Changing the World . . . Through Discovery, Education and Care

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Houston) is seeking an Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs who with creativity, high energy, savvy relationship building skills, and an effective, highly positive and productive leadership style will build a first rate program. In this role, you will work in a complex and dynamic environment, with leaders from many constituencies, to shape communications, publications, marketing and branding activities for UT Houston. Constituents include, but are not limited to leaders from: the areas of finance, facilities, government relations, human resources, legal, etc.; six health related schools; two institutes (Molecular Medicine and Health Policy); affiliated hospitals (Memorial Hermann and Harris County Hospital District); UT Physicians group; UTHSC-H Development Board; alumni and advisory councils; and members of the local, state, and national media.

The UT Houston campus is located in the world's largest medical center (42 institutions), in the fourth largest city in the United States, adjacent to a world-class museum district, is surrounded by urban living amenities, and is serviced by METRO bus and rail at the office building entrance. UT Houston is a comprehensive health sciences university in a dynamic state and city, with a historically robust economy and a strong culture of volunteerism and philanthropy. University leadership is inspiring and committed to institutional advancement. The 35 year old university has thirty thousand alumni, six health professions schools (Medical, Nursing, Dental, Public Health, Health Information Sciences, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences). Current enrollment at UT Houston exceeds 3,700 students, and faculty positions number 1,300. The position offers an opportunity to work with ambitious, world-class faculty, students and staff, who are eager to embrace an exceptional candidate who will work with them to strengthen the reputation and visibility of the institution and its outstanding people and programs.

The Office of Institutional Advancement (OIA) boasts a dynamic, creative, high energy and enabling environment under new leadership. The OIA staff number more than 71.5 individuals in positions throughout the university, and has a budget of $5,720,067. The Office oversees programs in Public Affairs, Development and Development Services, Alumni Relations and Advancement Operations and Administration.

Public Affairs at UT Houston consists of 25 direct report employees, has a budget of more than $2.5m, and includes the departments of: Media Relations; Communications; Special Events and Creative Services; Web Communications; and Marketing and Community Relations. In addition, each of the 6 schools have communications staff with dotted line relationships to the central Public Affairs office.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Design and implement a branding and marketing strategy for the overall institution, as well as individual schools and units of the institution. This includes opportunities to work with Memorial Hermann Hospital, the Harris County Hospital District, as well as the university's faculty practice organization.
  
• Provide expertise in areas of leadership, collaboration, marketing and branding. Will also provide guidance, inspiration and strategic direction to the more traditional areas of public affairs, including media relations; crisis management; communications; publications; design; news and information.
  
• Strategically energize and make sparkle all communications from across the institution. This requires creativity, buy-in from all entities; an understanding of how to build and work with teams; and how to use resources more effectively to establish a synergized, comprehensive communications program that both recognizes each entity, as well as delivers a message of unity and consistent brand identity.
  
• Serve as the key communication spokesperson for UT Houston and assist the Vice President and President in preparing public remarks (e.g. speeches) and written communications (e.g. op-ed pieces).
  
• Work with the new president in his/her efforts to set the agenda and direction of the institution for the next 25 years.

Required qualifications for consideration of this exciting opportunity include a bachelor degree (advance degree preferred) and a minimum of ten years of experience in communications and media relations, with an emphasis on marketing and branding.

Past experiences should reflect the following:

- the ability to foster a culture of pride, professionalism and accountability among our internal and external constituents by being: optimistic, enabling, accessible, reliable, capable, accurate, timely, respectful, grateful, creative, and a visionary with a "can-do" attitude and;

- the ability to act as an excellent written and verbal communicator on behalf of the overall institution, as well as its many components.

Qualified candidates may apply online at https://jobs.uth.tmc.edu (Requisition # 082187 or click here: Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs )

*Note: You are encouraged to upload your resume at that time.