Job Summary
The Associate Vice President for Presidential Communications leads communications strategy for the Office of the President. This position serves as the lead strategist and advisor for presidential communications, executive messaging, institutional positioning, stakeholder engagement, and communications tied to presidential priorities. This role works closely with the President, senior leaders, and other university stakeholders to develop and execute communications strategies that advance the President's vision and institutional priorities.
The Associate Vice President leads communications planning and content development for presidential speeches, remarks, statements, presentations, correspondence, executive engagement, thought leadership, institutional announcements, and communications for high-priority initiatives. This position also leads communications for Presidential Initiatives, including enterprise projects, integration efforts, organizational change, and other high-visibility priorities elevated to the Office of the President.
Core Responsibilities
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Leads presidential communications strategy, planning, and execution in alignment with presidential priorities and institutional goals.
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Advises the President and senior leaders on executive messaging, positioning, stakeholder engagement, thought leadership, and reputational strategy.
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Develops communications strategies that strengthen presidential visibility, institutional leadership, stakeholder understanding, and external positioning.
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Maintains a consistent presidential voice across speeches, remarks, presentations, correspondence, op-eds, video messages, statements, and other executive communications.
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Leads communications strategy for Presidential Initiatives, enterprise projects, integration activities, and organizational change efforts.
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Partners with the senior leaders, university stakeholders, and communications teams to align messaging for high-priority initiatives.
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Oversees executive communications materials, including speeches, talking points, briefing documents, presentations, leadership messages, stakeholder communications, and strategic correspondence.
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Leads message development and communications planning for presidential announcements, institutional milestones, Board-related engagement, leadership events, and high-visibility communications.
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Advances the President's thought leadership through strategic storytelling, executive visibility opportunities, speeches, articles, presentations, and external engagement.
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Identifies opportunities to elevate the President's leadership voice nationally, regionally, and within the San Antonio community.
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Collaborates with academic, health, research, advancement, government relations, administrative, digital, creative, media relations, and communications partners to ensure coordinated messaging.
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Anticipates emerging issues, stakeholder concerns, reputational risks, and communications opportunities affecting presidential communications.
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Provides strategic leadership, mentorship, and professional development for the Presidential Communications team that advances the President's vision and institutional priorities.
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Establishes priorities, standards, workflows, and scalable support structures for executive communications.
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Builds relationships across the institution to strengthen collaboration, responsiveness, trust, and communication effectiveness.
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Performs other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
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Ten (10) years of related work experience in Marketing and Communications or related field.
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This position may require the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure per Texas EO-GA-48.
Preferred Qualifications
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Higher education communications experience.
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Executive communications experience, including speechwriting, messaging, and communications counsel for senior leaders.
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Experience leading strategic communications for complex organizations and high-profile initiatives.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Advanced knowledge of executive communications, presidential communications, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and institutional positioning
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Exceptional writing, editing, speechwriting, storytelling, presentation development, and verbal communication skills
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Ability to translate complex academic, research, healthcare, policy, and operational information into clear messaging
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Strong executive presence, political acumen, discretion, and judgment
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Ability to advise senior executives on messaging, positioning, reputation, and stakeholder communications
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Ability to lead communications strategy for institutional initiatives, organizational change, and enterprise priorities
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Strong leadership, team development, project management, and planning skills
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Ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining quality, confidentiality, and responsiveness
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Ability to work across a matrixed organization with executive leaders, faculty, staff, community leaders, governing bodies, and institutional partners
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Knowledge of higher education, academic health, public-sector communications, governance, and executive leadership environments
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Ability to anticipate communications challenges and develop proactive responses
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Commitment to excellence, collaboration, innovation, and mission-driven leadership
Working Conditions
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Office environment. Ability to travel to and from meetings, training sessions, or other business-related events. Workdays, areas, and work hours may vary depending on the department's needs.
Physical Demands
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Sedentary work: sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary; walking and standing are required only occasionally. Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
This position will work both on campus and remotely in Texas. Travel and parking expenses are the employee's responsibility.
This position is contingent upon a successful background check. Verification of a valid driver's license and Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) may be completed as applicable. Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.
Equal Employment Opportunity
As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and veteran status. The University is committed to the Affirmative Action Program in compliance with all government requirements to ensure nondiscrimination.
