Director of Strategic Communications

University Human Resources helps create a workplace where the University of Iowa employees — 30,000 faculty and staff — feel welcomed, respected, and supported. By supporting employees throughout their careers, University Human Resources (UHR) directly contributes to the success of the university and its missions of education, research, and patient care.

The Director of Strategic Communications will work directly with UHR leadership to achieve these goals, using communication to highlight key programs and initiatives that contribute to the success of the university and its employees. The person in this role has oversight and management of key employee programs, including Discover Your University and Hawkeyes for Charity.

This position requires an innovative and creative internal communications leader, who conceptualizes, coordinates, and disseminates audience-focused content that builds trust with and assists UI employees. You will need to build and maintain relationships within UHR and across campus.

You must have the ability to translate and align complex operational and strategic initiatives in a clear and concise way for the faculty and staff audience. The director will report to the senior director of internal communication and public relations in the Office of Strategic Communication (OSC) with a secondary reporting line to the chief human resources officer in UHR, and will serve as a member of the UHR leadership team.

The ideal candidate will have a background in internal and/or employee communications, working across departments, and using communication to support strategic goals.

The position is primarily on-site during the training period, after which a hybrid arrangement may be arranged.

This position is eligible for hybrid work within Iowa and will require a work arrangement form to be completed upon the start of your employment. Per policy, work arrangements will be reviewed annually, and must comply with the remote work program and related policies and employee travel policy when working at a remote location. 

Key Areas of Responsibilities 

• Develop and implement strategic communication plans for the faculty and staff audience.
• Lead internal and external communication efforts that provide clear, accurate, and consistent communication of strategic themes, messages, strategic vision, goals, and priorities.
• Develop and implement communication strategies, plans, and messaging frameworks around existing operations and new initiatives.

Public Relations

• Work with the OSC media relations team to respond to media inquiries.
• Build strong partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders to advance communication efforts across campus and UHR.

Information Management

• Work with OSC colleagues to implement website strategy and oversight for UHR webpages, including technical and creative functions; monitoring metrics and quality to improve user experience and engagement.
• Oversee strategic communication integration within enterprise HR systems, including the recruitment CRM, through a cross-unit content strategy.
• Use data, metrics, and analytics to assess, forecast, evaluate, and refine communication strategies and initiatives.

Strategic Planning

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the HR strategic plan and strategic initiatives, including multi-year strategic roadmaps. 
• Create and maintain an annual communication plan for UHR that integrates communication strategies with UHR initiatives and university strategic plan priorities.
• Regularly assess and report progress toward communication goals, adjusting strategies as needed.

Leadership/Supervision

• Supervise other communications staff within OSC/UHR, ensuring high quality work and adherence to university policies.
• Lead and mentor the communications team, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Serve on the UHR leadership team, representing OSC, UHR, and the CHRO on campus committees and initiatives.

To obtain the full job description including key areas of responsibility, technical competencies, and desirable qualifications, please contact Libby Kleppe at libby-kleppe@uiowa.edu.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in strategic communication, public relations, higher education administration, journalism, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations, or marketing, preferably in higher education.
• Proven ability to develop an effective communication plan to achieve organizational goals.
• Superb strategic planning, writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks while achieving a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of issues facing higher education, including relations with state and federal governments, and other important external and internal constituencies and audiences.
• Demonstrated experience developing communication strategies using various channels to reach and engage key stakeholder audiences.
• Demonstrated success in effectively managing people and teams.
• Professional experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in crisis communication and crisis communication.
• Knowledge of graduate education trends and challenges in higher education.
• Experience with media relations, story pitching, and digital content strategy.
• Familiarity with alumni engagement and donor communication strategies.
• Experience supporting senior leaders as spokespeople, writing talking points, remarks, and providing media training.

Application and Position Details

• In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a “Relevant File” to the submission:
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. For additional questions, please contact Libby Kleppe at libby-kleppe@uiowa.edu.

Benefits Highlights

• Regular salaried position. Pay level 7A. Located in Iowa City, Iowa.
• Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans. 
• For more information about Why Iowa? Click here.

Joining the University of Iowa means becoming a vital part of the Hawkeye community, where your work directly impacts education, research, and student success.

Enjoy exceptional health coverage, university-paid life insurance, robust retirement plans, and generous leave policies. Benefit from 24/7 support services, well-being resources, and access to UI Health Care specialists. Grow professionally with advanced training, leadership development, and tuition assistance.

Iowa City offers a great quality of life with world-class performances at Hancher Auditorium, Big Ten athletics, top-ranked public schools, and outdoor recreation.

Join us in making a difference at a leading Big Ten university and premier public research institution.