Senior Manager for Leadership Communications, Texas McCombs

Job Posting Title:

Senior Manager for Leadership Communications, Texas McCombs

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Hiring Department:

Red McCombs School of Business

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Texas McCombs is a top business school at the center of one of the most innovative cities in the U.S. The McCombs community champions hands-on experiences alongside the ground-breaking research and thought-leadership of a world-class faculty. The collaborative spirit and enterprising drive of the Longhorn alumni network, one of the largest university networks in the world, is embedded in our culture, making us human-centered and future-focused in all our endeavors. We are shaping those who will shape tomorrow, and solving challenging problems while remaining committed to creating a community that is dynamic, supportive, and challenging. What starts here really does change the world.

For more information about Texas McCombs please visit: https://www.mccombs.utexas.edu

Purpose

The Senior Communications Manager for Leadership Communications is a pivotal role responsible for developing and executing the communications strategy for the dean of the McCombs School of Business and her leadership team. This individual acts as a key partner to the director of communications, translating the dean's strategic priorities into compelling narratives. The ideal candidate is a gifted writer, a sharp strategic thinker, and a poised professional capable of navigating complex issues with sound judgment and discretion. This role is responsible for ensuring the dean's voice is clear, consistent, and impactful across all channels.

Responsibilities

Dean's Communication Strategy and Execution

• Conceptualize, research, and draft a high volume of sophisticated communications on behalf of the dean and dean’s leadership team, including speeches, talking points, school-wide emails, presentations, video scripts, and op-eds.

• In partnership with the director, develop and manage a comprehensive annual communications plan and editorial calendar for the dean, ensuring proactive and strategic engagement with key stakeholders.

• Provide in-person messaging and logistical support to the dean for public appearances, media interviews, and high-stakes events, occasionally during evenings and weekends.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the dean's office and the MarComm team to ensure seamless amplification of leadership messages across social media, web, and media relations channels.

• Develop and manage a dashboard to track and analyze the impact of the dean’s communications, providing regular reports and recommendations for improvement to leadership.

Issues and Crisis Management Support

• Serve as a key point of contact and first responder for emerging issues related to the dean's office and school leadership, ensuring timely escalation to the director and CMCO.

• Support the director in managing crisis situations by drafting initial holding statements, internal talking points, stakeholder messages, and FAQs with speed and accuracy.

• Monitor the higher education and business landscape to proactively identify potential reputational risks and opportunities, providing strategic counsel to the communications leadership.

• Work with stakeholders across the school and university to create a McCombs crisis communications playbook, with roles, responsibilities, and plans of action, focusing especially on dangerous situations such as an active shooter scenario.

Special Project Leadership and Alignment

• Lead and collaborate on multifaceted communications projects and campaigns that support school-wide priorities, such as major gift announcements, new program launches, and strategic initiatives.

• Write and edit copy as needed for special projects across school platforms, including online newsroom, digital newsletters, microsites, departmental, program, and center webpages.

• Make and oversee assignments as needed to staff and freelance writers, editors, consultants, photographers, and videographers for special projects.

• Serve as adjunct to director for media relations support.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years