Assistant Dean of Communications - Brooks School of Public Policy, Communications & Marketing

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy harnesses the University's broad disciplinary excellence in public policy, along with its innovative teaching, research, and engagement programs, to solve pressing global challenges. The school's prestigious faculty apply an interdisciplinary and problem-oriented focus to wide-ranging public policy issues as they explore how government choices intersect with people's lives. The school's initial areas of focus are in data science and technology policy; environmental and sustainability policy; health policy; global security; inequality and social policy; the politics and economics of development; and race, racism, and public policy.

The Opportunity

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy is seeking a strategic, creative, and collaborative Assistant Dean of Communications to lead the school's communications and marketing efforts and raise its visibility locally, nationally, and globally.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced communications leader who can set a clear vision, build strong partnerships across many stakeholder groups, and tell compelling stories about the research, people, and programs that make the Brooks School distinctive.

Reporting to the Dean, with a shared reporting line to the Vice President for University Relations, the Assistant Dean of Communications is the school's lead communications resource and a strategic partner to the Dean and senior leadership, including faculty, center and institute directors, and staff. The Assistant Dean sets communications and marketing priorities, executes an annual strategic communications plan, allocates resources, tracks outcomes, and leads a team of two communications professionals.

Cornell communicators share a mission to protect and strengthen the university's reputation as a top research institution and a leader in higher education. Communications at Cornell work through a matrixed model in which University Relations houses News (Cornell Chronicle), Media Relations, Brand, Strategic Communications, and Cornellians. The Assistant Dean works closely with these central teams and meets regularly with the Vice President for University Relations and the Associate Vice President for Communications.

Candidate Profile

A successful candidate in this role needs to have established the following:

• Develop and execute the Brooks School's comprehensive communications and marketing strategy, ensuring clear, consistent messaging that advances the school's mission, priorities, reputation, and visibility across internal and external audiences.
• Direct the school's communications portfolio, including digital and print content, publications, websites, social media, and media outreach. Partner with University Relations to promote faculty expertise, research, and key initiatives while maintaining brand alignment and messaging consistency.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to school leadership, supervise communications staff, manage departmental resources and budgets, and foster a collaborative, high-performing communications team that delivers measurable results.

More information about the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy can be found at, https://publicpolicy.cornell.edu/.

We require these qualifications:

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Demonstrated skill in understanding of cultural differences.
• Bachelor's degree with 7-10 years of experience, or equivalent education and experience, in communications, public affairs, marketing, public relations, media relations or journalism, with demonstrated experience as a communications leader serving multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional leadership and vision to provide strategy development to advance the Brooks School of Public Policy's mission. Experience creating and maintaining an annual strategic communications plan.
• Proven ability to effect successful marketing and media campaigns and crisis-management communications.
• An entrepreneurial and innovative attitude and orientation together with the ability to see opportunity and thrive in a time of uncertainty.
• Ability to write quickly, clearly, and concisely in collaboration with others.
• Experience generating, reporting, writing, editing and/or assigning stories, multimedia projects, and/or social media content that advances a unit's mission and goals.
• Ability to work with partners in Brand, Media Relations, News, and Strategic Communications staff on internal and external branding and messaging, multimedia storytelling, and crisis prevention/management.
• Experience hiring and managing freelancers/vendors, managing small and large projects with multiple stakeholders, and ability to work with University Relations/Procurement partners to manage and maintain standard vendor contracts, costs, and timelines.
• Exceptional team-building skills, a commitment to transparency, and a strong sense of ethics.

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

• Experience in higher education, government, corporate or non-profit setting with a focus on policy-oriented public affairs, public relations, corporate communications, marketing or related fields.
• Experience in the direction and development of multimedia products including video, flash animation, digital signage, blogs, etc. as well as active participation in online social networks.

To apply

For full consideration, applicants must include both a resume and cover letter with their application.

Important Notes About Applying

• This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Ithaca, NY, within the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy on the Cornell University campus.
• The Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy appreciates employees by providing the opportunity to work a 4:1 campus-to-home hybrid schedule after a period of orientation and acclimation.
• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays.

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell

University Job Title:

Job Family:

Level:

Pay Rate Type:

Pay Range:

Remote Option Availability:

Company:

Contact Name:

Contact Email:

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell's non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell's union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Current Employees:

If you currently work at Cornell University, please exit this website and log in to Workday using your Net ID and password. Select the Career icon on your Home dashboard to view jobs at Cornell.

Online Submission Guidelines:

Most positions at Cornell will require you to apply online and submit both a resume/CV and cover letter. You can upload documents either by "dragging and dropping" them into the dropbox or by using the "upload" icon on the application page. For more detailed instructions on how to apply to a job at Cornell, visit How We Hire on the HR website.

Employment Assistance:

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email mycareer@cornell.edu.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at accommodations@cornell.edu.

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing mycareer@cornell.edu.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here. This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Cornellwelcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeksjob candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. Wehire based on merit, andencourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.