University of Oregon - Vice President for University Communications

The University of Oregon’s (UO) storied history began in 1876 with 155 students. Today, the UO enrolls almost 25,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries and territories. As a member of the distinguished Association of American Universities (AAU), the state of Oregon’s flagship university, and a Carnegie Tier 1 institution, the UO is committed to combining impactful research and scholarship with strong undergraduate and graduate teaching.

Reporting to the university president, the Vice President for University Communications (VP) will serve as the chief communications officer for the university, leading and managing internal and external communications as well as marketing strategy, execution, and evaluation. The VP will provide strategic vision and leadership in the creation and implementation of an integrated, comprehensive, innovative communications and marketing program that highlights the university’s academic strengths and research, demonstrates its commitment to creating an inclusive environment, and fosters relationships with a wide range of university constituents.

The VP serves as a member of the President’s executive leadership team and works closely with the president’s chief of staff, vice presidents and deans, the university secretary, and other senior leadership on campus. The vice president will also work closely with unit-based communications teams to ensure the university has a coordinated communications and marketing plan that serves the needs of the entire university as well as the specific colleges and units.

The VP will play an integral role in both advising the President and executing the communications efforts with respect to key strategic priorities that include:

1. Substantially improving graduation rates,
2. Leading among public universities in job and career preparation for students,
3. Building a university culture that demonstrates a deep sense of belonging grounded in a commitment and action to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion.
4. Supporting a flourishing culture of curiosity-driven research, teaching, and learning excellence,
5. Fulfilling the world-changing promises of the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact and the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health,
6. Matching the excellence and innovation demonstrated in athletics at the UO with the excellence and innovation of the entire university.

A successful candidate for this position will have an impressive history of success in building a strategic university brand, one that draws together an entire university community around a simple, yet powerful mission.

The Division of University Communications (UC) is charged with telling the University of Oregon’s (UO) stories to a broad range of audiences, positioning the university to succeed and thrive. The division develops and implements research-driven, results-oriented communications and marketing plans in support of the university’s mission. The division also plays a critical role in communicating the UO’s commitment to diversity and seeks to foster equity, inclusion, and belonging in a safe and respectful community. The division manages a comprehensive suite of communications strategies including public relations, brand journalism, executive and internal communications, branding, advertising, licensing, marketing, social and digital media, analytics, and more. It is also responsible for crisis communications and issues management during challenging times.

WittKieffer is assisting University of Oregon in this search, which will remain open until an appointment is made. All confidential applications, nominations and inquiries are invited.  Applications should include, as two separate documents, a resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile.

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Tuesday, September 19th. Application materials, nominations and inquiries should be submitted to consultants, Melissa Fincher, Melody Rose, Ph.D. and Jenna Brumleve, at:

UOregonVPCommunications@wittkieffer.com

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.