Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communication and Public Relations

Job Description

Title: Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications and Public Relations
Division: University Advancement
Reports to: Vice President for University Advancement and Chief of Staff
Location: Hoboken, NJ (hybrid working model)

The Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications and Public Relations provides executive leadership for Stevens Institute of Technology's communications, public relations, and institutional storytelling functions within the Division of University Advancement.

Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement and Chief of Staff, this position advances Stevens' mission and reputation through integrated strategies that elevate the university's visibility, strengthen engagement among key audiences, and align communications across advancement, enrollment, and academic priorities. The AVP oversees a team of directors and professional staff responsible for strategic communications, public and media relations, multimedia, social media, executive communications, and crisis communications, ensuring a unified and data-informed approach to advancing the Stevens brand.

The position operates during a period of intense scrutiny for higher education. Shifting federal policy, funding uncertainty, and growing public skepticism about the cost and value of a degree are reshaping how universities communicate and defend their reputations. The AVP must lead in this environment with sound judgment and steady execution, advancing Stevens' reputation while managing fast-moving issues that carry institutional risk.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Institutional Reputation

• Lead the development and execution of integrated communications strategies that promote Stevens' reputation among national, industry, and peer audiences.
• Oversee storytelling initiatives that highlight Stevens' academic strengths, faculty research, student success, alumni impact, and strategic partnerships.
• Serve as a senior advisor to university leadership on messaging, positioning, and reputation management.
• Direct the university's crisis and issues communications, ensuring timely, coordinated, and strategic responses.
• Represent the Division of University Advancement as a member of the senior leadership team and provide counsel on communications planning and resource alignment.

Public and Media Relations

• Guide proactive earned media strategy to increase Stevens' visibility in national, regional, technology, and higher education outlets.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, and influencers to promote faculty expertise and institutional achievements.
• Ensure alignment of media outreach with strategic goals for enrollment, advancement, research, and corporate partnerships.
• Oversee reputation monitoring and analytics to assess impact and inform continuous improvement.

Creative and Content Strategy Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of the university's creative content strategy across all owned, earned, and paid channels.
• Direct the creation of core narrative frameworks, campaign concepts, scripts, video storylines, feature content, and multimedia assets that serve as the foundation for Stevens' marketing, enrollment, advancement, and reputation-building efforts.
• Partner with Marketing to ensure that all paid campaigns are grounded in original creative direction developed under Strategic Communications.
• Oversee content pipelines and editorial planning to ensure cohesive storytelling and a consistent brand voice across institutional initiatives.
• Ensure that creative content aligns with Stevens' mission, strategic priorities, and audience insights while driving measurable engagement and visibility.

Executive and Institutional Communications

• Lead development of speeches, op-eds, video scripts, letters, and remarks for the president and senior leadership, maintaining voice consistency and strategic alignment.
• Manage internal and external announcements, presidential messages, and key university statements.
• Provide direct strategic counsel to senior leadership on sensitive communications and institutional messaging.

Digital, Multimedia, and Social Media Strategy

• Direct social media strategy for the university and the president's office, ensuring cohesive, on-brand engagement across platforms.
• Oversee a significantly expanded multimedia function with advanced production, technical, and digital content capabilities supporting reputation, enrollment, and advancement initiatives.
• Leverage analytics and digital tools to optimize reach, engagement, and storytelling impact.
• Champion innovation through new platfo