Vice Chancellor for University Communications

DescriptionUniversity of Colorado Denver l Anschutz Medical Campus
University Communications
Vice Chancellor for University Communications
Position #00698613 – Requisition #19478Applications for this position will NOT be accepted on this website. Please direct ALL applications, inquires and nominations to CUDenverUComm@wittkieffer.com. WittKieffer is assisting the University of Colorado Denver in this search. The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is a public research university serving more than 18,000 students. We award nearly 4,000 degrees each year, including more graduate and professional degrees than any other Colorado institution. With our solid academic reputation, award-winning faculty and renowned researchers, we offer more than 140 highly rated degree programs through 13 schools and colleges. The university receives over $400 million in research awards each year. In addition to the wide array of health-related programs and facilities offered at CU Anschutz in Aurora, Colo. a significant number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs are taught at CU Denver, our comprehensive campus in the heart of downtown Denver—one of America’s most vibrant urban centers. CU Denver is located steps from the Denver Center for Performing Arts and the LoDo District affording our students, faculty and staff access to a broad array of academic, professional, community, recreational and cultural outlets.The University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) seeks an experienced and inspiring leader to serve as its next Vice Chancellor for University Communications.The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus seeks a Vice Chancellor for University Communications to work in the Chancellors Office . The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding.In the heart of downtown Denver—one of America’s most vibrant urban centers—CU Denver is located steps from the Denver Center for Performing Arts and the LoDo District affording our students, faculty and staff access to a broad array of academic, professional, community, recreational and cultural outlets.As Colorado’s public urban research university, the University of Colorado Denver educates a diverse student body through quality academics, ambition research and creative work, and civic engagement in the city we call home. CU Denver graduates gain the powerful combination of immersive classroom and real-world experience that are in demand today. The city benefits from well-educated, top talent and a new generation of knowledge that fuels the future of Denver and our region. We are CU in the City. CU Denver offers more than 100 degree programs, from the bachelor’s to the doctoral level, in the heart of downtown. Here, more than 15,000 students pursue academic programs that range from global energy management to music industry studies to criminal justice. As part of the state’s largest public university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with nearly 2,500 employees and annual economic impact of $800 million. Job Summary:
Part of the University of Colorado System, CU Denver is a comprehensive urban research institution in metropolitan Denver. With eight schools and colleges, the university is home to more than 15,000 students and 1,138 faculty members and offers 110 degree programs both in-person and online. Reporting directly to Chancellor Michelle Marks, who joined the CU Denver community on July 1, 2020, the new vice chancellor will serve as a strategic communications advisor and active member of the university's executive leadership. The new vice chancellor will lead the development of a transformative marketing strategy and implement a strategic communications plans that repositions the institution. The vice chancellor will develop and lead the university's external and internal communications, news media relations, social media, and brand vision, and support efforts to recruit students, attract world-class faculty and staff, engage the civic and business communities, and motivate students, alumni, parents, and donors. CU Denver seeks a vice chancellor who will be a skilled communicator, possess an instinct for win-win solutions, and proactively engage and develop relationships with colleagues to ensure that the interests of all constituents are understood and represented. The vice chancellor will be skilled in advancing the mission of the university as well as its reputation and identity as a leading academic and research institution. CU Denver is committed to an ethical foundation, sense of shared responsibility, and culture of trust, and the new vice chancellor must possess impeccable moral character and conviction in serving the greater good of the university. The vice chancellor will join the university as it prepares to launch a university-wide strategic planning process in January 2021 and celebrate the university's 50th anniversary in 2023. This is a timely opportunity for an institutionally-ambitious leader to join a new chancellor and a mission-driven and dedicated executive team that, together with the full participation of CU Denver's community, is elevating the impact and reach of the university. Examples of Work Performed:At the direction of the chancellor, the vice chancellor is responsible for leading a team of roughly 15 marketing and communications professionals charged with creating the overarching strategy, goals, metrics, and tools to promote and raise the visibility of CU Denver. This includes engaging key internal and external audiences while protecting and elevating the reputation of the university. The vice chancellor supports the Chancellor's Office in all communications needs and manages the internal communications for the institution, ensuring that the campus has timely and effective communications around critical issues, key developments, and emergencies. The new vice chancellor will also oversee a robust marketing plan across traditional, social, digital, and emerging media, and assume a leadership role in integrating and coordinating the efforts of communications and marketing professionals across the university, including enrollment marketing and communications, to ensure the university's goals and priorities are achieved. Roles and responsibilities include: 1. Marketing and Brand:

• Lead the development and implementation of a branding and marketing strategy, consistent with the strategic goals, plans and aspirations of the university and market research, and in collaboration with the chancellor, other senior leaders, and key stakeholders.


• Ensure consistent messaging across all platforms including print and digital content.


• Develop and implement a marketing strategy that supports enrollment management goals.


• Engage communications professionals across CU Denver to ensure interdepartmental coordination and collaboration in efforts; facilitate brand integration to ensure that marketing materials are in line with the brand and institutional priorities.

2. Strategic Communications and Media Relations:

• Lead the development of a strategic communications plan that advances the university's strategic priorities through strategic storytelling, creative services and digital communications.


