Position Summary:

• Provides executive leadership for shaping, advancing, and protecting the public narrative, reputation, and credibility of Rutgers University–Newark (RU-N).
• Develops and executes a proactive, long-term communications and engagement strategy that clearly articulates RU-N's mission, vision, values, and impact as an urban public research university.
• Leads relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets and proactively shapes media coverage that elevates RU-N's academic excellence, research, student success, and community impact.
• Provides counsel to senior leadership on sensitive communications and high-visibility issues.
• Anticipates, prepares for, and manages communications during campus emergencies, sensitive incidents, or high-profile matters in close coordination with the Chancellor, senior leadership, Rutgers University central administration, legal counsel, and public safety partners. Ensures timely, accurate, and transparent messaging to protect institutional trust and credibility.
• Leads RU-N's external-facing communications and engagement strategies that strengthen relationships with prospective students, families, alumni, community partners, policymakers, donors, and the City of Newark. Ensures communications reflect RU-N's role as an anchor institution and amplify its contributions to the region, state, and broader public, with a strong focus on visibility, influence, impact and public trust.
• Builds, leads, and develops a high-performing communications and engagement organization. Oversees talent development, operational effectiveness, and resource stewardship to ensure readiness for both routine communications and high-stakes crisis response.
• Establishes frameworks, policies, and best practices to maintain brand consistency, message discipline, and coordinated execution while preserving RU-N's unique identity. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the role.
• Availability to attend evening and/or weekend activities and meetings, as required.

City: Newark

State: NJ

Salary: $220,000.00 to $235,000.00

Posting Number: 26ST0346

About Rutgers University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national public research university and the state's preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. Rutgers is dedicated to teaching that meets the highest standards of excellence; to conducting research that breaks new ground; and to turning knowledge into solutions for local, national, and global communities. As it was at our founding in 1766, the heart of our mission is preparing students to become productive members of society and good citizens of the world. Rutgers teaches across the full educational spectrum: preschool to precollege; undergraduate to graduate and postdoctoral; and continuing education for professional and personal advancement. Rutgers is New Jersey's land-grant institution and one of the nation's foremost research universities, and as such, we educate, make discoveries, serve as an engine of economic growth, and generate ideas for improving people's lives.

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