• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $155,000 - $175,000

Position Summary

The Executive Director (ED) oversees Columbia Law School???s communications, marketing, and public affairs functions. The ED supervises a team of professionals responsible for creating and disseminating original content across a range of media channels???print, digital/web, social, video, audio???building and refining the Law School???s identity among internal and external constituencies; and amplifying the Law School???s impact in the public sphere. Reporting to the Associate Dean for Planning, Communications, and Faculty Affairs, the ED serves as a key thought partner and strategist, in addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Office of Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs.

Responsibilities

1. Develops and implements a multi-channel communications strategy that highlights key initiatives, accomplishments, and priorities, and conveys a cohesive, engaging, and energetic identity for Columbia Law School in the following areas:

1. Editorial/Messaging: Working with the Editorial Director and Manager of Multimedia Content, sets priorities for storytelling and coverage for the Law School website, print publications, social media channels, e-newsletters, as well as via video and audio. Develops and implements consistent messaging/voice across communications, guided by institutional priorities and strategy.
   
   
2. Marketing and Strategic Communications: Develops and implements high-level strategy for a) communicating about the Law School to prospective students via print publications, web content, marketing emails, and other channels; b) building affinity and belonging among community of alumni and friends, encouraging them to support the Law School through various means; c) communicating with students, faculty, and staff, along with a broader Columbia University audience, to build community engagement; and d) identifying strategies for building brand awareness with external audiences.

3. Media Relations: Working with the Director of Public Affairs, fields press inquiries, amplifies faculty research and scholarship in the media, proactively trains faculty and administrators, and anticipates new areas of opportunity for external engagement. Support efforts to evolve social media strategy and engage audiences across platforms.

4. Creative: Working with the Creative Director, ensures a consistent and fresh visual/brand identity for the Law School, ensuring that tools and templates are developed, staff are properly trained in their use, and that they are applied uniformly.
   
   
5. Outcomes: With the communications team, identifies ways to define and measure success (qualitative and/or quantitative).
   
   
1. Provides high-level oversight of the Department???s budget, purchasing, procurement, and production, working with the Director of Operations. Makes decisions about how to best allocate resources, including by engaging freelance contractors, and which external vendors to retain for production. 

3. Supervises a team that includes the Editorial Director, Creative Director, Director of Public Affairs, Director of Operations, and Manager of Multimedia Content. Supports the professional growth and development of the larger department staff, working to create a collegial and inclusive working environment. 

4. Identifies and exploits the latest trends in digital communications, develops strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders in the field, and proactively identifies areas of opportunity to ensure the constant evolution of the Law School???s communications strategy and efforts.

5. Advises the leaders of other Law School administrative units, including Development and Alumni Relations, J.D. Admissions, Graduate Degree Programs, and Web/Digital on communications strategy and support. Serves as a resource for all faculty, staff, and students on related matters. With the Associate Dean for Planning, Communications, and Faculty Affairs, conveys institutional priorities to the communications team.  

6. Maintains a proactive relationship with Columbia University???s Public Relations and Communications staff and coordinates on shared projects. Assists with special projects and other tasks as assigned by the Associate Dean.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor???s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, English, or another related field. Some graduate study, or a graduate or advanced degree, is highly desirable.
• Seven to 10 years of directly relevant experience in communications, marketing, public affairs or a related field. Strong preference for someone who has worked in higher education.
• Superior writing skills, as well as the ability to edit and proofread for style, voice, grammar, and usage. Experience writing for a range of audiences and outlets is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage, support, and motivate a mid-size team, as well as experience hiring and coaching staff. Ability to remain calm under pressure and navigate challenging situations with a steady hand.
• Fluency with the media landscape, developments in digital and social media, technology tools, as well as other evolving trends in the field. Contacts with journalists in relevant fields are a plus.
• Strong project management skills. Experience in budget planning and management.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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