Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.
Job Category:
Limited
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Communications Director (B)
Job Summary:
The Director of Internal Strategic Communications leads the development and execution of a comprehensive internal communications strategy that strengthens engagement, transparency, and alignment across the College of Engineering. This role ensures faculty, staff, and students are informed, connected, and supported through clear, consistent, and timely communication that reflects the mission and values of UW–Madison.
Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the director serves as a trusted advisor to the Dean and college leadership and collaborates closely with academic departments, administrative units, and campus partners. The director oversees internal messaging, organizational announcements, leadership communications, and communication planning for major initiatives and change management efforts.
This position is ideal for a strategic communicator who thrives in a complex academic environment and is energized by the opportunity to strengthen community and culture within a world class engineering college.
Develop and implement a college wide internal communications strategy that supports organizational goals, enhances transparency, and fosters a sense of shared purpose.
Additional Information
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. The anticipated hybrid work schedule will be up to two days remote, with 3 days onsite.
Some travel will be required.
The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Develop and implement a college wide internal communications strategy that supports organizational goals, enhances transparency, and fosters a sense of shared purpose. Establish and maintain editorial standards, messaging frameworks, and communication protocols.
Advise the Dean, Chief Strategy Officer, Associate deans, Department chairs, and senior leaders on communication approaches, timing, and messaging.
- Develops, implements, and monitors strategic communication initiatives for designated audiences and internal stakeholders to maximize engagement and strengthen collaboration efforts
- Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- Identifies, establishes, and directs media relationships and partnerships with internal and external sources
- Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revived operational policies and procedures
- Audits and directs day-to-day operational plans to align with strategic initiatives and to meet established objectives
Department:
College of Engineering, Dean's Office
Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $110,000, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Required Qualifications:
8+ years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public affairs, or media relations
Proven track record managing high-visibility communications, including crisis and issues management
Demonstrated experience leading communications strategy for a complex organization (Higher education, nonprofit, government, or large corporate environment)
Strong attention to detail with ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional teams
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience working in a university or academic setting
Background collaborating with executive leadership, governing boards, or public officials
Familiarity with higher education governance, academic culture, and shared governance environments
Education:
Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred, in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field
How to Apply:
Please go to the “Apply Now” area and select your current UW Employment Status. Applicants are required to upload a resume and a cover letter outlining relevant qualifications and experience as it pertains to the required and preferred qualifications outlined in this job posting.
The search committee will review all application materials after the posted deadline. We will notify selected applicants to participate further in the selection process directly. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified after the search is complete and a candidate has been selected.
Contact Information:
Lula Baker
Chief Strategy Officer
1415 Engineering Dr
Madison, WI
lbaker33@wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.