Chief Communications and Marketing Officer - Military Veterans

Job Summary

Harvard Divinity School seeks an innovative, thoughtful, and forward-thinking Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO) to creatively elevate the school?s mission, research, and contributions to their fields of study to the public in creative ways to expand the global reach of the school. As part of the leadership team and reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at HDS will lead communication strategies and advise senior leaders and colleagues on various initiatives to champion the school's mission, academic offerings, research endeavors, faculty, students, alumni, and noteworthy events to both internal and external stakeholders. Heading a high performing team of 8, the CCMO will oversee and develop communication strategy and execution, crisis management, media relations, and engagement campaigns, engaging diverse and unique audiences. Additionally, the CCMO will lead internal communications, publications, the Harvard Theological Review, project management, admissions, and development communications.

Constituencies are broad-ranging and diverse, including faculty, staff, students, Harvard University agencies and departments, the news media, alumni, friends, financial supporters, and the public?locally, nationally, and globally. The CCMO partners with Harvard Public Affairs and Communications and the HDS associate dean for development and external relations regarding media events, external relations, and campaign communications strategy and implementation. The CCMO serves as public information officer for the school, actively supporting and participating in university-wide communications meetings and planning activities. The CCMO provides vision and conducts long-range planning for School publications, while also supervising production details with the staff and/or relevant contract employees. This position also works closely with the director of information technology and media services, leading communications, and IT staff in expanding the attractiveness and usability of the HDS websites.

The CCMO serves as the school?s principal communications strategist and advisor, developing creative strategies to promote the school?s vision, priorities and identity and brand, through visual, verbal, digital, and printed media, and messages?including digital content, events, and publications?to ensure that HDS is recognized as a thought leader and to build awareness of and engagement with HDS?s mission and priorities.

Position Description

Communications and Marketing Strategy

• Provides strategic communications leadership and creative marketing and outreach for the school?s programs and functional areas, including Development and External Relations, Admissions, Diversity Inclusion and Belonging, and HDS degree Programs. Helps to direct the school?s branding and position for fundraising and admissions, building awareness of and engagement with HDS priorities.
• Develops and implements internal communications strategies and tools (incl newsletters and the school?s intranet) to ensure that HDS staff, students, and faculty are aware of School programs and priorities and to foster a strong sense of community. Develops internal communications plans to support the dean; works with the Office of the Dean and communications colleagues to develop messaging, briefings, draft dean?s statements, and remarks and prepare longer-term addresses.
• Develops and executes a comprehensive digital and social media strategy, enhancing understanding of the digital landscape, audience engagement, and analytics utilization. Provides strategic guidance and resources to foster innovation and the adoption of new technologies and ideas. Ensure all digital content and platforms are accessible and meet the standards set by Harvard's Digital Accessibility Policy.
• Oversees a publications and editorial strategy for the school that promotes quality and consistency in editorial content and design, efficiency of production, and adherence to production deadlines and allocated budget.

Public Affairs, Media Relations, and Issues Management

• Provides strategic advice and guidance to the dean, senior managers and faculty on issues management and crisis communications and align internal communications and media relations strategies and plans.
• In consultation with Harvard Public Affairs and Communications, manages responses to any School-related incidents that may attract off-campus or University-wide media attention. In consultation with HPAC, the Dean of Divinity, and the school?s administrative dean and director of operations, helps manage the flow and control of information at times when University emergency procedures are in effect.
• Oversees local, national, and international media relations plans designed to give appropriate visibility to HDS?s faculty members, academic programs, research programs, and student and alumni life.

Marketing

• As marketing director for the school, develops plans to understand and act upon trends and developments in the field of graduate religious education worldwide.
• Develops and promotes the ?brand? of HDS?its graphical identity in the market, its distinctive and unique attributes, and strengths in comparison with comparable institutions, and the messaging concepts and communications to use effectively throughout all communications channels.

Management and Administration

• Oversees the Office of Communications with overall responsibility for fiscal management and effective staff engagement and development.
• Develops long-term strategic and annual operating plans, budgets, and goals for the Office of Communications and effectively manages the successful implementation of those plans.
• As supervisor of the managing editor of Harvard Theological Review , provides planning advice and administrative and budgetary oversight for the journal.
• Provides strategic, creative, and editorial direction for the School?s print media, the Harvard Divinity Bulletin , digital media and social media presence and usage, and shares oversight, with the director of information technology and media services, of web development and design and of other large electronic communications initiatives, including the current migration of all the School?s website?s from Open Scholar to Harvard Sites.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required.
Expertise in interdisciplinary marketing and communications in the context of mission driven organizations. Demonstrated progressively responsible leadership experience.

Additional Qualifications and Skills

Advanced degree in relevant field preferred; experience in a university/academic environment helpful but not required.

Exceptional strategic thinking, team building, relationship management, and interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills essential.

Commitment to collaborative leadership, proven strategic planning and execution experience, and demonstrated evidence of innovative communication and marketing strategies.

Demonstrated commitment to social justice, inclusion and equity and belonging.

Must understand the complexity of higher education issues, the intellectual environment and decision-making process, tolerance for process, political savvy, and sense of humor.

Skill at adeptly and diplomatically prioritizing and managing diverse requests from various stakeholders, ensuring efficient communication and alignment with organizational objectives.

Demonstrated experience creatively leveraging integrated digital communications strategies.

Must be able to manage multiple programs simultaneously and to develop and implement forward-thinking and creative strategies.

Must be able to appropriately handle confidential materials, meet deadlines, and consistently exercise sound judgment and possess strong skills in the areas of leadership, persuasion, negotiation, and people and fiscal management.

For more information on the Harvard Divinity School, please visit the website .

* We regret that the Harvard Divinity School does not provide Visa sponsorship. *

Additional Information

Beth Schafer and Laura Bertonazzi of Koya Partners/DSG, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, have been exclusively retained for this search. To express interest in this role please submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out the Talent Profile via Koya's website . All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.

Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website ( https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.