Associate Director for Faculty and Research Communications

Job description

Advertising Summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located inthe heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’ssponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationallyrecognized for patient care and education. Virginia CommonwealthUniversity is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit

School Of Medicine MBU

Department

Dean's Office - Web & Communications

Duties & Responsibilities

The VCU School of Medicine communications team is seeking anexperienced strategic communicator to lead communications for twomission critical areas of the school: The Office of Faculty Affairsand the Office of Research. Reporting to the director for internalcommunications as part of our award-winning communications team,this new position will serve as a trusted partner to facultyandresearch leadership to develop and execute communicationsstrategies that inform, engage and connect key audiences across theSchool of Medicine.

With the Office of Faculty Affairs, this role will provide anessential link between the school and our T&R and clinicalfaculty, creating clear, timely and accessible messaging to ensureour more than 1,110 faculty members are informed about academicpolicies and processes, school and university initiatives, keydeadlines, faculty development opportunities, and otherfaculty-related priorities, including the T&R facultycompensation plan.

Additionally, this position will work with the rest of the SOMcommunications team to elevate faculty achievements across theschool by proactively seeking, curating and sharing stories offaculty excellence and honors.

This position will also serve as the primary communicator for theschool’s Office of Research. A complex and extensive researchenterprise that partners across departments, schools and the VCUHealth System, SOM researchers received more than $316iverM insponsored programs d-awards in FY25 — more than half of theuniversity’s overall total. This position will collaborate closelywith the school’s Office of Research to support and elevate theschool’s reputation as a premier destination for innovativeresearch and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This role will serve as the day-to-day lead for strategiccommunications serving internal research teams and sponsoredprograms across departments. This position will amplify schoolresearch accomplishments while also creating and executing clear,timely and actionable messaging regarding research support, fundingdeadlines and other relevant updates for investigators and researchstaff.

Responsibilities

Partner with faculty and research leadership to advise onmessaging, timing and channel selection for internalinitiatives

Create clear, concise and timely messaging to T&R andclinical faculty, research staff and students, tailoring deliverystrategies across communications channels and audiences to ensureeffectiveness

Manage multiple communications priorities and projectssimultaneously (including the school’s T&R faculty compensationplan), balancing short-term requests with longer-termcommunications goals.

Translate complex academic material (e.g., related to faculty,research, school/university policies and procedures) into clear andeffective content for its respective audiences

Identify and promote faculty/research achievements and honorsfor both internal and external stakeholders

Build relationships with the school’s faculty and researchstaff to better understand their work and communicationpriorities

Collaborate with the school’s communication team to producecompelling, effective deliverables and creative assets related tofaculty and research communications

Stay informed on local and national trends impacting facultyand academic/scientific research (emerging policy changes,community priorities and concerns, etc.) to guide communicationsstrategy

Develop and execute detailed tactical communications plans forfaculty and research initiatives as identified with schoolleadership

Create and maintain a communications calendar for faculty andresearch related topics, initiatives, events, key deadlines andrecurring milestones

Evaluate audience engagement across internal channels tocontinuously improve message delivery

Communications and marketing professionals will collaborateclosely with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to aligncontent, storytelling and brand positioning with institutionalpriorities and standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Strong understanding of faculty culture, and academic orscientific research environments

At least five (5) years of communications experience,preferably within higher education, an academic medical center or aresearch organization

Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, journalism, or aclosely related field, or an equivalent combination of education,professional training and experience

Exceptional communications and writing skills, with the abilityto write clearly and concisely for a variety of audiences andchannels

Proven ability to handle confidential or sensitive topics,anticipating and mitigating potential risk

Outstanding attention to detail and commitment tothoroughness

Demonstrated ability to translate complex academic andscientific material into clear and actionable messaging

Strong interpersonal skills and effective verbal communicationskills

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with experiencemanaging multiple collaborative projects while adhering todeadlines

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment ofrespect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty,staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or acommitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in communications, journalism, publicrelations, higher education administration or a related field.

More than five years of communications experience (withprogressive responsibilities) directly supporting academicmedicine, scientific research or complex health systemenvironments

Experience writing, editing or managing internalcommunications specifically for faculty or research audiences andleadership

Experience in science writing

Familiarity with digital communication tools, including emailplatforms, Adobe Creative Suite and web content managementsystems

Experience navigating organizational change, crisiscommunications or sensitive institutional policy updates

Salary Range

$88,300 - $123,500 (Commensurate withexperience)

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annualand holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planningand savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

comprehensive health benefits

paid annualand holiday leave

generous tuition benefits

retirement planningand savings options

tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs

employee discounts

well-being resources

abundant opportunities for career development and advancement

and more.

FLSA Exemption Status

Exempt

Restricted Position

No

ORP Eligible

Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid - (minimum of 1 day in theoffice per week with other days each week as needed)

University Job Title

Administrator CM 1 (13911Y) -Administrator CM 3 (13913Y)

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Worksite address

richmond, VA, 23214, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.