Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications

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POSITION SPECIFICS

Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications, the University's central public relations and marketing division, is seeking an experienced, proactive, and innovative leader to serve as its Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications (AVP).

This position will report directly to the Vice President for Strategic Communications, Rachel Pell, and collaborate with academic, administrative, and communications and marketing leaders and staff at Penn State campuses across the state. The AVP will help protect and advance the University's reputation for integrity; nurture pride and attachment among faculty, staff, and students; enhance understanding of and drive support for major leadership priorities; strengthen the institution's commitment to its employees; and advance Penn State's position as an exceptional employer.

Specifically, this forward-thinking and collaborative communications executive will provide overall vision and strategic leadership to an integrated team of 11 who are responsible for internal communications, including human resources and change management communications; Penn State News and other news vehicles; and partnership with communicators outside Strat Comm. The AVP will also partner closely with the issues and crisis team to support and work in critical areas facing the University. This individual must be a proactive and engaged member of the office who works toward solutions, directly contributes to the work of the office, and provides perspective on a variety of issues and forces shaping Penn State, as well as higher education, during a time of evolution in the University's structure and priorities.

Key Responsibilities

The Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications is a reconfigured role that brings together internal communications, change management communications, HR communications, and Commonwealth Campus communications, while also working hand-in-hand with crisis and issues management. The AVP will provide vision and leadership for crucial areas of university communications, as well as Penn State News. This role will also collaborate with leadership in the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses to provide strategic communication counsel and support that advances Penn State's Commonwealth campuses. Ultimately, the AVP will continue to build and implement a clear, unified vision for strategic communication aimed at strengthening the University's culture, supporting its employees, protecting its reputation, and managing institutional change.

The AVP will be responsible for the following key areas:

Internal and Change Management Communications

• Lead enterprise change communications and stakeholder engagement; serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders to anticipate, evaluate, and clearly communicate the impacts of organizational, operational, financial, and strategic decisions
• Strengthen institutional capacity for change management by developing frameworks, processes, and communication strategies that enable leaders to navigate complexity, uncertainty, and competing stakeholder expectations with clarity, consistency, and confidence
• Lead stakeholder analysis and engagement planning to shape communications around constituent needs and perspectives. Help leaders frame complex decisions, so they promote clarity, alignment, and constructive engagement among university and external audiences.
• Advance proactive change communications
• Equip leaders across the University to lead during this time of ambiguity and increased expectations
• Ensure that communications surrounding major initiatives are thoughtful, coordinated, and strategically aligned, positioning University leadership as informed, decisive, and prepared in the face of continual change
• Provide support for and collaborate with Commonwealth Campus communicators to maintain a cohesive brand identity while addressing campus-specific needs

Human Resources and Employee Relations Communications

• Oversee the team responsible for the creation and oversight of university-wide employee communications strategies, programs, and messaging regarding key University initiatives
• Develop creative strategies that foster internal brand relevance and cultivate a distinctive employee value proposition, ultimately driving employee satisfaction and engagement across the University
• Design and implement a comprehensive employee brand strategy that reflects the University's values, culture, and strategic objectives; aligns with overall internal communication efforts; and supports the University's brand positioning
• Conduct thorough data analysis, leveraging insights from employee feedback to craft targeted engagement initiatives that promote belonging, employee satisfaction, and well-being across the University
• Partner closely with the VP of Human Resources and their team for implementation and measurement

Crisis and Issues Management

• Coordinate closely with the director of Penn State's issues management team on key priorities to develop and support the execution of comprehensive, proactive, and reactive communication strategies that address crises and emerging issues that may adversely impact the University's reputation or operations
• As needed, work closely with the vice president of Strat Comm and her leadership team, Penn State's executive leadership, and cross-functional teams across the University to create cohesive and effective messaging that supports the institution's mission and strategic objectives

Additional Duties

• Provide thought leadership and strengthen the University's internal expertise and capabilities in outreach and engagement by leveraging emerging technologies and platforms, including AI
• Provide leadership support of robust and timely content aimed at informing internal and external stakeholders about news, events, and initiatives across Penn State

This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven leader to make a lasting impact at one of the nation's preeminent public research universities by shaping communication strategies at the highest level while engaging, informing, and connecting internal and external stakeholders with the institution's mission and strategic goals, particularly during periods of institutional change.

Preferred Skills and Experience

The Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• Exceptional judgment and the ability to anticipate stakeholder perspectives, frame complex issues thoughtfully, and build understanding and confidence during periods of change
• An inclusive and facilitative leadership style that inspires and empowers staff, fosters innovation, and encourages open communication and collaboration
• Proven experience in a senior communication role within a complex organization serving multiple, broad constituencies
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across diverse teams and distributed partners
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with an eye for strategic thinking and innovative problem-solving
• Expertise in employee communications, engagement, and internal brand development, with a deep understanding of data-driven decision-making
• Sophisticated understanding of communications channels and technology, from social media to CRMs to AI
• Experience working in an environment serving many internal clients and external constituents
• The ability and desire to thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact environment, managing multiple priorities while maintaining a focus on long-term objectives
• A commitment to Penn State's land-grant mission and sensitive to the diverse needs of regional campuses
• The ability to communicate, relate, and work effectively with and demonstrate respect for people at all levels of the organization and a wide variety of diverse backgrounds and cultures
• A high degree of integrity, character, and emotional maturity; humility, a sense of humor, and life balance; and an optimistic personality

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communications, advertising, journalism, business administration, or related discipline
• 10+ years of relevant communications experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience), including leading communications related to significant organizational change; the demonstrated ability to extrapolate and be valuable to supporting areas such as structural realignment, budget and resource planning, operational transformation, and student success initiatives; and at least eight years of experience in a supervisory or senior management role. Prior experience in higher education is not required.

About Penn State's Office of Strategic Communications

As Penn State's central public relations and marketing division, the Office of Strategic Communications is a fully integrated, award-winning, best-in-class marketing and public relations team defined by innovative strategy and breakthrough creative driven by measurable goals. We advance the University by strengthening and protecting the institution's reputation in regional, national and international spheres of influence in ways that serve recruitment, resource and leadership goals.

Spanning Penn State's large-scale enterprise-including campus locations across Pennsylvania, nearly 90,000 students, and an alumni base exceeding 800,000-the Office of Strategic Communications' work encompasses all forms of communications and engagement, ranging from branding, marketing, and trademark and event management to internal communications, proactive and social media, research communications, and crisis and issues management. We've attracted talented and diverse team members from private and public sectors at all levels of our division, giving us the ability to build a strategic program of excellence recognized throughout the University.

To Apply

Penn State has retained Isaacson, Miller, the national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed to the search firm at: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/pennsylvania-state-university/assistant-vice-president-strategic-communications

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