Careers

The Associate Dean, Public Affairs and Communications leads the creation and implementation of the School of Public and International Affairsâ™ (SPIA) communications strategy, setting and communicating strategic priorities, and positioning of SPIA to effectively deliver on its mission of integrating world-class scholarship and a commitment to service in order to make a positive difference in the world. The Associate Dean works in partnership with the Dean to articulate and disseminate the vision for SPIA.

This leader cultivates and leverages a robust set of internal and external relationships across the University, faculty, policy, and media communities to advance the Schoolâ™s strategic priorities. The Associate Dean is responsible for the Schoolâ™s cohesive engagement across all communications platforms, including print and digital media, the School website, and social media.

Reporting to the Dean, this leader will proactively and directly engage with SPIAâ™s faculty and scholars to cultivate collaborative working relationships and a deep understanding of facultyâ™s research, interests, and achievements. The Associate Dean leads a talented, responsive communications and public affairs team to amplify and coordinate the work of the faculty, research centers, and programs by identifying the target audience; leveraging connections with the appropriate media and communications channels; crafting compelling messaging; and informing the policymaking environment in Washington and globally.

The Associate Dean oversees a team of seven communications and events professionals.

Primary responsibilities include:

Develops a communications strategy for SPIA in coordination with the Dean. Identifies and prioritizes core audiences and their primary messages, develops outreach plans, communications vehicles and timelines, and tells the "SPIA story" through various digital media vehicles and multiple print publications.

Builds relationships with SPIA faculty in order to identify and promote research and stories of interest externally.

Serves as editor-in-chief and drafts critical messaging.

Coordinates and integrates with institutional University communications efforts and with campus constituents to leverage opportunities and provide support for common goals.

Manages relations with campus, local/regional, national, and international news media on behalf of SPIA.

Engages with policymakers about the latest research from SPIA faculty and communicates school activities to campus and public communities.

Remains attentive to the academic research of SPIA faculty and directs both proactive and reactive media relations by pitching stories and faculty experts to targeted journalists and fielding media requests.

Helps write, edit, and place opinion pieces drafted by faculty. Works closely with the University's Office of State Affairs and Office of Government Affairs on outreach to and engagement with policy communities in Trenton and Washington, D.C.

Collaborates/partners with Universityâ™s Office of Communications on elevating SPIA and institutional priorities, engaging new and diverse media and stakeholders, and convening voices from within and outside the school on critical topics.

Directs and coordinates a number of events throughout each academic year and, together with SPIA students and faculty, develops new thematic events and programming aimed at creating interdisciplinary synergy and showcasing expertise.

Develops and maintains graphic and brand identity for the school, consults with stakeholders on School branding initiatives, and ensures branding uniformity and integrity across SPIA.

Develops, motivates, and manages a team of nine communications professionals. Provides support to optimize use of talent, promote professional growth, and align with SPIAâ™s goals.

Works with the School's other units and centers to ensure effective and cohesive communications across all platforms.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate for Associate Dean, Public Affairs and Communications will be a creative strategic communications leader with a track-record of experience developing and executing an integrated, comprehensive communications and public affairs strategy to clarify and achieve an organizationâ™s vision. This leader will have demonstrated an aptitude for working across complex organizations to drive a strategic planning process and operationalize the resulting strategy with clear, achievable functional goals, in alignment with broader institutional or enterprise goals.

This leader must have experience elevating the visibility, awareness, and impact of a well-regarded brand or organization with a unique proposition. Collaborative and intellectually curious by nature, the successful candidate will have exposure to academia and experience translating and positioning complex material by committing the time and effort needed to understand, represent, and translate the substance.

The successful candidate will have established credibility among relevant public policy communities, ideally including well-developed relationships with U.S. policymakers and thought leaders engaged on international affairs and foreign policy. With a sophisticated understanding of the public policy landscape, this person will have demonstrated knowledge and/or relationships with media platforms most relevant to SPIAâ™s target audiences.

Within SPIA, the successful candidate will be an advisor and thought partner to the Dean, counselor and colleague to faculty, and leader to the communications and public affairs team. High energy and organized, this person will be excited by opportunities to deliver on an ambitious vision. An experienced team leader, the successful candidate will have overseen and developed an integrated communications and public affairs team.

The following are performance and personal competencies required for the position:

Setting Strategy

• The ability to create and articulate an inspiring vision for the organization, not only for the areas they are directly responsible for, but the enterprise as a whole.
• The inclination to seek and analyze data from a variety of sources to support decisions and to align others with the organization's overall strategy.
• An entrepreneurial and creative approach to developing new, innovative ideas that will stretch the organization and push the boundaries within the industry.
• The ability to effectively balance the desire/need for broad change with an understanding of how much change the organization is capable of handling, to create realistic goals and implementation plans that are achievable and successful.
• Strong appreciation for academic research, desirable.

Executing for Results

• The ability to set clear and challenging goals while committing the organization to improved performance; tenacious and accountable in driving results.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty; the ability to adapt nimbly and lead others through complex situations.
• A risk-taker who seeks data and input from others to foresee possible threats or unintended circumstances from decisions; someone who takes smart risks.
• A leader who is viewed by others as having a high degree of integrity and forethought in their approach to making decisions; the ability to act in a transparent and consistent manner while always taking into account what is best for the organization.

Leading Teams

• The ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.
• The ability to persevere in the face of challenges, and exhibit a steadfast resolve and relentless commitment to higher standards, which commands respect from followers.
• A leader who is self-reflective and aware of their own limitations; leads by example and drives the organization's performance with an attitude of continuous improvement by being open to feedback and self-improvement.

Relationships and Influence

• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
• An ability to inspire trust and followership in others through compelling influence, powerful charisma, passion in their beliefs, and active drive.
• Encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning for the team that generates followership beyond their own personality and engages others to the greater purpose for the organization as a whole.

Personal Characteristics

• Strong executive presence, integrity, transparency, and competence.
• Energized by intellectually complex content.
• Humble yet confident approach in interacting with colleagues. Collaborative and encourages others to share the spotlight and visibly celebrates and supports the success of the team.
• Willingness to work hard and ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong, positive presence that conveys confidence and credibility both externally and within the broader Princeton community.
• Recognition and comfort with the universityâ™s values and willingness to embrace the commitment to mission and community.
• Knows where to go to get what they need; sophisticated, agile, and resilient.
• Strong appreciation for the role of higher education in Public Policy.

Please direct all nominations and inquiries to Stephanie Trostle of Russell Reynolds Associates at stephanie.trostle@russellreynolds.com

We at the School of Public and International Affairs believe that it is vital to cultivate an environment that embraces and promotes diversity, equity and inclusion - fundamental to the success of our education and research mission. This commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment and hiring as we actively seek colleagues of exceptional ability who represent a broad range of viewpoints, experiences and value systems, and who share Princeton University's dedication to excellence.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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