Director, Institutional Communications

Westminster University

Director of Institutional Communications

Position Type: Full-Time, Benefited

Work Location: Westminster University Campus

1840 South 1300 East

Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Application Instructions:

Please apply directly through Westminster University's Career Job Posting.

A completed application will include a resume and cover letter that describes how your previous experience will contribute to this role and the Westminster community. Please submit all required documents through the single Dropbox provided.

About Westminster University:

Westminster University is a private, independent, and comprehensive university in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more than 150 years, Westminster has combined academic excellence with a strong sense of community and purpose. Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, the university offers the energy of a growing metropolitan area alongside world-class outdoor recreation just minutes from campus.

Our campus is collaborative, student-centered, and grounded in academic integrity. Faculty and staff work closely with students to foster critical thinking, career readiness, and meaningful engagement beyond the classroom. Employees are supported in their professional growth and encouraged to bring forward ideas that strengthen the university.

Westminster is committed to creating a workplace where people thrive - offering flexibility, generous time off, and a culture that values balance, inclusion, and innovation.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, the Director of Institutional Communications drives strategies for and implementation of a range of external communications and marketing projects. Working to build the university's reputation and brand expression, this role leads communications and marketing strategy for the university's programs and initiatives and supports student success through communicating the student experience to Westminster audiences and the public at large. This position leads a team of digital media and marketing professionals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four (4)years or more of work experience in communications, public relations, marketing, or other closely-related fields.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in communications, marketing, or a related field.
• Demonstrable experience with principles and concepts in public relations and media relations, and familiarity with marketing, social media, copywriting, photography, graphic design, audio and video production.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One (1) year or more of managing individuals who report to you.

Additional Requirements:

• May be designated as essential personnel in cases of campus closure or emergency.
• Extended hours, including evenings and weekends will be required.
• Ability to respond on-call as assigned, including evenings and weekends is required.

Responsibilities:

Communications

• Develop, manage, and execute a strategic communications strategy that elevates the visibility of the university and its leadership.
• Serve as the point of contact for media outlets and reporters. Field all incoming media requests and serve as the university's spokesperson.
• Develop messaging and narrative structures for media campaigns and materials such as press releases, media advisories, and pitches.
• Responsible for news coverage monitoring, analysis, and internal visibility to continuously elevate and adjust communications strategies.
• Produce internal communications that build community and credibility, keeping the campus community engaged and informed.
• Lead the strategy and production of integrated multi-media content for Westminster's website, social media channels, internal newsletters, enrollment platforms, and university publications.
• Develop and execute crisis and emergency communications plans for the university.
• Develop and plan for weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting on communications campaign performance and impact.

Marketing

• Lead the strategy and production of integrated multi-media content for Westminster's website, social media channels, internal newsletters, enrollment platforms, and university publications.
• Develop and set social media strategy aligned to the university's goals and strategic communications plans in coordination with the Digital Media Manager and Chief Communications Officer.
• Serve as a reviewer and proofreader of outbound marketing campaigns and materials to review brand and message alignment.
• Responsible for analyzing marketing campaign performance to determine effectiveness and make strategic optimizations for future campaigns.
• Develop and plan for weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting on marketing campaign performance and impact.

Government & Community Outreach

• In collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer, building relationships with relevant elected representatives at the local, state, and federal level.
• Leading legislative communications and updates to the campus community.
• Researching and developing relationships with community organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and other community partners for the university.

Organizational & Administrative Tasks

• Supervise the Marketing Manager and Digital Media Manager, providing regular feedback, guidance, and coaching, along with hiring and training as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Family and Medical Leave
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with a 5.5% employer contribution
• Tuition Remission (after a qualifying period of employment)
• 18 Paid Holidays Annually
• Cell Phone Plan Discounts

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Westminster University is committed to a diversified workforce, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination. To this end, Westminster prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on race or ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, disabilities, genetic information, status as a veteran, or any other category or classification protected by applicable federal, state, or city laws.