Director of Strategic Communications

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief of Staff and based in the Office of the President, the Director of Strategic Communications leads Erikson Institute's institution-wide communications strategy, ensuring the Institute's mission, priorities, and impact are communicated with clarity, consistency, and purpose. As a trusted communications partner to the President, Chief of Staff, and institutional leadership, the Director develops and executes communications that strengthen Erikson's reputation, elevate its thought leadership, and engage internal and external audiences.

Working collaboratively across Marketing, Enrollment, Development, Academic Affairs, Research, Policy and Community Impact, Human Resources, and other institutional units, the Director aligns communications with Erikson's strategic priorities while complementing enrollment marketing and fundraising initiatives. The Director oversees executive and institutional communications, media relations, internal communications, digital communications, editorial strategy, and crisis communications, while leading a small communications team and external consultants. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring an accomplished writer, editor, strategist, and communications practitioner who can move seamlessly between long-term planning and day-to-day execution.

Essential Responsibilities

Institutional and Executive Communications

• Develop and execute Erikson Institute's institution-wide communications strategy in alignment with the Institute's Strategic Plan and presidential priorities.
• Partner with the President and Chief of Staff to provide strategic communications counsel and support executive messaging and institutional communications.
• Develop, write, edit, and execute high-quality communications, including institutional announcements, presentations, newsletters, web content, talking points, correspondence, and other communications that advance Erikson's mission and strategic priorities.
• Coordinate institution-wide communications to ensure messaging is timely, accurate, consistent, and aligned across academic and administrative units.
• Lead communications planning and execution for major institutional initiatives, announcements, and strategic priorities.

Media Relations and Reputation Management

• Develop and execute a proactive media relations strategy that strengthens Erikson's visibility and reputation.
• Cultivate relationships with local, national, and trade media and proactively identify opportunities to elevate Erikson's faculty, research, programs, and institutional leadership.
• Prepare messaging, press materials, media responses, and briefing materials for institutional leaders.
• Monitor emerging issues that may affect the Institute's reputation and provide communications counsel to institutional leadership.
• Develop, maintain, and execute issues management and crisis communications plans in coordination with the President, Chief of Staff, General Counsel, Human Resources, and other designated leaders.
• Lead the development of initiatives, including a speaker's bureau and thought leadership opportunities, that increase Erikson's visibility and influence.

Content, Digital Communications, and Brand Governance

• Develop, write, edit, and oversee compelling content across print, digital, web, email, social media, presentations, photography, video, and other communications platforms.
• Lead execution of institutional storytelling that communicates Erikson's mission, scholarship, research, academic excellence, fundraising priorities, and community impact.
• Maintain editorial standards, messaging frameworks, and communications guidelines in partnership with President's Office and Marketing to ensure consistency with Erikson's brand identity.
• Ensure communications are accurate, accessible, inclusive, and consistent with applicable legal, privacy, confidentiality, copyright, accessibility, and institutional requirements.
• Provide communications leadership for institutional events by developing messaging, promotional materials, speeches, scripts, media support, and storytelling in partnership with staff responsible for event planning and execution.
• Maintain the institutional editorial calendar and prioritize communications projects in alignment with institutional priorities.

Internal Communications

• Develop and execute an internal communications strategy that strengthens organizational alignment, transparency, engagement, and institutional culture.
• Produce and manage internal communications, including institutional newsletters, leadership communications, and employee announcements.
• Partner with Human Resources and other institutional leaders to support communications related to organizational initiatives, employee engagement, and institutional change.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen communication across the Institute and recommend improvements to communication processes and practices.

Leadership, Budget, Consultant, and Performance Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop communications staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and service-oriented team.
• Personally lead high-priority communications projects while appropriately delegating and managing the work of staff, consultants, agencies, and vendors.
• Develop and manage the communications budget and external consultant relationships.
• Establish priorities and workflows that ensure communications resources are aligned with institutional goals and responsive to organizational needs.
• Develop annual communications plans, establish measurable goals and performance indicators, and regularly evaluate the effectiveness and impact of communications initiatives.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, creativity, responsiveness, and excellence within the communications function.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Institutional Reputation & Visibility

Increased visibility and positive recognition of Erikson Institute through high-quality earned media, thought leadership, and strategic communications.

• Communications Excellence

Timely delivery of high-quality communications that are accurate, compelling, consistent, and aligned with Erikson's mission, brand, and strategic priorities.

• Stakeholder Engagement

Effective internal and external communications that strengthen engagement, trust, and alignment among key stakeholders.

• Operational Excellence

Successful leadership of the communications function through effective management of staff, consultants, budgets, priorities, and the annual communications plan.

• Strategic Partnership & Readiness

Communications is recognized as a trusted strategic partner that provides proactive counsel, supports institutional decision-making, and ensures readiness to respond to emerging issues and crises.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible communications experience, including experience leading communications initiatives, projects, or teams.
• Exceptional writing, editing, storytelling, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supporting executive communications, media relations, issues management, and reputation management.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff, managing consultants, and administering budgets.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholders and work effectively in a highly collaborative environment.
• Strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information.
• Demonstrated proficiency with digital communications, content management systems, social media platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, education, research, philanthropy, healthcare, or another mission-driven organization.
• Experience supporting presidents, CEOs, or other senior organizational leaders.
• Experience managing communications agencies, freelancers, or external consultants.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards, digital analytics, and emerging communications technologies.
• Experience with website content management systems, email marketing platforms, and multimedia storytelling.

Application Materials

• Candidates must submit a cover letter, résumé, and a portfolio of professional writing samples demonstrating experience in strategic communications (in a single combined PDF). The portfolio should include a variety of communications materials, such as executive communications, speeches or talking points, media materials, newsletters, web or digital content, feature stories, organizational announcements, or other communications that demonstrate exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.

About Erikson Institute

We are the premier early childhood development organization committed to ensuring that all children have equitable opportunities to realize their potential.

Erikson Institute's graduate school uniquely prepares child development, education, and social work leaders to improve the lives of young children and their families. Our impact and influence are further amplified through our innovative academic programs, applied research, direct services in the community, advocacy, policy and leadership.

Erikson Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, family responsibilities, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local laws. In addition, Erikson Institute provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process).

To learn more, please visit our web site at www.erikson.edu