Virginia Commonwealth University · 10 hours ago
Assistant Vice President/Executive Director for Research Communications
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$160K/yr - $182K/yr
3+ years expVirginia Commonwealth University is seeking a visionary communications leader to serve as Assistant Vice President / Executive Director for Research Communication. This role involves building and leading an enterprise-wide research communications strategy to enhance the university’s research profile and drive media visibility.
Higher EducationLife ScienceUniversities
No H1B
Responsibilities
Design and execute a comprehensive multi-channel communications and marketing strategy that aligns with the OVPRI’s mission and the university’s strategic plan
Oversee the maintenance of institutional branding (e.g., the 'Research & Innovation' brand) to ensure consistency across all OVPRI sub-units and alignment with the enterprise brand platform, message pillars and graphic guidelines
Act as the primary communications advisor to the Vice President
Develop high-level and high-visibility presentations (Board of Visitors), draft executive remarks/speeches, and manage speaker requests
Lead the strategy and continuous improvement of the research enterprise’s digital footprint, including major website redesigns and UX optimization for the research community
Drive 'Tier 1' media placements and manage overall media relations to increase the 'share of voice' for VCU Research
Promote faculty research and milestones to the scientific community, sponsors, and news media through targeted storytelling
Coordinate enterprise-level announcements regarding funding milestones (e.g., $500M+ markers) and national rankings
Lead communications during sensitive leadership transitions, changes in the federal funding landscape, and regulatory/compliance-related issues
In conjunction with Enterprise Marketing and Communications, develop and implement crisis communication plans to protect the university’s reputation during high-pressure scenarios
Lead the Research Communications Council (RCC) to unify research communicators across the Monroe Park and MCV campuses
Develop strategies to increase engagement with faculty and students, including town halls, speaker series, and the streamlining of internal newsletters
Oversee the marketing and execution of flagship events such as 'Research Weeks,' including the annual State of the Research (SOTR) address
Directly manage a team of professional communicators and student employees, fostering a culture of high performance and morale
Manage agency relationships and internal budgets for marketing and web development projects
Qualification
Required
Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
Only applicants who do not require current or future sponsorship for employment will be considered
Deep understanding of the Higher Education research ecosystem, including an awareness of federal funding agencies (NIH, NSF, DOD) and the unique lifecycle of academic research
Proven ability to manage a large-scale institutional brand transition and enforce visual/narrative standards across multiple autonomous units
Exceptional writing and editing skills, multimedia storytelling expertise and the ability to customize communications to different audiences
Experience overseeing Full-Stack Website Redesigns, including managing vendor relationships, facilitating focus groups, and optimizing user experience (UX) for specialized audiences
Demonstrated expertise in managing high-stakes communications regarding federal policy shifts, leadership transitions, and regulatory compliance
Mastery of Science Communication (SciComm)—the ability to distill complex, technical research outcomes into compelling narratives for donors, legislators, and the general public
Proficiency in media monitoring tools (e.g., Cision, Meltwater) to track Tier 1 media hits, reach, and sentiment analysis
A sophisticated ability to manage 'territorial ownership' and build collaborative partnerships in a complex, decentralized university environment
Advanced proficiency in capturing an executive's unique voice for speeches, Board of Visitors presentations, and campus-wide emails
A spirit of collaboration-leading efforts to bring together OVPRI, EMC and unit-level communicators to foster trust and a shared sense of purpose around research
Proven success in establishing and leading internal councils (like the RCC) to align disparate communication teams toward a unified goal
Experience supervising professional staff and student workers while maintaining high team morale and operational efficiency
The ability to balance long-term strategic initiatives (newsletter consolidation, town hall planning) with immediate, time-sensitive demands from the Vice President's office
Preferred
Advanced degree in related field
Benefits
Comprehensive health benefits
Paid annual and holiday leave granted up front
Generous tuition benefits
Retirement planning and savings options
Tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs
Employee discounts
Well-being resources
Abundant opportunities for career development and advancement
Company
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$7.48MKey Investors
Virginia Innovation Partnership CorporationUnited States-Japan Foundation
2025-01-15Grant· $0.1M
2024-03-12Grant· $0.08M
2024-02-01Grant· $0.07M
Leadership Team
Karol Kain Gray
Senior VP and CFO
Andrea Ferreira-Gonzalez
Professor
Recent News
The Virginian-Pilot
2025-12-05
2025-11-01
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