Sr. Director - Public Outreach, DIBI

About the Opportunity

The Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University (GRI) seeks a dynamic and experienced Director of Public Outreach to lead its strategic marketing, communications and public engagement efforts in support of an exciting new US Department of Defense (DoD) funded initiative at GRI. This individual will be responsible for creating and disseminating highly engaging content that highlights the challenges and solutions connected with ensuring a strong, resilient and dynamic defense industrial base. The position will also support the institute’s other federally funded resilience projects, e.g., with NOAA and USAID. The Director of Public Outreach will play a crucial role in shaping the communication strategy, managing day-to-day marketing and communication operations, and driving impactful results in support of this high profile initiative under the institute. The Director will lead the institute’s interactions with Northeastern University’s External Affairs and Marketing Team and assure alignment with university policies and protocols.

The position will report to the GRI’s Executive Director for its new DOD initiative and will have direct management of a team of staff and students to support the development of a comprehensive, integrated marketing and communication strategy. He/She will launch and oversee the operation of the website and social media presence as well as implement marketing effectiveness measurements in support of GRI resilience research projects overall and especially its DoD initiative.

The Director and staff will also be responsible for the strategic, creative, and logistical production of in-person, digital, and hybrid experiences that support the DoD initiative’s milestones and goals. He/She will provide strong vision and oversight of the marketing and communication team at the institute on overall design, creativity, and innovation; internet, social media, and event marketing and communications; marketing budgets, contracts and vendor relationships; in-person and online event planning and logistics, including site selection, space planning, food and beverage planning, A/V and lighting, technology platform selection, staffing assignments, on-site execution, and post-event evaluation and follow-up.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in a marketing related field and ideally with 10+  years of experience in strategic communications and/or marketing.
• Experience in higher education is a plus.
• Agency experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience helping to produce and manage events for stakeholders in academia, industry and government.
• Experience managing budgeting for events and launching marketing campaigns
• Strong project management and organizational skills are required.
• Candidate should possess excellent writing and communications skills and an impeccable knowledge of English grammar. They must be able to think and act analytically, tactically and strategically to ensure maximum impact for the institute’s communications initiatives..
• The candidate must be a self-starter with strong leadership skills and a demonstrated ability to oversee  high-profile projects from start to finish.
• Candidate must have experience directly managing marketing and communications functions including (and not limited to) digital strategy, content marketing, digital advertising, website design, strategy development and deployment, user experience and architecture, media and public relations, and SEO.
• Ability to manage stakeholder expectations while managing multiple projects is critical, as is the ability to work collaboratively across the institute, Northeastern’s multiple colleges and global campuses, and a broad range of external academic, industry and government partners.
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff and next-generation student leaders.
• Attention to detail is a must.
• Candidate should be comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic, and “startup-like” environment.
  We are searching for a flexible, creative thinker who is open to new ideas, thinks big, and has the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities as circumstances require.
   

Ability to travel 25% of the time across the nation may be needed.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Strategic Planning and Operational Management

• Provide strategic thought partnership, sound perspective, and guidance to GRI’s Executive Director and institute colleagues related to marketing or communication across all GRI Research initiatives and projects.
• Implement effective systems and processes to manage the operational and administrative needs of the institute’s marketing team.
• Collaborate with colleagues to determine and prioritize efforts, as developed with GRI’s leadership team..
• Oversee the marketing staff to ensure cohesive and quality output of strategic initiatives, including prioritization, staffing, resources, and work plans (to include graphic designer, web developers, co-op students).
• Assist with acquiring resources and coordinating the efforts and execution of the new DoD initiative events, website production, workshops, training sessions, personnel, third-party contractors or consultants in order to deliver projects or initiatives according to plan.
• Take ownership of institute communication strategies to optimize brand visibility and engagement with partners across academia, industry and government while ensuring compliance with Northeastern University branding guidelines.
• Working alongside the Executive Director, serve as liaison with the university’s central marketing office.
• Working alongside Executive Director, support communications to keep staff informed about strategy and organizational efforts.

Communication and Administrative Strategies (Social Media, Web, Events )

• Design and drive organizational rhythm, ensuring the marketing team is focused on the highest priority topics at the right time.
• Hold regular marketing and communication meetings with the Executive Director, setting agendas in advance, taking notes during, and managing team expectations and deliverables after.
• Influence and collaborate cross-functionally and at all levels of the institute.
• Promote a culture of high performance, high ethics, and continuous improvement.
• Identify new concepts, workflows, emerging technologies, and networking opportunities to support the DoD initiative.
• Address any urgent issues to ensure minimal interruption to business operations. 

Special projects

• Execution of various short-term and long-term projects, initiatives, and work streams in accordance with the needs of the institute, its research initiatives and Institute Director.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Type

Marketing and Communications

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.