Director of Executive Engagement

Position Summary

The Director of Executive Engagement is a top aide to the Chancellor’s Chief of Staff, with main duties including managing the Chancellor’s public engagements, writing remarks and speeches, assisting with the coordination of the chancellor’s leadership platform as it relates to communications and development work, organizing engagement events, and other ad‑hoc projects as set by the Chief of Staff. This position reports to the Chief of Staff, working collaboratively with the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Communications, Vice Chancellor for Development and other senior University and campus leaders.

The Director of Executive Engagement works to deliver a consistent message across all Chancellor engagements that advances UNC‑Chapel Hill’s values, mission and strategic goals and the priorities of the Chancellor.

Relevant post‑Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent) with three years or greater of related professional experience; for candidates demonstrating comparable professional backgrounds, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and five years or greater of relevant experience in substitution.

• Exceptional speech writing ability, including crafting narratives, persuasive messaging, and diverse speech types (keynotes, ceremonies, panel remarks).
• Superior editing, grammar, and storytelling skills, with a strong command of tone, voice, and rhetorical strategy.
• Proven ability to adapt writing style to reflect the Chancellor’s voice authentically.
• Ability to synthesize complex academic, research, and policy topics into clear, engaging messages for varied audiences.
• Understanding of the higher education environment, including academic culture, shared governance, and university mission/values.
• Familiarity with topics relevant to a university’s public image (e.g., student success, research impact, community engagement, DEI initiatives, fundraising, legislative issues).
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Chancellor, executive leadership, communications teams, and subject matter experts.
• Strong discretion, professionalism, and judgment, with experience handling confidential information.
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills, able to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple simultaneous projects.

Prior experience at UNC‑Chapel Hill and experience in communications and relationship building across a broad constituency is strongly preferred.

Not Applicable.