Assistant Dean for Communications
Requisition Number:
63606
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
University Staff
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
28-Apr-2025
Date Posted:
17-Apr-2025
Job Summary
The College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) at CU Boulder encourages applications for our assistant dean for communications! The assistant dean for communications plans, implements and leads all aspects of a comprehensive and long-range communications strategy for the college, in conjunction with overall communications strategies and annual integrated marketing communications plans developed by the CU Boulder campus. Reporting to the dean, the assistant dean for communications (ADC) is a member of the dean’s senior leadership team and works in close collaboration with other members of the team. The ADC supervises the A&S communications team, which includes the web and publications coordinator, communications manager for student success and the web and publications design coordinator.
The position develops the communications strategy of the college in concert with the dean and/or other college official(s) as the dean designates. The ADC makes recommendations, solicits input from the dean and other officials as appropriate, develops resulting ideas into a formal strategy and, upon approval, implements this strategy for the benefit of the college.
The college's communications strategy encompasses both internal and external communications and includes print and electronic publications, media relations, recruitment communications and alumni relations. The strategy also encompasses marketing, institutional advertising, social media and video productions. Primary objectives of the ADC are improving the college’s reputation and advancement outcomes in the context of the overall CU Boulder campus, supporting its efforts to improve student retention, and supporting its efforts to augment student recruitment, in conjunction with the annual campus recruitment strategy.
The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder is the intellectual core of the university, conducting research, scholarship, creative work and education in more than 60 fields. Our research generates new knowledge, solving some of the world’s most critical problems!
The college leads nationally in undergraduate and graduate education in the natural sciences, social sciences and arts and humanities, bringing world-class research and scholarship to our students, both in and out of the classroom.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Manage Communication Strategy Development:
- Working with college leadership and campus partners to develop, handle and complete an integrated marketing and communications strategy for the College of Arts and Sciences to burnish its reputation as the intellectual heart of the university and the vanguard of a liberal arts education.
- Working with direct reports and college partners to plan and implement marketing and communication strategies.
- Producing and supervising general distribution of college-wide publications.
- Planning and supervising the budget of the Communications Office and preparing annual reports and program plans regarding the operation of that office, as required by the dean.
- Facilitating communications to college faculty, staff and students to ensure consistent messaging about key initiatives and issues.
- Preparing communiques, articles, memoranda and talking points for the dean as needed or requested.
- Fielding requests for information from the media and others and suggesting media strategies and talking points on public issues, in close coordination with Strategic Relations and Communications.
- Supporting the strategic goals of the college and the campus and producing and advancing the strategic goals of the communications team.
- Maintaining photographic files and certain archival material for the Dean's Office.
- Ensuring branding consistency in all college-level external relations.
- Drafting college communications policies, defining and promoting, within practical limits, standards and consistency for all college-wide publications, in alignment with campus and system policies.
- Maintaining special constituency mailing lists.
- Maintaining responsibility for all college websites.
- Identifying and regularly reporting on key performance indicators (metrics).
- Managing freelance writers and student interns.
Align College and Campus-wide Communication Strategies and Efforts:
- Working with the campus Strategic Relations and Communications leadership team to promote newsworthy events in the college and to advance the university’s central initiatives with respect to recruitment and retention as a part of annual integrated marketing plans at the campus level.
- Maintaining an active role in campus-wide communications initiatives so that the college is represented on appropriate publications and outreach committees and commissions.
- Participating in professional organizations to keep abreast of developments and issues in the communications field and to maintain contacts with colleges at other institutions.
Other/Projects:
- Collaborating closely with the Office of Advancement alumni relations team, promoting its initiatives, and integrating these efforts into the overall integrated marketing communications plans for the college and the campus.
- Supporting other college priorities.
What You Should Know
This position is anticipated to have a hybrid schedule with at least 3 days a week on campus/in-office, subject to change depending on business needs.
What We Can Offer
The annual salary range for this full-time position is $124,700-$173,000. Onboarding assistance is available per department guidelines.
Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.
Be Statements
Be creative. Be impactful. Be Boulder.
What We Require
Advanced degree from an accredited college or university and 6+ years of experience in journalism, communications, public relations, and/or related areas with a proven track record of success, OR equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
What You Will Need
- Strong record of excellence in clear, cogent and concise writing.
- Proven ability to clearly and persuasively articulate the themes and issues associated with a major research institution.
- Mastery of modern stylistic conventions, especially Associated Press style.
- Familiarity with or mastery of a wide range of software, including content-management systems, Adobe Creative Cloud, broadcast-email software and other tools.
- Strong organizational, prioritization and time management skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Ability to handle confidential information in an appropriate manner.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced and complex environment.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Master's or JD Degree.
- Managerial experience, leading teams of trained communications professionals.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
Please apply by 4/28/2025 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu