Assistant Vice President And Chief Communications Officer

About Us

Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, 34 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates and continuing education programs.

As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.

Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, diversity, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.

The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming, diverse college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, now owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.

Georgia College & State University is committed to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting the freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.

Department Information

Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is one of the three selective admissions universities within the University System of Georgia, and was designated in 1996 as the state's public liberal arts university. GCSU offers a distinctive, experiential form of higher education in which high demand pre-professional and professional programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels are built on a solid foundation of the liberal arts. Through such curricular and co-curricular offerings, Georgia College students develop critical thinking, analytical, team-building, communication, leadership and problem-solving skills that set them apart from other graduates and prepare them for lifetime success.

Job Summary

GCSU seeks an experienced and strategic leader to serve as its Assistant Vice President and Chief Communications Officer (AVP/CCO) to serve as its chief spokesperson and help sustain and strengthen the university's momentum of recent years. Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the President's Council, the AVP/CCO represents and promotes the university, increasing its visibility and supporting the institution's mission, vision and goals. The AVP/CCO will lead the development and implementation of the university's brand vision, communications strategy and marketing/public relations campaigns to attract the best students, motivate alumni and donors, recruit high quality faculty and staff, and inform key stakeholders. The AVP/CCO will lead a centralized staff of approximately 17 communications and marketing professions, and will partner with others throughout the University's colleges, departments, divisions and offices to define and build an innovative and ambitious approach to communications and marketing that will reach each of the University's distinct audiences.

Responsibilities

Communications and Marketing 50%

• Individually and through the work of the University Communications' staff, tells the unique story of Georgia College & State University and the stories of its individual community members in a way that advances the University's mission and strategic goals, attracts the best and brightest applicants, and increases support from alumni and other key stakeholders.

• Develops and implements a consistent, integrated marketing and communications plan to define GCSU's identity, broaden awareness of its programs and priorities, and increases the visibility of the institution across key stakeholder audiences and markets.

• Identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the university, and work with leadership teams and staff to recognize communications opportunities and solutions.

• Working with the president and university leaders, communicate the university's priorities, initiatives, and accomplishments in ways that foster commitment to the university's mission, values, vision and strategic plan, and ensures that faculty, staff and students are well-informed.

Communications and Marketing- cont. -

• Works closely with senior administration through all colleges, divisions and offices to ensure that all university communications are consistent with the university's strategic objectives and branding.

• Works with leadership of all colleges, divisions and offices to develop appropriate cost-effective marketing plans that will accomplish objectives by use of the most suitable communications platforms.

• Serves as the university's chief spokesperson, and determines when other university voices are best utilized to convey appropriate messages.

• Researches and creates communications materials for the Office of the President and the Vice Presidents when requested, including speeches, talking points and background information for media interviews and other occasions.

• Develops and oversees crisis communication strategy and implements such plans across the campus.

• Participates in the planning of major university events and programs to assure that pre- and post-event messaging will maximize the impact of such events and programs.

Leadership and Management 45%

• Create a collegial, team-building work environment in the University Communications office, motivating and supporting the growth and development of staff, while cultivating productive, collaborative relationships within the office and with all constituent groups.

• Ensures effective and efficient operation of the units within the University Communications office (Creative Services, Public Affairs, Web Communications, Photography Services, Marketing & Publications, and University Broadcasting) by coordinating unit plans and workloads, goals and objectives, designing systems of effective controls to guide work toward expected outcomes of quality, accuracy, timeliness, and impact.

• Ensures a fiscally sound operation of the University Communications office by exercising best management practices within the confines of a budget.

• Remain competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues and key media professionals, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the President.

• Provides professional oversight of staff and year-around feedback on staff performance in order to support the growth and development of their communications skills and abilities.

Other 5%

• Performs additional duties and responsibilities in support of the President and the university, as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

A bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, digital media, or related field.

Required Experience

Five (5) years of related work experience that include project management and supervision of personnel at the senior level or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications

Masters degree in a related field

Preferred Experience

Ten (10) years of Higher Education experience.

Experience successfully leading teams within a complex organization.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

• Ability to provide strategic counsel to the President, senior leadership team, and campus at large on all aspects of communications and marketing.

• Excellent ability to articulate messages clearly, compellingly, and quickly at all levels and for all audiences.

• Proven ability to create and manage a collegial, team-building work environment, energizing and inspiring staff while creating a culture of collaboration with all constituent groups.

• Ability to problem solve and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively.

• Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations and exercise good judgment in a fast paced, dynamic and deadline driven environment.

• Proven ability to interpret analytics and data in order to build or adapt communications strategies around such findings.

• Contribute to the overall success of the university by performing all other duties as assigned.

• Substantial experience developing and implementing multi-faceted communications and marketing efforts that position and elevate the perception of an entire organization with multiple audiences, preferably in a higher-education context.

KNOWLEDGE

• Keen interest in local, state, and national news coverage of major events and key issues in higher education; comprehensive understanding of print, digital, and social news cycles and audiences.

SKILLS

• Stellar writing, editing, and presentation skills that demonstrate versatility, speed, and accuracy.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is committed to the fundamental principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current employee. No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, be excluded from employment or participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination, under any program or activity conducted by GCSU.

Georgia College & State University is a national award-winning institution in areas of student success and achievement. It strives to achieve excellence in the composition of its community, educational programs, university policies, research and scholarship, campus life, employment practices, extracurricular activities, and community outreach. It is a priority of the university to be a welcoming and inclusive environment so that its campus culture will enhance the ability of its community members to succeed in their endeavors, to be respected as individuals, and to feel a sense of belonging. Please visit Equal Employment Opportunity for more information.

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.

This position has financial responsibilities.

This position will not be required to drive.

This role is considered a position of trust.

This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).

Background Check

• Criminal Background Check

• Education Verification