating with others, or both
- Demonstrated experience handling sensitive information
- This position is designated as “Emergency Personnel.” Must be available twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week to provide support during planned, or emergency situations or events to include being physically on site if deemed necessary.
Preferred Qualifications
- An advanced degree in communications, journalism, or related field
- Experience working in the public sector or similar to higher education environment
- Experience working in a construction environment
- Experience developing and executing process improvement and change management strategies
- Experience developing and maintaining communications policies and procedures
- Experience making data-driven decisions utilizing analytics platforms
- Experience utilizing email distribution platforms such as Adobe Campaign
- Experience utilizing CMS platforms such as Adobe Experience Manager
- Experience utilizing project management platforms such as Wrike
- Experience utilizing creative communications platforms including Adobe Creative Cloud
Pay Band
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Overtime Status
Exempt: Not eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Regular
Salary Information
$70,000 - $80,000
Hours per week
40
Review Date
April 15, 2025
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Facilities HR at opshr-g@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary : $70,000 - $80,000
