Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and Media

The Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications and Media serve as a senior communications leader and strategic deputy to the Vice President for Marketing and Communications. The position provides leadership for strategic communications, media relations, executive communications, crisis and issues communications, editorial direction and major institutional communications initiatives.

Working closely with the Vice President, President and senior University leadership, the Associate Vice President translates institutional priorities into clear, compelling and coordinated communications that strengthen the reputation and visibility of Texas Southern University.

The position also serves as a communications generalist and senior project leader, supporting a broad range of Marketing and Communications priorities and stepping into emerging needs as required. The Associate Vice President serves as acting leader of Marketing and Communications when designated by the Vice President or when the Vice President is unavailable.

• Serves as the Vice President’s senior communications deputy and provides strategic counsel on institutional messaging, reputation and visibility.
• Develops and executes communications strategies supporting University priorities, major initiatives, institutional milestones and high-profile announcements.
• Advises the President, Vice President and senior leaders on communications strategy, message development, media considerations and reputational issues.
• Develops and edits executive communications, including speeches, remarks, talking points, statements, letters, presentations and messages to campus and external audiences.
• Leads communications planning for major institutional initiatives, partnerships, research accomplishments, facilities projects, events and other strategic priorities, ensuring alignment with University priorities, audiences, key messages, channels, responsibilities and timelines.
• Develops and maintains annual communications plans and editorial calendars aligned with University priorities, academic milestones and institutional initiatives.
• Establishes communications workflows that support timely coordination, approvals and execution across Marketing and Communications and University partners.

• Leads the University’s media relations strategy in partnership with the Vice President and serves as a primary media relations leader and spokesperson as designated.
• Builds relationships with local, regional, national, higher education, HBCU and industry media.
• Responds to media inquiries and develops news releases, statements, media advisories, pitches, briefing materials and other external communications.
• Identifies proactive opportunities to elevate the University’s academic, research, student, faculty, alumni and community accomplishments.
• Leads communications planning and response for crisis, issues and sensitive situations; develops and maintains University-wide crisis communications protocols, escalation procedures and response playbooks; and coordinates appropriate internal and external communications with University leadership and relevant partners.
• Uses media coverage, audience feedback, communications performance data and emerging trends to evaluate communications effectiveness, identify opportunities and inform recommendations to senior leadership.
• Monitors the media environment and emerging issues and recommends timely communications responses.
• Develops and maintains University-wide crisis communications plans, protocols and response playbooks and coordinates appropriate escalation and communications response…