Director, Local Communications
Stanford University
About this position
Position Description
This opportunity is a fixed-term position for two years. The Director of Local Communications is responsible for developing a new communications initiative designed to serve Stanford's local community. The role is anchored in the editorial and strategic ownership of a new local edition of Stanford Report—the University's flagship news publication—and will also contribute to broader integrated outreach work that builds awareness of Stanford's role in its community. This role calls for a thoughtful, strategic communicator who is well versed in content strategy and development across channels, and who is an able manager of relationships across University Communications and the broader Stanford campus. An understanding of the local audience is also important to this role. The successful candidate will combine sound editorial judgment with strategic discipline, working effectively in a matrixed environment to strengthen relationships, build goodwill, and bring institutional priorities to life for local audiences. This position is a two-year term role with the opportunity for extension. It reports to the Senior Director of Channel Strategy, with a dotted line to the Associate Vice President, Brand and Communicator Engagement. The role will work closely with members of the Strategic Communications and Media Relations teams, as well as with units in External Relations. Position Summary Develops and executes proactive communications strategies for the University's local audience, including a new local edition of Stanford Report, with a university-wide perspective and in support of Stanford's strategic priorities. In this role you will: Strategy and planning Develop and execute strategic communications plans for the local audience, incorporating a university-wide perspective and including methods to quantitatively measure each plan's impact on and contribution to the University. Develop key messages and editorial strategies that communicate complex information about Stanford to local audiences across web, email, and social channels. Devise and implement creative, compelling, and effective means of communicating Stanford's mission and contributions to residents of the surrounding community. Each of these goals should be informed by data insights generated in support of this work. Content development and editorial ownership Develop and optimize content for local audiences of Stanford Report (web and email), working closely with the Associate Vice President, Brand and Communicator Engagement, and in alignment with adjacent University communications initiatives. Maintain creative and editorial ownership of the local edition of the Stanford Report web and email products, including responsibility for production, creation, sourcing, and curation of material. This may include research, reporting, and writing, in addition to collaboration with relevant contributors. Engage colleagues across campus to source content and story ideas, building relationships that surface compelling local narratives. Cross-channel collaboration Build relationships and collaborate with University Communications leadership and across school, unit, and functional areas to ensure consistent and complementary strategic plans aligned with overall university outreach and communications. Contribute to web production and editing on news.stanford.edu and stanford.edu. Contribute to social media content creation and channel management. Support paid social campaigns in collaboration with colleagues. Provide story and copy editing across the broader content portfolio. Professional development Maintain knowledge by attending webinars and conferences and through professional networking, in order to remain at the forefront of current industry standards, trends, and technology. Other duties Other duties may be assigned. To be successful in this role, you will bring: Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Broad and deep understanding of the communications role in institutions. Excellence in communicating at all levels and for all audiences. Excellent influencing, negotiating, and relationship management skills. Demonstrated understanding of strategic communications principles. Excels at writing, analyzing, and synthesizing complex materials, with a demonstrated ability to communicate highly technical or nuanced information in a manner that is easily understood. Demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate, develop, and train staff. Depth of experience, sound judgement, and confidence befitting a functional leadership position. Strategic and tactical thinking ability. Demonstrated ability to manage issues through diverse and competing interests. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functions toward a common goal. Demonstrated ability to discern a strategy to move forward and make or escalate decisions as appropriate. In addition, preferred requirements include: Demonstrated ability to develop content natively in web content management systems and email marketing platforms such as Marketo. Demonstrated deep understanding of the local communities surrounding the Stanford campus. Knowledge of and familiarity with Stanford a strong plus. The expected pay range for this position is $155,946 to $182,852 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs. At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. Physical Requirements* Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.] Frequently stand/walk, sit, use a telephone, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, speaking. Occasionally grasp forcefully, writing by hand. Rarely sort/file paperwork. * - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. Working Conditions Occasional work on evenings and weekends. Work Standards Interpersonal skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations. Promote culture of safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu/. The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Additional Information Schedule: Full-time Job Code: 4225 Employee Status: Fixed-Term Grade: K Requisition ID: 109175 Work Arrangement : Hybrid Eligible
Qualifications
To be successful in this role, you will bring: Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant experience. Broad and deep understanding of the communications role in institutions. Excellence in communicating at all levels and for all audiences. Excellent influencing, negotiating, and relationship management skills. Demonstrated understanding of strategic communications principles. Excels at writing, analyzing, and synthesizing complex materials, with a demonstrated ability to communicate highly technical or nuanced information in a manner that is easily understood. Demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate, develop, and train staff. Depth of experience, sound judgement, and confidence befitting a functional leadership position. Strategic and tactical thinking ability. Demonstrated ability to manage issues through diverse and competing interests. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functions toward a common goal. Demonstrated ability to discern a strategy to move forward and make or escalate decisions as appropriate. In addition, preferred requirements include: Demonstrated ability to develop content natively in web content management systems and email marketing platforms such as Marketo. Demonstrated deep understanding of the local communities surrounding the Stanford campus. Knowledge of and familiarity with Stanford a strong plus. The expected pay range for this position is $155,946 to $182,852 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs. At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. Physical Requirements* Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.] Frequently stand/walk, sit, use a telephone, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, speaking. Occasionally grasp forcefully, writing by hand. Rarely sort/file paperwork. * - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. Working Conditions Occasional work on evenings and weekends. Work Standards Interpersonal skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations. Promote culture of safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu/. The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.