Senior Director of Chancellor Communications

As the university's central marketing and communications team, Strategic Relations and Communications advances CU Boulder's mission, vision, and reputation through an integrated communications approach supporting a campus-wide experience that inspires greater affinity and engagement.

Strategic Relations and Communications advances national and global recognition of CU Boulder by demonstrating its public value, improving the inclusiveness of our marketing and communications, supporting a campus-wide experience that inspires greater affinity and engagement, and providing tools and processes for campus partners.

Executive Communications Strategy and Counsel:

• Serve as the chancellor's primary writing partner and a trusted strategic adviser to the chancellor and university leadership team.
• Develop and implement executive communications strategies that advance institutional priorities, reinforce leadership credibility and strengthen understanding of the university's mission, impact and direction.
• Advise the chancellor on messaging, audience considerations, communications approach, tone, timing and channel selection, particularly in complex or high-stakes situations.
• Translate institutional strategy, complex issues, and leadership perspectives into clear and audience-centered communications.
• Find opportunities to elevate the chancellor's voice and advance the university's narrative through timely commentary, thought leadership and engagement with key audiences.
• Exercise independent judgment in ambiguous, time-sensitive situations, balancing competing priorities, reputational considerations and institutional objectives.

Executive Writing and Editorial Leadership:

• Lead the development and delivery of high-quality executive communications, including speeches, commencement and ceremonial remarks, keynote addresses, talking points, briefing documents, letters, long-form thought leadership, LinkedIn content, video scripts and other leadership communications.
• Draft, edit and refine a substantial volume of executive content, ensuring exceptional writing quality, precision, and strategic purpose.
• Capture and sustain the chancellor's distinctive voice while ensuring alignment with the university's institutional narrative, leadership priorities, and communications standards.
• Serve as the editorial authority for chancellor communications, ensuring that every piece reflects the appropriate voice, tone and audience awareness.
• Establish and maintain standards for executive writing, including messaging frameworks, editorial guidelines, briefing practices, and systems for ensuring quality standards.
• Provide candid, constructive editorial feedback and exercise the judgment necessary to strengthen content while preserving the intent and perspective of the chancellor.

Executive Communications Infrastructure and Organizational Leadership:

• Design and build the frameworks, workflows, planning processes and governance structures that support a high-performing executive communications function.
• Establish clear expectations for content development, review, approvals, prioritization and delivery while maintaining the flexibility required in a dynamic university environment.
• Create systems that improve coordination, reduce duplication, strengthen quality control and enable consistent execution across communications teams and university units.
• Assess existing processes and find opportunities to improve efficiency and the overall quality of executive communications.
• Lead through influence and partnership, building shared understanding and accountability among colleagues and partners who contribute to executive communications.

Institutional Narrative and Cross-University Collaboration:

• Ensure chancellor communications reinforce a cohesive institutional narrative and reflect the university's strategic priorities and values.
• Partner closely with communications, marketing, social media, public affairs, academic leadership, and other university partners to align executive messaging with broader institutional initiatives.
• Collaborate across campus to identify stories, milestones, research, achievements and emerging issues that warrant executive attention and engagement.
• Coordinate executive communications across digital, social, print, video, live-event and other channels to enhance relevance, reach and impact.
• Build effective working relationships with internal teams and other partners to ensure timely execution and consistent editorial quality.

Issues Management and Operational Execution:

• Respond quickly and thoughtfully to emerging issues, urgent requests and shifting leadership priorities while ensuring accuracy and quality.
• Make informed decisions when information is incomplete or outcomes are uncertain, advancing issues when appropriate and providing clear recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously, balancing central initiatives with immediate executive needs.
• Maintain a disciplined approach to planning, deadlines, version control, and partner coordination without allowing process to impede sound judgment or timely execution.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of executive communications and continuously refine approaches based on leadership feedback, audience needs, institutional priorities and emerging opportunities.

The annual salary range for this full-time position is $115,000-$135,000.

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one of Forbes' America's Best Large Employers, ranking #4 among large employers in Colorado and #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, English, marketing, public relations or a related field.
• Six or more years of progressive experience in executive communications, corporate communications, institutional communications or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing communications for C-suite executives, presidents, Chancellors, or other senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to capture and maintain an executive's authentic voice while aligning communications with broader organizational messaging and strategic objectives.
• Experience providing strategic communications counsel to senior leaders on messaging, audience strategy, content development, and communications priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, make sound decisions amid ambiguity and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and with partners who have competing priorities.

• Strategic judgment: The ability to distinguish what matters most, anticipate implications, and recommend the right communications approach in complex and consequential situations.
• Exceptional writing craft: The ability to produce clear, distinctive, compelling executive communications and elevate the quality of work through rigorous editing.
• Executive presence and credibility: The confidence to advise senior leaders, articulate a point of view and engage constructively in candid discussions and critique.
• A builder's mindset: The ability to create the standards, systems and infrastructure that support consistent excellence rather than simply operate within existing processes.
• Adaptability under pressure: The ability to prioritize, make decisions and deliver high-quality work amid uncertainty, urgency and changing expectations.
• Editorial authority: The discernment to protect executive voice, maintain institutional alignment and uphold rigorous quality standards across all content.
• Collaborative leadership: The ability to build strong partnerships across a complex university and align contributors around shared goals and expectations.
• Ownership and accountability: A willingness to take responsibility for both strategic outcomes and the details of execution, from the initial communications approach through the final approved product.

• Eight or more years of progressive experience in executive communications, corporate communications, institutional communications or a closely related field.
• Experience in higher education, a large, complex institution, or another mission-driven organization with diverse team members and decentralized communications operations.
• Experience establishing or leading an executive communications function, including developing editorial standards, operating frameworks, workflows, and quality-control processes.
• Familiarity with digital communications, social media, executive thought leadership, video, live events, internal communications platforms and other multimedia channels.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, with the ability to establish structure and clarity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• A proactive, innovative mentality and the confidence to challenge assumptions, offer candid recommendations and propose better ways of working.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to navigate constructive disagreement and maintain composure under pressure.
• Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, discretion, sound judgment, and the responsible handling of sensitive executive and institutional information.

This position is designated "essential services." The incumbent is required to respond to requests for work during campus emergencies (snow, wind, rain, flood and any other natural or man-made event) and report to work for his / her regularly assigned shift during emergency campus closures.