Strategic Planning and Communications Officer
: Job Details :

OVERVIEW: The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University is a federally funded center with exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students and is tasked with developing and disseminating innovative curricula, instructionaltechniques, and products nationwide while providing information, training, and technical assistance for parents and professionals to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to age 21.Job Title: Strategic Planning and Communications OfficerWorker Type:RegularPay Type:SalaryExempt Status:YesCompensation Grade (Track/Level):CE1Hiring Range (Commensurate with experience and qualifications):$157,257.00-$209,676.00Salary Ranges (All Compensation Grades):Clerc CenterSupervisory Organization (Department):Clerc Center AdministrationSummary:Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, the Planning and and Communications Officer serves as the leader of the Clerc Center's communication and strategic planning processes, including priority-setting, plan development, and community-wide engagement.Job Description: Strategic Planning and Integration

• Leads, directs, and monitors planning and implementation of the Clerc Center's strategic plan; integrates major planning efforts and documents within the Clerc Center, including accreditation plans, public input, equity plans, and national programs to achieve identified strategic initiatives and unite work across the division; and works with identified personnel at Gallaudet to integrate planning, as appropriate with Gallaudet's priorities and plans.
• Provides oversight and support for Clerc Center planning efforts required by federal legislation or accrediting bodies; and assumes the responsibility for the integration of key reporting mechanisms (GPRA, MSA/CEASD, and KPIs) to meet all reporting requirements.
• Leads Clerc Center leaders in the design and implementation of systems, mechanisms, and processes to support integrated planning across the schools and national programs and directs Clerc Center leaders to ensure compilation of progress reports and program updates.
• Serves as a leader and provides technical expertise to members of the Clerc Center leadership teams, as well as individual project leaders as appropriate, on planning, planning capacity, project management, and related initiatives; and works closely with the team to establish clear KPIs and program evaluation and review processes as an integrated component of the strategic plan.
• Envisions, coordinates and provides direct support for management of reporting to the President's Office and the Board of Trustees from the Chief Academic and Administrative Officers on strategic plan progress, KPIs, and performance measures.

Communication:

• Develops and implements a comprehensive internal and external communication plan that supports the mission of and unites the Clerc Center's national programs and the demonstration elementary and secondary schools; and provides leadership and oversight on national communications designed to share Clerc Center initiatives with schools and programs nationwide with the intent to strengthen partnerships with existing collaborators, raise awareness, and create new partnerships with mainstream programs and programs serving traditionally underserved students as required by the Education of the Deaf Act.
• Provides direction to the leadership team about and oversight of all elements of the Clerc Center brand, including both messaging alignment and leading the standardization of the usage and appearance of Clerc Center national products, website, national resources, letterhead, and brochures, both in print and online.
• Serves as a subject matter expert and develops communication advisories and strategic briefs for all Clerc Center initiatives; articulates the Clerc Center's core positions and values propositions across the subjects and initiatives including early intervention, the REAL program, deaf education resources for families, deaf education resources for professionals, curricular recommendations, language-rich environments, accessibility, Clerc Center Online Community, Clerc Center's State Partnerships, and the Clerc Center's relationship with Gallaudet University.
• Provides direction and oversight for the Clerc Center website and social media and leads all reputation management to ensure they positively reflect the Clerc Center's programs and services, partnerships, brand, and mission; makes recommendations for the purpose, use, and long-term plans for robust, strategic communication through web and social media, including annual and multi-year calendars; develops, establishes, and communicates policies and protocols for the use of web and social media sites for Clerc Center communications and public relations; and provides direction and oversight for the Clerc Center intranet to ensure it fosters communication and operational efficiency.
• Leads the communications department, staff, and associated contractors in developing communications and campaigns to enhance the image and brand of the Clerc Center; and supervises assigned personnel, the day-to-day operations, and the unit budget.
• Directs all media relations, in collaboration with University Communications, handling all contact with the news media for the Clerc Center; and prepares media-ready content and talking points for Clerc Center leaders, both proactively and for in-the-moment needs; and provides news releases and background information, schedules press conferences, organizes media coverage of schools, and handles media relations responsibilities for the Chief Administrative and Academic Officers.
• Provides leadership and direction to Clerc Center leaders on all emergency and crisis communications; develops communication templates for common emergency situations; and drafts emergency communications as needed during crises and strategizes event communications, including post-event recovery and return to normal business operations.
• Oversees interpreting at the Clerc Center; supervises interpreting coordinators; develops systems for communication and coordination to ensure cost savings and high-quality service provision.

Additional Responsibilities

• Serves as a leader of the Clerc Center by participating in leadership team meetings and discussions; serves as an active, contributing member of the Clerc Center and Gallaudet communities; and leads the promotion of Clerc Center-wide goals established through the Clerc Center strategic planning process.
• Establishes and maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers and supervisors.
• Demonstrates a genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and participates in activities and workshops to foster continuous learning.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter under Title IX and commits to completing Title IX training and other compliance requirements on an annual basis.
• Prioritizes safety in the workplace as a collective responsibility for the well-being of employees and fosters a culture of safety that is integral to our success, including strict adherence to safety procedures and protocols, as well as promptly reporting any safety hazards or incidents.
• Performs related and other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree.
• A minimum of four years of professional experience with communication, strategic planning, or a related field.
• Ability to communicate in American Sign Language.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Supervisory experience.
• Experience working in an educational institution setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong communications skills.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Strong leadership skills including building, leading, and supervising cross-functional teams.
• Strong ability to effectively lead simultaneous, major initiatives from inception to completion.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational planning processes.
• Demonstrated experience drafting high-level communications for executives and organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work with and across departments, outside constituents, and groups.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.

Other Important Information:

• The successful candidate will undergo a background check that must be cleared prior to working at Gallaudet University.

Current Employees (Regular Status and Extended Temporary)Please use the link below or the Find Jobs report directly within Workday.Need help finding the right job?We can recommend jobs specifically for you! Create a custom Job Alert by selecting criteria that suit your career interests.Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity employer/educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis. This policy is in compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act, and other applicable laws and applies to all procedures affecting applicants and employees including, but not necessarily limited to: recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, reassignment, reappointment, tenure, demotion, selection for training, layoff, furlough, and termination, compensation, and all other conditions or privileges of employment.