Strategic Communications Operations Manager

Strategic Communications Operations ManagerThe Strategic Communications Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the Strategic Communications team, ensuring departmental priorities are translated into clear action and communications initiatives move efficiently from direction through execution and completion. This role serves as an operational partner who translates strategic direction into coordinated workflows, assignments, timelines, and follow-through across the team.Specific duties and responsibilities include:Overseeing day-to-day strategic communications operationsTranslating executive direction into team activationLeading team operating rhythm and accountabilityCoordinating cross-functional communications executionSupporting communications planning and execution readinessCoordinating external vendors and operational resourcesImproving strategic communications operationsOther duties include participating in ministry at Church of the Highlands and Highlands College by leading small groups, affirming and upholding the Statement of Faith and the Core Values and DNA of the College, exemplifying all by word and lifestyle, supporting significant Highlands College events, initiatives, and institutional priorities as needed, and performing other duties consistent with the scope and responsibilities of the role as assigned.Leadership requirements include exercising independent judgment regarding day-to-day strategic communications operations, translating strategic direction into clear operational plans, providing operational leadership across the Strategic Communications team, influencing and coordinating teammates and cross-functional partners, anticipating possible demands, dependencies, risks, and outcomes, identifying when operational decisions can be made independently and when strategic, sensitive, or significant priority decisions require Executive Director involvement, conveying accurate information effectively, building alignment across multiple functions and stakeholders, reviewing progress toward departmental priorities, and proactively addressing barriers that could prevent successful execution.Qualifications include personal characteristics such as being highly organized, proactive, and action-oriented, demonstrating exceptional follow-through and taking ownership of outcomes, operating effectively in a fast-paced environment, anticipating needs and potential obstacles, demonstrating sound judgment and discretion, approaching operational challenges with a solution-oriented mindset, building trust through reliability, consistency, clear communication, and accountability, demonstrating confidence working with leaders, teammates, external vendors, and cross-functional partners, maintaining composure and effectiveness when navigating ambiguity, competing priorities, or rapidly changing circumstances, demonstrating a collaborative, service-oriented approach while maintaining appropriate accountability and expectations.Essential traits include being action-oriented, highly organized, a strategic thinker, operationally minded, having strong initiative, exceptional follow-through, sound judgment, detail-oriented, collaborative, adaptable, accountable, solution-oriented, an effective communicator, and able to influence without direct authority.Abilities and skills include translating high-level strategic direction into clear assignments, workflows, timelines, and next steps, independently prioritizing and coordinating multiple communications initiatives, exercising sound independent judgment regarding routine operational decisions, anticipating needs, identifying execution risks, and developing practical solutions, facilitating effective meetings and establishing clear decisions, ownership, and follow-up, coordinating work across teammates with different communications specialties and responsibilities, influencing and creating accountability without relying on formal supervisory authority, communicating effectively with teammates, senior leaders, cross-functional partners, and external vendors, preparing concise executive-level updates, developing clear communications and project briefs, managing multiple deadlines and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment, handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion, evaluating processes and implementing operational improvements, and having strong written and verbal communication skills.Knowledge includes understanding communications, marketing, public relations, or related communications functions and workflows, understanding how communications projects move from strategy and planning through development, approval, production, and activation, working knowledge of project coordination and operational management practices, understanding of cross-functional communications environments involving digital media, social media, editorial content, internal communications, external communications, events, and institutional stakeholders, working knowledge of vendor coordination, production timelines, estimates, invoices, and communications-related services, and familiarity with project-management and productivity platforms such as Monday.com and Microsoft 365 preferred.Education includes a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, Organizational Leadership, or a related field required.Experience includes five to seven years of professional experience in communications, marketing, communications operations, project management, or a related field required, experience coordinating complex projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, deliverables, and deadlines required, demonstrated experience translating strategic direction into actionable plans and coordinating work through completion required, experience supporting senior-level leaders and working across multiple departments or functional areas strongly preferred, experience coordinating external vendors and communications-related production processes preferred, and experience working in higher education, nonprofit, ministry, or another mission-driven organization preferred.This role regularly interacts with Highlands College teammates, departmental leaders, external vendors, ministry partners, and other stakeholders as required to coordinate communications initiatives.Physical demands include the ability to perform the essential functions of an office-based position, ability to attend meetings and events across campus as required, and ability to work occasional evenings or extended hours in support of significant institutional events, communications initiatives, or time-sensitive needs.Direct reports include this position is not initially a team lead for any Highlands College teammates, the role provides operational leadership and coordination across the Strategic Communications team without direct supervisory responsibility, and direct-report responsibilities may be added as the department and operational function evolve.