Senior Director of Communications (Remote)

EEO Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Senior Director of Communications

Job Summary:

The Senior Director of Communications will play a lead role in shaping and promoting the public image and brand of IHS. Reporting to the Managing Director of Programs and Partnerships, this position will oversee the development and execution of comprehensive communication strategies to enhance the visibility and impact of IHS’s initiatives. The Senior Director will lead a team of communications and marketing professionals, and work closely with senior leadership, scholars, and external partners to convey the mission and vision of IHS to academic and donor audiences.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• 2-3 direct reports, responsible for a team of 5-7 total employees.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Develop communications strategies that improve brand visibility through earned media, paid media, web presence, content, partnerships, social media, and other activities.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders, including leadership team, to ensure consistent and effective messaging across all communication channels and materials, maintaining the integrity of the IHS brand.
• Oversee the creation of high-quality content, including press releases, op-eds, articles, newsletters, social media posts, and multimedia materials.
• Manage brand positioning-related partnerships with aligned organizations and media.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the communications and marketing team, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Develop and implement crisis communication plans to manage and mitigate potential reputational risks.

Required Skills/Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in communications, public relations, or a related field, with a proven track record of developing and executing successful communication strategies.
• Understanding of classical liberal ideas and a commitment to the mission of IHS.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing a team of communications professionals.
• Familiarity with marketing sales funnels and marketing technologies, with an understanding of their application in driving customer acquisition, engagement, and retention.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messages for various audiences.
• Strategic thinker with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.

To apply, qualified candidates must submit the following materials (under additional documents):

• Resume.
• Cover letter detailing your interest in this position and why the IHS mission resonates with you.

Disclaimer:

• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• Remote positions at the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) require quarterly in-person meetings at our office location in Arlington, VA. IHS employees are required to visit the office for a minimum of two weeks per year.

About the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University:

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) supports and partners with university professors working within the classical liberal intellectual tradition. Our vision is that higher education becomes a place where the open exchange of ideas flourishes, and where ideas within the classical liberal tradition are regularly taught, discussed, challenged, and developed so that they inform scholarly and public discourse on the key challenges facing a free society.

Each year, IHS provides thousands of aspiring and established professors graduate student fellowships, career development support, research funding, and support for on-campus student programs. Most importantly, through its scholarly convenings IHS connects these scholars to one another to form a diverse and growing community of thought leaders advancing ideas essential to the good society—a pluralistic and tolerant society in which individuals and communities flourish in a context of openness, dignity, equality, and freedom.

Benefits:

We have a flexible, professional, open office environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship and provides substantial opportunity for professional growth. Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. IHS provides exceptional benefits to all employees, including health and dental insurance coverage (which includes paying 100% of the health and dental insurance premium for individuals), health savings accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, a parking permit and 12 free tuition credit hours annually at George Mason University.