Position Category: Staff (Exempt)
FLSA: Exempt
FTE: 1
Location: Thousand Oaks
University Background:
The mission of California Lutheran University is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, the university has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a dedication to and success in working in diverse communities. The university is committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person's dignity.
Basic Function:
Reporting to the Vice President for Strategic Brand Communications, the Associate Director of Campus Communications plays a central role in planning, coordinating, and executing university-wide communications that advance California Lutheran University's mission, strategic priorities, and institutional brand. The position coordinates newsroom operations, editorial planning, and communications workflows; develops and coordinates institutional communications; collaborates with University leadership and campus partners to identify and share stories that demonstrate the University's impact; and supports executive communications, internal communications, and crisis communications.
Representative Duties:
Communications Planning & Newsroom Operations
Serve as a central coordinator for campus communications activities by managing communications requests, coordinating priorities, monitoring project status, and facilitating collaboration across the Strategic Brand Communications team.
Coordinate the CLU Newsroom editorial calendar and campus messaging schedule to ensure timely, strategic, and coordinated communications.
Develop and coordinate communications plans supporting institutional initiatives, executive priorities, major announcements, University events, and special projects.
Manage communications workflows and recommend process improvements that enhance collaboration, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
Coordinate communications activities to ensure consistency with University messaging, editorial standards, and brand guidelines.
Editorial Planning & Content Development
Serve as a key member of the CLU Newsroom editorial team, collaborating with colleagues across the University to identify, develop, and promote stories that demonstrate California Lutheran University's mission, academic excellence, student success, alumni achievements, and community impact.
Coordinate, research, write, edit, copy-edit, and finalize a variety of institutional communications, including newsroom articles, newsletters, executive correspondence, speeches, presentations, campus messages, video scripts, event promotional materials, website content, and other University communications.
Coordinate, support, and provide backup to the University Editor in the development of the CLU Magazine and other institutional publications.
Ensure editorial quality, consistency, accuracy, and adherence to University messaging and brand standards across communications.
Executive, Internal & Crisis Communications
Support the Vice President for Strategic Brand Communications and other University leaders in developing executive communications, including speeches, presentations, executive correspondence, campus messages, and responses to selected executive communications.
Develop and coordinate internal communications that strengthen employee engagement, organizational alignment, and effective change management.
Support crisis communications planning and implementation by coordinating timely, accurate, and effective institutional communications.
Research and analyze complex academic and institutional issues to develop communications recommendations and support cohesive University messaging.
Communications Operations & Project Management
Coordinate communications projects from planning through implementation while ensuring quality, accuracy, and timely completion.
Monitor project timelines, deliverables, communications requests, and competing priorities across multiple initiatives.
Develop, evaluate, and improve newsroom workflows, editorial planning processes, and communications operations.
Recommend and implement innovative communications practices, technologies, and process improvements that enhance operational effectiveness.
Collaboration & Communications Consultation
- Build trusted relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, and campus partners through responsive, collaborative, and results-oriented communications support.
- Serve as a communications resource by guiding messaging, editorial planning, communications strategies, and best practices.
- Collaborate across the University to identify strategic communications opportunities that strengthen institutional visibility and reputation.
- Represent the Strategic Brand Communications department on University committees, initiatives, and special projects, as assigned.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge Of:
Principles and best practices of strategic communications, journalism, public relations, editorial planning, and organizational communications.
Institutional branding, messaging, storytelling, and editorial standards.
Executive, internal, and crisis communications.
Communications planning, project management, and workflow coordination.
Digital communications, content management systems, and emerging communications technologies.
Trends and best practices in higher education communications.
Ability To:
Write, edit, proofread, and communicate clearly and effectively for a variety of audiences and communication channels.
Plan, coordinate, prioritize, and manage multiple communications projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining a high level of quality.
Research, analyze, and synthesize complex information into clear, accurate, and compelling communications.
Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with University leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, media representatives, and external partners.
Exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and effectively manage sensitive and confidential information.
Develop and coordinate executive, internal, and crisis communications with professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.
Interpret and apply University branding, editorial standards, and communication best practices to ensure consistent messaging.
Work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment while adapting to changing priorities and organizational needs.
Utilize digital communication tools, content management systems, and Microsoft Office applications effectively to support communications initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications:
Any combination equivalent to: a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, English, or a related field and five years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing communications, or a related field.
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.
Experience in higher education or another mission-driven organization.
Experience supporting executive communications and organizational communications.
Experience with newsroom operations, editorial planning, or institutional publications.
Experience supporting crisis communications.
Licenses and Other Requirements:
none
Physical Abilities:
Detect to understand appropriate written correspondence; operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer; communicate to exchange information in person, in writing, on the telephone and by email; stationary position for extended periods of time; move or transport light objects; position self to store and/or retrieve files
Working Environment:
Work requires frequent interaction with University leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, media representatives, and external partners. Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support University events and communications needs.
Hiring Range $90,000 - $95,000
Posting Number: Staff005542022
Open Date: 08/07/2026
Close Date: 08/23/2026
Application Procedure/Special Instructions
To apply, visit https://careers.callutheran.edu/postings/13509
California Lutheran University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment for all persons, regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable law. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program, activity or facility of the University on the basis of these factors in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, ordinances, orders and rules, and University's policies, procedures, and processes.
Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process can be provided to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further information or to request an accommodation.
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