Associate Director, Digital Communications & Operations

Stanford Graduate School of Business 

Stanford's Graduate School of Business has built a global reputation based on its immersive and innovative management programs. We provide students a transformative leadership experience, pushing the boundaries of knowledge with faculty research, and offering a portfolio of entrepreneurial and non-degree programs that deliver global impact like no other. We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in service of our mission of developing innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change lives, change organizations, and change the world. We invite you to be part of this mission. 

The MBA and MSx Programs at the Stanford Graduate School of Business seek an experienced Associate Director to join the Digital Communications & Operations team. Reporting to the Director, Digital Communications & Operations, the Associate Director is responsible for developing and managing student communications.  

The central mission of this role is to create, edit, and manage content for the MBA and MSx Programs, including content for the student website, weekly student digests, presentations, videos, leadership updates, student handbook, and communication platforms. The Associate Director will communicate with all areas of the school, advocate on behalf of the students, and ensure buy-in from various stakeholders. The candidate should also have an interest in conceptualizing and piloting new ways of communicating. The position requires the ability to lead meetings and manage projects and deliverables against tight release and launch timelines.  

The ideal candidate should have an avid interest in both writing student communications and managing online communications tools. In addition, you should have outstanding judgment, acute problem-solving skills, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills. In this role, you should be a collaborative team player who has the ability to reach out to many constituencies and understand their needs and priorities and to move the group toward consensus. The position requires a motivated person with a positive attitude and the ability to manage a wide variety of tasks in a fast-paced academic environment with frequently shifting priorities. 

Your primary responsibilities include: 

• Research, plan, write, and edit original and existing content for style and substance, including web content, emails, newsletters, presentations, and video content. 

• Manage student online platforms and tools. 

• Develop and publish sensitive policy statements and publications for internal and/or external audiences. 

• Ensure adherence of editorial content to guidelines.  

• Recommend changes and amendments to communications or publications. 

• Work within deadlines, manage project delivery plan and timelines, and coordinate projects across departments. 

• Advise and collaborate with colleagues on editorial and publication methods. 

• Serve as a resource in developing strategies that promote effective delivery of publications/information to student audiences. 

• Lead and work with teams to deliver an overall communications plan for students. 

• Build and oversee content lifecycle and process to ensure the integrity of overall student websites. 

• Develop business practices and procedures that leverage new online features and tools. 

To be successful in this position, you will bring:  

• Bachelor's degree and five years relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience. 

• Demonstrated understanding of the principles, terminology, procedures, and best practices of communications, public relations, and editorial content. 

• Extensive experience in planning and implementing complex publications/editorial projects. 

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and coordinate materials from multiple resources. 

• Demonstrated ability to edit complex information for both style and substance. 

• Exceptional attention to detail and thorough command of editorial and proofreading skills. 

• Experience producing highly effective work within the deadline and cost constraints. 

• Extensive experience and understanding of job-required software and website applications. 

• Demonstrated ability to apply ingenuity and creativity in solving complex problems. 

• Demonstrated ability to apply discretion and judgment in evaluating implications of information release to internal and external audiences. 

• Strong listening, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.  

• Experience with content development for websites and online communication tools and platforms. 

• A self-starter with a strong sense of initiative and follow-through; a high degree of creativity and pragmatism; the ability to juggle multiple projects; and the ability to take a project through from conceptualization to execution. 

• Comfortable working at both strategy and detailed implementation; ability to see the big picture, how individual components fit into it, and the implications of decisions; strong organizational skills, instinctive attention to detail; ability to execute quickly and efficiently. 

In addition, preferred requirements include:  

• Competency with relevant computer software including Google, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.  

• Technical knowledge of content development for web sites and of databases.  

• Experience with Drupal (or similar content management system). 

• Experience with social media, including Slack and Instagram. 

Why Stanford is for You 

Stanford’s dedicated 16,000 staff come from diverse educational and career backgrounds. We are a collaborative environment that thrives on innovation and continuous improvement. At Stanford, we seek talent committed to excellence, driven to impact the future of our legacy, and improve lives on a global sphere. We provide competitive salaries, excellent health care and retirement plans, and a generous vacation policy, including additional time off during our winter closure. Our generous perks align with what matters to you: 

• Freedom to grow. Take advantage of career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or leader discuss global issues. 

• A caring culture. We understand the importance of your personal and family time and provide you access to wellness programs, child-care resources, parent education and consultation, elder care and caregiving support. 

• A healthier you. We make wellness a priority by providing access to world-class exercise facilities. Climb our rock wall, or participate in one of hundreds of health or fitness classes. 

• Discovery and fun. Visit campus gardens, trails, and museums. 

• Enviable resources. We offer free commuter programs and ridesharing incentives. Enjoy discounts for computers, cell phones, recreation, travel, entertainment, and more! 

We pride ourselves in being a culture that encourages and empowers you. 

How to Apply 

We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button. To be considered, please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application. 

* The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. 

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job. 

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.