Director, University Communications

The mission of the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is the development of professional health care practitioners through innovation, individualized, and quality classroom, clinical, and distance education.


GENERAL SUMMARY
The Director of University Communications will collaborate with administrative and academic leadership and cross-functional partners across all USAHS campuses to build and implement internal communications strategies that keep University constituents informed, align with the University’s mission and core values, and support the brand position and reputation of the institution.

This role collaboratively develops and executes comprehensive internal communications tactics that advocate institutional priorities and objectives, promote engagement and inform internal audiences (including faculty, staff, students and alumni), and maintain the overall integrity of USAHS’ culture of commitment to excellence in health sciences education.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Develop high-impact communication strategies, channels, and vehicles to promote engagement with key constituencies and support the overall integrity of USAHS’ culture of commitment to excellence in health science education
• Ensure alignment of these strategies with USAHS’ business model, goals, and objectives
• Establish and maintain strong, collaborative, and coordinated relationships with administrative and academic leadership, cross-functional business partners and team members throughout USAHS to create and lead communications strategies that align with USAHS mission, vision, core values and culture
• Direct communications that build and protect the reputation of USAHS with internal audiences and key constituencies and that reinforce that students are always at the center of everything we do
• Lead and manage communication team members, including external agencies, consultants and contractors who contribute to and/or are accountable for day-to-day communications activities for USAHS
• Oversee core faculty and leadership biography and profile picture process to ensure new hires and changes are posted to the usa.edu website and communicated internally.
• Develop and/or create content in a variety of formats, including written communication and visual graphics.
• Manage, write and edit content for Campus Connection, the University’s weekly e-newsletter dedicated to sharing stories and informing faculty and staff. It provides information about the University, its people and the professions we serve.
• Create content for the University’s internal websites and intranet (MyUSA and Campus Connection) and post necessary cross-departmental updates.
• Coordinate, create and distribute alumni communications, including the biannual publication, Accolades, the monthly e-newsletter, Accolades Insider, and alumni emails. Oversee production with vendors, including printers, graphic designers and freelance writers.
• Oversee internal email calendar, moderation process and content support/review for University-wide and campus-wide student and/or employee emails.
• Collaborate with other departments such as PR, Alumni Engagement, Student Services, etc.
• Serve as an ambassador of the USAHS brand and consult on its proper use throughout all communications, internal publications and social media presence and any other environment in which the brand appears.
Monitor calendar, schedule, production and distribution arrangements and other details to ensure timely completion and quality control of internal communications activities/platforms.


Internal Communications:
• Identify and establish effective communication channels to reach internal target audiences including students, faculty, staff, and alumni; incorporate feedback mechanisms
• Establish strategies for measuring communication effectiveness and outcomes
• Build annual internal communications plan and calendar aligned with University goals and objectives
• Prepare and manage internal communications including newsletters, organizational announcements, emergency communications, etc. in collaboration with USAHS business partners
• Post content and monitor engagement on USAHS alumni social media platforms and usa.edu alumni web pages.
• Help identify alumni and students to record testimonials for USAHS and post reviews.
• Support internal communication to USAHS students, faculty and staff by creating and posting content to campus TVs.

Communications Compliance and Quality:
• Establish and maintain communications moderation/review processes to ensure quality and alignment of University-wide communications
• Ensure that USAHS communications comply with the institution’s regulatory and legal parameters; are sensitive to higher education as a regulated industry; and are