Career Center

Special Application Process
The University of Washington has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Katie Dean, Associate Partner and Thomas Lapierre, Senior Associate & Certified Diversity Recruiter are leading the search. For more information or to apply, please contact Thomas at thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net. Applications should include a resume and cover letter that should address your experience related to the position responsibilities, as well as the required and preferred qualifications.




ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Thank you for considering Housing & Food Services at the University of Washington, Seattle.

At the University of Washington, diversity is integral to excellence. We value and honor diverse experiences and perspectives, strive to create welcoming and respectful learning environments, and promote access, opportunity and justice for all.

HFS provides on-campus housing to over 10,000 student residents and operates over 40 dining and café locations that serve the entire campus community. In order to successfully accomplish this, we employ over 1,200 students, classified and professional staff members who work throughout HFS, providing residential and dining services to the campus. As reflected in our mission statement—working together to enhance student life—teamwork and service to our students and customers are at the heart of our business.

To learn about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at UW Housing & Food Services, you are encouraged to review our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement Training.

PURPOSE
Provide leadership, vision and direction for departmental communications and marketing resources that support HFS unit and Department goals and operations; coordinate Department assessment initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning:
•Develop and manage the unit budget, budget objectives and revisions.
•Identify and evaluate new and emerging trends in communications and marketing for application to Department functions.
•Keep abreast of new and emerging trends related to student housing and dining and provide relevant information to Department leadership.
•Identify annual unit priorities, associated action plans and measures of success.
•Keep abreast of new and emerging communications strategies and tools and evaluate applicability, appropriateness, and feasibility for use in advancing goals.
•Monitor local and national issues that directly or indirectly impact HFS residents or staff and employ a strategy for when and how the Department communicates to residents, staff, and/or other groups; collaborate with Executive Director and senior leadership team members to draft responses, including engaging with Residential Life on bias-related responses.

Organizational Effectiveness:
•Develop foundational themes, story lines, and language to guide communications that accurately and convincingly convey the mission and vision of the Department.
•Coordinate the provision of communications, marketing and assessment resources and tools for Department staff.
•Ensure the delivery of communications and marketing services use efficient processes and best practices.
•Coordinate Department assessment
       oIdentify and implement assessment initiatives to support Department activities and decision making.
       oServe as a consultant to other staff on requests for data and assessment activities.
       oEnsure completion of assessment projects and reports.
•Manage and direct unit resources as needed to complete projects on behalf of the Department including, but not limited to, special reports, articles, award applications, analysis, and presentations.
•Oversee the coordination of promotional materials and media contacts for Department events, such as Move-in, UW Parent and Family Weekend and Admitted Student Preview Day, aimed at highlighting HFS programs and services.

Leadership:
•Consult with Department leaders on communications strategy and best practices especially regarding crisis communications, current events, and new and emerging issues.
•Liaison with other campus communications and marketing professionals for alignment, coordination, awareness, and support.
•Serve as the primary contact for external media.
•Identify, articulate, and model values and behaviors that support an organizational culture characterized as positive, inclusive, productive and committed to serving students.
•Serve as a member of the Department’s senior leadership team.
•Represent the Department on various University committees and direct or serve on Department committees and teams.

Supervision:
•Supervise the work completed by direct reports, ensuring appropriate productivity and quality.
•Evaluate the work completed by direct reports and provide constructive feedback so as to support success.
•Provide guidance to direct reports on requirements and/or opportunities for learning and professional development.

Miscellaneous:
•Respond to University and Department emergencies, including serving in the Unit Response Center when activated to support HFS facilities, services and communities.

Perform other duties as assigned.

IMPACT TO THE UNIVERSITY
This unit ensures the identity of HFS is accurately portrayed in various forms of media; this identity reinforces the mission and values of the Division of Student Life and the University. This position serves on the Division of Student Life Assessment Committee.

POSITION COMPLEXITIES
Ensuring alignment of communications and marketing efforts with the Division of Student Life and the University involves collaboration with other University departments. Due to the large and diverse customer base served by the Department, unit responsibilities require continuous education on the habits of the audiences to ensure communication is effective. The marketing requirements within the Department are varied, including promoting tangible and intangible benefits to a diverse audience, all of which must comply with Department and University brand parameters.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Position works typical business hours Monday through Friday and occasional evenings and weekends to attend/participate in special events.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct supervision of three full-time professional staff and indirect supervision of an additional 6.5 FTE.

REPORTS TO
Executive Director, Housing & Food Services


MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in related field and five years of experience in a leadership position managing communications and marketing initiatives that demonstrates:
•The ability to work effectively in a large organization or educational institution;
•The ability to assess internal and external customer needs and respond effectively;
•Proficiency in strategic planning;
•Exceptional communication skills; and
•Proficiency in conducting assessment/evaluation and in interpreting and applying data to decision making and effective solutions.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Master’s degree in communications, organizational development or related field;
•Experience in student housing operations;
•Experience in food service operations;
•Five years supervisory experience including performance management; and
•Project management experience.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT
•A satisfactory outcome from the employment reference check processes and education verification.

Application Process:

The University of Washington has retained Opus Partners to support this recruitment. Katie Dean, Associate Partner and Thomas Lapierre, Senior Associate & Certified Diversity Recruiter are leading the search. For more information or to apply, please contact Thomas at thomas.lapierre@opuspartners.net. Applications should include a resume and cover letter that should address your experience related to the position responsibilities, as well as the required and preferred qualifications.

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.