• Manage the implementation of a multi-faceted communications plan using broad concepts to include: strategic communications; brand, theme, and messaging; best-practice consultation; print and digital communications production; campaign event communications and marketing; and related digital communications coordination (email, website and social media).


• Lead the creation of communications and marketing materials.


• Provide vision and creativity to implement new forms of communications and marketing for the university, encompassing the latest communications formats, tools, and delivery methods.


• Oversee the university's media relations strategy, including key relationships with on-campus, regional, and national media. Develop programs and prepare key administrators to interface effectively with the media.


• Manage the resources and personnel within University Communications for strategic delivery of services. Provide leadership and mentorship to staff, both in terms of departmental strategy and professional development. University of Colorado Denver Vice Chancellor, University Communications


• Bring together important voices throughout the institution to clarify goals and unify messaging to strengthen engagement.


• Offer ideas and support to academic and administrative unit communications professionals, to inform and inspire an integrated approach to marketing and communications across the campus.


• Collaborate with the CU System, President's Office, Auraria Higher Education Campus (AHEC), and other University of Colorado campuses to develop and deliver cohesive and effective communications strategies that serve the best interests of both CU Denver and the CU System as a whole.

3. Advisor to the Chancellor:

• Advise the chancellor on all aspects of communications and marketing.


• Serve as a strategic partner to the chancellor as the chancellor considers various initiatives and directions, and their implications.


• Serve as a member of the university's senior leadership team.

4. Crisis Communications:

• Serve as lead advisor on all critical communications matters. Manage communications of difficult and sensitive university issues, including crisis and emergency communications.


• Act as University spokesperson to the public in times of institutional crisis.


• Work with university leadership and others to provide communication for internal and external audiences.


• Take the lead in ensuring accuracy of information on various platforms, especially social media.


• Strive to reinforce the trust that the public has in CU Denver through accuracy, timeliness, transparency, and integrity in crisis situations.

Benefits: The University of Colorado offers a full benefits package. Information on University benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at https://www.cu.edu/employee-services.The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees. The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

QualificationsQualifications

• Credentials: A bachelor's degree is required and a master's degree, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesThe ideal candidate will be an innovative, agile and proactive professional who embraces a team environment and works with colleagues in a spirit of partnership, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. The new vice chancellor will be a confident, high energy leader who has most if not all of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

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  Fit with mission: A deep resonance with the mission and possibilities of a CU Denver education including a drive that is constantly student centered, belief in opportunity and the transformative power of education, and commitment to community; demonstrated impact in enhancing diversity, equity and inclusive excellence; a strong understanding of faculty work and the faculty world, an eagerness to tie in to the academic and intellectual enterprise of the university, an understanding and appreciation of shared governance; and an ability to take a principled position, even in times of crisis.


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  Leadership ability: The ability to provide collaborative, visionary, creative, and galvanizing leadership to a critical office of communicators, communicators across the university, CU Denver leadership, and the broader community; a track record of inspiring collaboration and innovation, and of motivating teams; the capacity to serve as a strategic thought partner to the chancellor and other senior leaders, with the attendant skills of a creative, trusted and additive contributor to the overall University of Colorado Denver Vice Chancellor, University Communications 6 leadership of the university; and the energy, enthusiasm, credibility, and empathy to interact with colleagues at all levels of the organization in a manner that engenders buy-in and followership.


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  Expertise in branding, marketing, media relations and/or communications: A proven track record in leading branding, marketing, media relations and/or communications planning and execution for a complex organization with a diverse set of constituencies and audiences (experience in a higher education setting of similar size and complexity is preferred). A record of developing effective integrated marketing and communications plans and strategies that support both advancement and enrollment management goals and a history of drawing upon data and analysis to inform decision making is essential. Strong knowledge of and experience working with a broad spectrum of communications vehicles, including print and social media, website, CRM, and other digital communications are expected. Experience responding appropriately and strategically to legitimate public scrutiny, sensitive public issues, and requests for information on behalf of a high-profile public institution is a plus, as is the ability to maintain professionalism, create order, and instill a sense of calm in crisis situations.


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  Management skills: The ability to manage and develop people, programs, and operations effectively and to assess and make necessary changes to the organization and infrastructure so as to achieve objectives; promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement; advance an approach that both values excellence and responds successfully to a high-volume, deadline-oriented environment; and carry out the many responsibilities of the role including planning, analysis, resource and budget allocation, and supervision.


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  Communication skills: Exemplary communication skills, ability to present information effectively, and respond to questions from internal and external audiences with grace and finesse, both orally and in writing, including the capacity to formulate, articulate, and persuade a wide range of audiences around a shared vision; demonstrated skill in listening with care and working with others collaboratively to reach critical decisions, and the ability to communicate effectively about issues, decisions, and developments large and small.


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  Personal qualities: A demonstrated confidence and ability as a senior leader with the humility to be an effective part of a collaborative and collegial senior team; a lack of ego and self-promotion, together with the desire to partner with others in service of the strongest possible effort; an ability to listen and hear ideas and thoughts from a variety of interested parties and partners and to integrate the thinking and views of others into one's own; integrity and trustworthiness; flexibility, adaptiveness, and resilience; optimism; and a sense of humor are all desired qualities.

Job Category: Executive
Primary Location: Denver
Schedule: Full-time
Posting Date: Oct 28, 2020
Unposting Date: Ongoing