Posting Summary:
Teachers College, Columbia University is looking for an Executive Communications Manager/writer to join our Strategic Communications team and work across administrative offices to develop and write communications for a variety of internal and external audiences and clients. Apply your expertise in writing and content development to help Teachers College (TC) leaders and experts share the impact of our work and elevate our institutional profile.

To be considered, please submit a custom letter of interest, a current resume, two brief writing samples of up to 1,000 words, and a portfolio of previous work, if relevant, as part of your application. We will continue to review applications as we receive them until the position is filled.

Job Summary/Basic Function:
Apply your expertise in writing and content development to help Teachers College, Columbia University leaders and experts share the impact of our work and elevate our institutional profile. Teachers College, Columbia University is looking for an Executive Communications Manager/Writer to join our Strategic Communications team and work across administrative offices to develop and write communications for a variety of internal and external audiences and clients.

The Executive Communications Manager develops, writes and executes institutional communications – including announcements, remarks and speeches, briefing materials, messaging campaigns, presentations and commentary – on behalf of the College, the Provost and other members of the President’s Cabinet as needed. The position writes and executes select communications on behalf of the President.
The Executive Communications Manager will operate as an internal reporter of sorts, ensuring that our community of students, faculty, staff, alumni as well as the are well-informed about and engaged in important updates, priorities, and initiatives of the College and its senior leadership. This resourceful, collaborative member of the TC Generation team must have exceptional research and writing skills, excellent attention to detail, the ability to work well under deadlines, and knowledge of and an interest in learning more about current affairs and policy as they relate to social justice and the role of education in advancing a more equitable society.

The position reports to the Senior Director of Strategic Communications, and will work closely with all members of an eight-person Strategic Communications team as well as with colleagues across the TC Generation team that also includes Brand/Creative Studio, Digital Campus Infrastructure, Advancement Services, and Omnichannel Marketing within the Office of Institutional Advancement. The role will require close collaboration and relationship-building across the College, including with colleagues in the Offices of Institutional Advancement, the Provost, the President, Administration, Operations, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, and Diversity and Community Engagement. The person in this role has the opportunity to immerse themselves in the breadth and depth of Teachers College’s work and partner with talented individuals across the institution.

We offer a hybrid work arrangement. The individual in this role must be able to work out of our New York City-based office as needed.
About Teachers College

Teachers College empowers committed learners and leaders to build a smarter, healthier, more just and equitable world through multidisciplinary knowledge creation, policy engagement, and practice innovations across education, psychology, and health. As part of TC’s Office of Institutional Advancement, TC Generation develops, produces and disseminates content across communications channels to inform and engage our internal and external stakeholders in the impact of our work on campus, in the NYC community and beyond.

Responsibilities:

 

• The Executive Communications Manager will strengthen Teachers College’s impact by advancing knowledge and understanding of institutional priorities and initiatives on behalf of the College’s President, Provost and senior leadership. The Executive Communications Manager achieves this by writing a range of executive communications, and identifying and crafting new ways to tell the story of TC’s impact. This role will:

 

•  Conceive, write, and execute the story lines, one-off messages and internal and external communications materials, speaking remarks and opinion pieces, as relevant, for the senior administrative leadership of Teachers College (members of the President’s Cabinet).
  Research, write and execute select communications on behalf of the President, including: community messages related to crises or unplanned issues; institutional announcements; and holiday/cultural recognition messages. Liaise with Presidential Speechwriter and Special Projects Advisor in the President’s Office to collaborate, edit or review writing, as needed.

 

•  Embed with select administrative teams early in the development of a project to conceptualize key messages around institutional initiatives and work closely to develop and write relevant communications, such as announcements, messaging campaigns, presentations, briefing memos, publications and other materials.

 

•  In collaboration with Strategic Communications and colleagues across TC, develop and maintain a communications calendar for key executive communications, and outline audience distribution for key executive messages (e.g. Board of Trustees, President’s Advisory Group, Cabinet)

 

• Develop a repository of key topics, themes and messaging on relevant TC issues, topics, research areas and high points for inclusion and incorporation into executive communications and other institutional materials across strategic communications.

 

• Establish and foster relationships and rapport and trust with key Teachers College constituencies, such as the President’s cabinet, Provost and faculty – to ensure relevant input and timely review of communications that support the priorities of these groups while promoting the overarching vision, values, and brand of the President and Provost and Teachers College as a whole.

 

• Demonstrate use of sound judgment and discretion on sensitive or confidential assignments, maintaining the trust and confidence of TC Generation and the College’s leadership team.

 

•  Draft and execute communications under unpredictable, tight deadlines, and respond to crisis situations as needed

 

• Identify, track and report on performance metrics for executive communications.

Minimum Qualifications:

 

• Teachers College and this role are an ideal fit for a motivated, mission-driven professional with a strong drive to produce excellent work and a gift for collaboration. The Executive Communications Manager should be able to build trust and rapport with colleagues in all positions. Strong candidates will possess the following qualifications

 

• Demonstrated ability to research, write and edit for a range of topics, communications and audiences, with proven experience working in executive or corporate communications in a higher education setting or comparable cause-related organization.

 

• Capability to learn how to write for a leader’s “voice” and to meet expectations for written style and content for a variety of audiences, and to accept and apply constructive criticism

 

•  Considerable experience with time management and proven ability to work across disciplines under tight time constraints while maintaining a professional demeanor under stressful conditions

 

•  Exceptional interpersonal, written and communication skills, including experience collaborating directly with senior-level administrators/executives, as well as facilitating requests with internal clients

 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, use sound judgment in making decisions, balance multiple priorities, and communicate proactively with stakeholders about project risks or uncertainties

 

• A deep commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with TC’s core values

 

• Exceptional writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill and synthesize broad and sometimes complex information into clear, succinct prose for target audiences

 

• Demonstrated resourcefulness, tenacity, responsibility, curiosity, creativity and teamwork with ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of detailed work with conflicting priorities, and deliver under tight deadlines.

 

• Exceptional work ethic, with a willingness to respond to demanding situations as they occur and to tolerate ambiguity.

 

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 5+ years of professional experience in communications, journalism, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

 

• Experience working on tight deadlines as a journalist or in a professional association or similar writing role.

 

• Experience writing for the Associated Press Stylebook guidelines and in adherence to brand standards Experience in executive or
  leadership communications as well as writing in the voice of an executive

 

• Experience handling crisis communications

 

• Experience working in higher education and on social justice topics

 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and digital communications tools and software.

Salary Range:

$75,000-85,000

Work Modality:

Hybrid