Position Summary

Working TItle: Senior Communications & Marketing Strategist
Official Title: Marketing & Communications Professional 4 (9761CG)
Position Location: 2 days/wk in person at VCRC, 1.75 remote/hybrid (75% total effort)

This 75% fte Senior Communications and Marketing Strategist will be a highly skilled leader within the Department of Medicine.  The Department of Medicine has 365 faculty, 250 staff and 230 residents and fellows, organized into 11 divisions. This 75%-effort position serves as the  department communications expert,, leading the development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated communication strategies that amplify the departmentâ™s mission in research, education, and clinical care. Operating at both strategic and tactical levels, the incumbent partners directly with department leadership, division chiefs, and institutional partners to shape and deliver messaging that enhances reputation, drives engagement, and promotes alignment across internal and external audiences. The role requires sophisticated judgment, deep expertise in multi-channel communications, and the ability to translate complex academic, clinical, and scientific information into clear, compelling narratives.This position manages high-visibility projects, oversees enterprise-wide communications planning, and informs the work of more than 70 individuals (totaling 4.0 FTEs) engaged in communications functions across affiliated units, Centers, and Institutes.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Leadership - 50%
Lead planning and delivery of major communication initiatives and campaigns in partnership with department leadership.
Act as a strategic advisor to Vice Chairs, Division Directors, and administrative leaders on high-stakes communications and reputational issues.
Serve as the departmentâ™s lead for brand alignment, ensuring consistent tone, messaging, and visual identity across all communications.
Design and maintain an enterprise-wide communications infrastructure, including editorial calendars, campaign planning tools, consultation processes, and performance dashboards.
Build capacity and shared best practices among 70 distributed communicators across the department, cultivating a community of practice and promoting continuous improvement.

Project Management & Execution  - 25%

Lead high-profile communication and marketing projects from concept to delivery, often involving cross-functional teams, clinical partners, and external collaborators.
Direct project scoping, resource planning, stakeholder engagement, timeline management, and outcome measurement.
Drive adoption of project intake, prioritization, and tracking systems to improve communication efficiency and transparency across the department.
Use engagement and performance data to adjust strategies and communicate results to leadership.

Digital, Social, and Content Development - 25%
Oversee the departmentâ™s web, intranet, and social media presence, ensuring content is current, strategic, and audience-focused.
Implement data-driven content strategies that reflect audience insights and institutional priorities.
Partner with design and multimedia professionals to deliver compelling, accessible, and on-brand digital assets.
Innovate digital engagement tactics to expand the departmentâ™s reach and influence among clinical, academic, and community audiences.
 

Required Qualifications: (Must be documented on all application materials)
Bachelor's Degree in communications, marketing, journalism, or related field, plus six years of progressive experience with communications responsibilities, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated success managing high-level communication initiatives for diverse stakeholder audiences.
Strong project management and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
Strong writing, editing, and content development skills, with an ability to translate complex information into accessible content.
Ability to address issues quickly with a positive solution-oriented mindset.
Remain up to date on industry trends and organization policy and procedures.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence, consult, and collaborate effectively at all levels.
Advanced knowledge of Salesforce Marketing, Drupal, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, and other communication tools.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience in higher education, academic medicine, and/or healthcare 
Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Asana, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet).
Showcase ability to execute on responsibilities with minimal direction.
 

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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