Assistant Dean for Strategic Communications, CHST

Assistant Dean for Strategic Communications, CHST

Posting Category: E

About UIS: Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves more than 4,000 students in 44 graduate and 56 undergraduate programs. You are encouraged to visit the university web page at http://www.uis.edu.

Application deadline: 4/12/2026

Minimum Starting Salary: $80,000 annually

Job Summary:

The Assistant Dean for Strategic Communications is a senior leadership position within the College of Health, Science, and Technology (CHST). The Assistant Dean serves as a member of the College Cabinet and provides strategic direction for all external and internal communications, public relations, donor engagement, and employer relations activities. This position exercises broad independent judgment and decision-making authority to advance the College's visibility, reputation, and strategic partnerships.

The Assistant Dean is a key advisor to the Dean on messaging, positioning, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management. This role is responsible for building and sustaining relationships with external audiences—including donors, employers, media, alumni, community partners, and prospective students—while ensuring internal communications support faculty success, program growth, and student recruitment and retention. The position leads strategic planning and evaluation of communications and engagement functions rather than routine content production or transactional tasks.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and College Cabinet Service: Serve as a member of the College Cabinet, contributing to strategic planning, policy development, and institutional decision-making at the college level. Function as the primary communications and engagement advisor to the Dean, providing strategic counsel on messaging, positioning, crisis communications, and reputation management. Translate college priorities, academic strengths, and institutional goals into integrated communication and engagement strategies. Exercise broad independent judgment in setting priorities, sequencing initiatives, and allocating resources in alignment with college and university objectives. Represent the College at university-level communications and advancement meetings, serving as a liaison between CHST leadership and central administration.

Public Relations and Faculty Visibility: Develop and execute a proactive public relations strategy that elevates the College’s research, academic programs, and institutional impact. Build and manage media relationships to increase coverage of faculty expertise, scholarly achievements, grants, and applied research outcomes. Partner with faculty to identify and promote newsworthy accomplishments, translating academic work into compelling public narratives. Coordinate with university communications and marketing to position CHST faculty as subject-matter experts for media inquiries and public commentary. Oversee the development of faculty profiles, impact stories, and thought leadership content for external audiences.

Donor Engagement and Advancement Communications: Collaborate with university advancement and development staff to create donor-facing communications that articulate the College’s strategic priorities, funding needs, and impact. Develop compelling cases for support, impact reports, and stewardship communications that strengthen donor relationships and giving. Support the Dean in preparation for donor meetings, cultivation events, and fundraising campaigns through strategic messaging and materials development. Identify and communicate stories of student success, faculty innovation, and program outcomes that resonate with philanthropic audiences.

Employer Relations and Workforce Partnerships: Lead strategic communications that strengthen relationships with employers, industry partners, and workforce development stakeholders. Develop engagement strategies and materials that communicate the value of CHST graduates, credentials, and applied learning experiences to regional and national employers. Collaborate with academic departments and career services to promote internship pipelines, employer partnerships, and workforce-aligned programming. Support the Dean and program leaders in building and maintaining advisory boards and employer networks through strategic outreach and relationship management.

Enrollment Communications and Student Engagement: Lead the development and implementation of strategic communications that support student recruitment, yield, retention, and persistence across the student lifecycle. Apply evidence-informed and behaviorally grounded approaches to improve engagement and decision-making among prospective and currently enrolled students. Provide strategic leadership for the College’s digital communication platforms, including web presence, social media, and email campaigns. Serve as the College’s primary liaison with central marketing, Enrollment Management, and external partners on enrollment-related communications.

Collaboration and Coordination: Collaborate with department chairs, program directors, faculty, and staff to ensure communications reflect program strengths and college priorities. Ensure college-level communication and engagement efforts are aligned with institutional strategies and campaigns. Establish content priorities, standards, and governance that support recruitment, faculty visibility, donor engagement, and academic reputation.

Budget and Resource Stewardship: Manage allocated operating budgets in support of strategic communications, public relations, and engagement initiatives. Evaluate effectiveness and return on investment to guide resource allocation and strategic adjustments.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, behavioral science, or a related field.

Substantial professional experience (typically seven or more years) in strategic communications, public relations, advancement communications, or related functions requiring independent judgment and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in higher education or other mission-driven organizations.
Experience with public relations, media relations, or crisis communications.
Experience supporting donor engagement, advancement communications, or fundraising campaigns.
Experience developing employer or workforce development partnerships.
Experience overseeing digital communication, content marketing, or engagement platforms.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute integrated communications strategies across multiple external audiences.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex, decentralized organizations.
Applied knowledge of behavioral science or evidence-informed communication strategies.

Employment Policies and other information:

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds and identities. The University of Illinois System does not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on their real or perceived race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran and will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders and regulations. Visit University of Illinois Non-Discrimination Statement

The University of Illinois System conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Convictions are not a bar to employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law.

The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment.

As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State University Retirement System.

• You will not pay Social Security taxes and your earning will not be on your Social Security Record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages.
• Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your:

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted by contacting UIS HR at hremployment@uis.edu or call 217-206-6652.

***Please Note: All postings close at 5:00pm CST on the posting close date.***