Senior Communications Manager/S

Working/Functional Title

Senior Communications Manager/S

Position Summary

The Senior Communications Manager/S plays a strategic leadership role in shaping, guiding, and executing Michigan State University’s internal messaging and executive-level communications. This position ensures the university's voice is clear, consistent, and compelling across internal audiences while enhancing the visibility and impact of presidential and leadership messaging. 

The Senior Communications Manager/S will work in collaboration with the entire University Communications and Marketing (UCAM) team to design, plan, implement and lead internal and executive communications, including content, channels, desired impacts and measurement goals. Working directly for MSU’s VP and Chief Communications Officer, this position will be responsible for building important internal relationships and informing and engaging external stakeholders in order to increase the university’s visibility, strengthen MSU’s reputation as a world-class education and research leader, and respond to issues of concern and advance its mission. 

This position is also responsible for developing a comprehensive strategy for both internal and executive communications and for driving metrics that increase the effectiveness of the messages and expand the reach of owned and earned channels that reach internal and external audiences. The position will directly integrate and support programs and initiatives that are presidential priorities, oversee writing and web support for the Board of Trustees and work to build a collaborative and open culture within University Communications and Marking and across the institution. 

Internal Communications is a core function of UCAM. This position will oversee the development of the primary internal communications suite of products, including InsideMSU, The Weekly and Connect. The Senior Communications Manager/S will manage the strategic direction of the channel, layout and distribution strategies and is responsible for staying up-to-date on trends in internal communications, specifically related to higher education. They also will work with vendors and consultants to gather best practices and research how the MSU community likes to receive their information and content creation. Additionally, the Director will continue to seek out, create and expand other internal communication efforts across campus. 

This role includes budget, planning, procedure development and analytics responsibility and will supervise employees within the unit. 

Related to issues and crisis, this position may contribute to message development and audience segmentation on daily breaking issues, providing insight into university protocols and background knowledge on a diverse range of issues. Further, the Director of Internal and Executive Communications may contribute to identifying, analyzing and collaborating on complicated issues and developing strategies to ensure the right messages are communicated to the right audiences, both internally and externally. 

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities 

• Oversees development of and implementation of a comprehensive communications plan, and ensures alignment, accuracy and timeliness for key presidential communications (i.e. speeches, presentations, community letters, op-eds); works closely with the Office of the President to ensure smooth operations related to communications
• Oversees writing support for the Board of Trustees, working closely with the Board Secretary and Chief Communications Officer to craft speeches and talking points for university events and Board meetings; also oversees the Board website
• Creates and implements internal communications plans with an emphasis on sharing important information and key priorities with internal audiences, recognizing the many sources of information and collaboration with other units
• Creates and executes content for the InsideMSU suite of products
• Advises stakeholders across campus on their communications planning and efforts, serving as a consultant and assisting in the execution of timely information
• Demonstrates a commitment to and knowledge of inclusive community building and trauma-informed communications
• Develops methods for integrating various communication efforts and initiatives to ensure effective and efficient messaging, key stakeholder understanding and successful outcomes
• Provides advice to key campus leaders on internal and executive communications as well as issues of concern
• Oversees monitoring of social and digital media presence for the president and other executives as assigned, assessing the platforms and recommending adaption and/or expansion; coordinate closely with other university accounts to foster collaboration and amplify strategic content
• Ensures, in all instances, accurate, timely and appropriate communications from the unit
• Responsible for annual planning, managing multiple priorities and projects, able to supervise and ensure distribution of work across the media and public information unit
• Handles a complex environment with multiple projects and deadlines
• Works with UCAM analytics team to establish key performance indicators for internal and executive areas and stays on top of monitoring and related decision points

   Leadership and Planning Skills 

• Provides effective leadership to set strategy and implement tactics and processes
• Directly supervises the internal and executive functions, currently three FTEs, also involves others within the unit and coordination across the university
• Applies audience insights, understands MSU priorities, UCAM strategic goals and designs strategies to achieve outcomes
• Builds teamwork, shows process discipline and grows individual competencies, fostering a collaborative, growth-oriented culture, including in a matrixed structure
• Shows flexibility and resourcefulness, and reacts appropriately to changing needs and deadlines
• Proposes alternative possibilities and engages team members in finding creative solutions
• Outcome focused and able to build commitment to results
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to developing and empowering others 

About University Communications and Marketing 

University Communications and Marketing increases awareness of and appreciation for Michigan State University, its people and its impact as a leading global public research university, builds trust and inspires connection to cultivate support and make MSU a preferred choice.   

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in English, journalism, public relations, marketing, telecommunications or communications, or a related field; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in news media or media relations or in a field which corresponds to the particular department of employment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s in strategic communication or related field
• At least 8-10 years of related and progressively more responsible experience in leading communication teams 
• Excellent editorial and visual content judgement; demonstrated ability to communicate to identified audiences 
• Enthusiastic about being part of a higher education communications environment 
• Flexible, collaborative, positive with significant experience leading internal or executive communication efforts 
• Proven collaborator with the ability to effectively manage multiple workstreams while also possessing the ability to quickly and appropriately react to changing circumstances or priorities 
• Able to be strategic and detail oriented, an analytical thinker with strong leadership qualities 
• Able to lead the development and delivery of content in a compelling manner 
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Experience preparing strategic plans, integrating projects and project management and setting goals
• Strong leadership and accountability; ability to work independently and as part of an interdependent team 
• Able to lead multiple projects, ensuring seamless execution and quality in a fast-paced environment 
• Proactively offers solutions that improve current processes; constantly working to improve efficiency and productivity 
• A proven “team player”, committed to developing others, while leading for results 
• Track record in project management, developing procedures and improving work processes 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• 3 Professional References

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

https://comms.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

The Bidding Eligibility ends on 07/22/2025 at 11:55 PM