Director of Presidential Communications and Engagement

Working Title: Director of Presidential Communications and Engagement

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt:
Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Office of the President Unit

Department: 100184 - President's Office

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:03/09/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Office of the President is seeking a dynamic and strategic communicator to serve as Director of Presidential Communications and Engagement. This leadership role is central to shaping and delivering the President's voice and also supporting units within the Office of the President across campus and beyond, ensuring thoughtful, timely, and impactful engagement with all university constituents.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the mission and visibility of the university at the highest level. The successful candidate will be a trusted advisor, a creative strategist, and a collaborative partner in advancing presidential priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

- Lead the development and execution of presidential communications, including speeches, letters, and campus-wide emails.
- Develop and maintain the President's voice and tone across all communications, ensuring consistency, authenticity, and alignment with institutional values and presidential priorities.
- Collaborate with University Communications to coordinate messaging, media responses, and institutional announcements.
- Support guest relations for the Office of the President, including hospitality and follow-up for football, basketball, and other presidential events and engagements.
- Assist with on-site coordination of presidential guests in the football and basketball suites. Attend games regularly as a representative of the Office of the President.
- Support communications related to Commencement in partnership with University Events.
- Direct the Presidential Engagement Fellows program, fostering meaningful student involvement and leadership, and lead the recruitment and hiring of the cohort.
- Chair the university awards committee for key awards given by the University/Office of the President.
- Serve as a key liaison to local government officials and the local community, including representing the Chief of Staff and President on internal and external commissions and committees.
- Collaborate closely with units within the Office of the President to support, connect, and advance the strategic initiatives of those units as they align with presidential priorities.
- Facilitate collaborations across divisions to support and advance the President's strategic initiatives through strong teamwork and shared purpose.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in Communication, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field is required;
Master's degree is preferred.
- Proven experience in executive communications, public relations, or strategic engagement.
- Experience working in higher education or a similarly complex organization is preferred.
- Exceptional written communication skills, with demonstrated experience crafting high-level, sensitive correspondence, speeches, presentations, and strategic documents.
- Proven ability to develop and execute executive-level communication strategies that support institutional priorities and reflect presidential vision.
- Skilled in managing sensitive communications with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment, serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
- Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills across internal and external stakeholders, including alumni, donors, and government officials.
- Adept at leveraging digital platforms and…