Assistant Director of Communications, Office of the President

Reporting to the director of communications, the Assistant Director of Communications will support external and internal communications for the Office of the President. Through speeches, reports, presentations, op‑ed articles, web content, and collateral material, the assistant director will translate complex concepts into powerful language for a wide range of audiences, exercise sound editorial judgement, and maintain discretion. They will work closely with the senior writer drafting presidential correspondence and collaborate with colleagues across the university to align messages, themes, and priorities. This role is not remote.

Essential Duties

Analyze the landscape of higher education routinely and stay up to date on the president’s priorities and activities to implement communications strategy that advances the University’s mission and protects its reputation.

Conduct research and collaborate with university colleagues to find grounding elements from Yale’s history and examples of current excellence for the annual presidential communications deliverables.

Write speeches, talking points and narratives for emerging issues on tight deadlines, considering multiple stakeholders and the current local and national climate.

Prepare polished drafts of high‑level strategic communications for internal and external audiences, including research, consultation, and original writing.

Translate complex concepts into powerful language for speeches, reports, presentations, op‑ed articles, web content, and collateral material.

Work with the senior writer to ensure alignment across presidential communications.

Collaborate closely with the Office of Public Affairs and other university colleagues.

Assist with responses to media inquiries.

Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

Write powerfully, effectively, creatively and clearly across a range of media while working under tight deadlines.

Capture the distinctive voice of the president in speeches, remarks, op‑ed articles, presentations and other written works.

Conceive and write publicly consumed material for senior leadership for internal and external audiences; author web content and news stories with superb attention to detail and context; translate academic content for diverse audiences and media; edit, fact‑check and proofread meticulously.

Develop and manage communications plans, identify relevant vehicles for key audiences, and transmit messages that incorporate community perspectives.

Work independently, proactively manage multiple projects, meet tight deadlines, and maintain confidentiality and integrity to preserve and enhance the reputation of the Office of the President and Yale University.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field and two to three years of experience in speechwriting, public relations, journalism, corporate communications, or political work (or equivalent combination of education and experience).

Experience conceiving and writing publicly consumed material for internal audiences.

Knowledge of Yale, its organization, alumni, students, and faculty members.

Principal Responsibilities

Develop and manage forward‑looking strategic communications with video and social media to enhance Yale’s reputation and communicate its messages.

Produce multimedia content and identify topics with compelling visual and audio elements to create stories using video, podcasts, infographics, slideshows, and other media.

Work with communications colleagues throughout the school and university to highlight researchers’ work, create a high‑profile presence, and reach new audiences.

Build relationships with faculty, administrators, departments, and students while maintaining contact with communications professionals and monitoring trending news topics.

Conceptualize and write creative posts across all social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other accounts.

Participate in regular editorial and content meetings, proposing story ideas to senior leadership.

Regularly attend scientific talks on diverse topics to stay up‑to‑date on research trends at Yale and beyond.

Required Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of experience in writing, social media, digital journalism (e.g., video, audio, blogging) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, or veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran. Inquiries concerning Yale’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

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