Associate Vice Chancellor for External Relations

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint an Associate Vice Chancellor for External Relations reporting to the Vice Chancellor.

The Associate Vice Chancellor (AVC) for External Relations provides strategic leadership to the Office of External Relations while seeking to enhance widespread understanding of the vision and mission of the University. The AVC will work with key University leaders on institutional priorities to lead communications strategy while managing several critical functions at NYUAD.

The primary areas of responsibility include public affairs and communications (encompassing internal external and digital communications for the University) university and commercial events and select community engagement initiatives led by the Vice Chancellors office. The AVC is responsible for cultivating and maintaining strong relationships within the external community leading to support across the region. Work closely with the functional areas to implement the communications strategy and track success measures. Work closely with government partners and key stakeholders on regulatory and policy issues that concern the University. Represent the University on committees working groups and publicly as required. Work strategically to align the goals of internal stakeholders across the Universitys community engagement activities. Working in close collaboration with the Chief of Staff in the Vice Chancellors Office manage and guide the stakeholder engagement and protocol function at the University. Live and breathe the mission of the University ensuring strong relationships with key faculty staff and student government. Develop and maintain a deep understanding of academic faculties their research priorities and their curricula. Essentially this role is charged with articulating defining and raising the profile of the unique distinctiveness of NYUAD and its strategic vision creating strong support for the University in the UAE and abroad.

Detailed information on key responsibilities skills and competencies is available upon request.

*** Please do not apply via this portal*** This search is being managed externally by Korn Ferry applications including a current CV and letter explaining interest and relevant experience should be sent to the following address exclusively:

All communications will be held in strict confidence.

Key Responsibilities:

External Relations

• Provide strategic and inspired leadership on NYUADs overall positioning
• Enhance the visability of NYU Abu Dhabi
• Act as a key member of the Vice Chancellors Advisory Group and provide strategic counsel on all issues related to external relations public affairs communications community engagement marketing and events
• Work closely with key leaders across the institution to support the Vice Chancellors communications and engagement priorities
• Identify opportunities to maintain and enhance the Universitys reputation and brand awareness
• Lead planning coordination and alignment on major institutional priorities

University Communications and Public Relations

• Provide strategic oversight of NYUADs public affairs and communications team which reports into the AVCs office while ensuring NYUADs mission and vision are communicated by the University with clarity and consistency at all times
• Working with other departments in the University to ensure that all university events community engagement and outreach activities website and digital and social media channels present NYUADs vision and mission through appearance and programming
• Collaborate closely with University leaders NYU Public Affairs and other NYU leadership in New York and elsewhere as needed in NYUs Global Network and the Universitys government partners in Abu Dhabi in order to plan comprehensively for generating positive publicity; raising awareness of NYU Abu Dhabi both domestically and internationally; and undertaking careful stewardship of its reputation and brand
• Liaise regularly on all PR and communications related inquiries from local government partner. Proactively identify analyze and act on initiatives and emerging issues that could impact NYUADs reputation
• Set the strategic direction direct forward planning and ensure planned initiatives align with and support the broader goals of the University
• Provide advice and counsel to the Vice Chancellor Provost and other senior leaders on critical matters relating to reputation including institutional priorities and crisis communications
• Provide functional leadership of all the Universitys communications activities (e.g. Arts Center Art Gallery StartAD Institute etc.) and ensure alignment on key messages
• Assume the position of brand ambassador for the University maintaining a constant presence across all relevant institutions in order to promote NYUAD interest and perception.
• Support the Vice Chancellor with communications strategy positioning and implementation lead the development of executive communications as required ensure visual identity in all materials and ensure alignment with message and mission of the institution

University and Commercial Events

• Provide strategic oversight to the University events department which reports into the AVCs office. Set the strategic direction direct forward planning and ensure planned initiatives align with and support the broader goals of the University
• Ensure purposes character visual identity advertising and execution of university and external events are consistent with and advance the mission of NYUAD and serve and enhance its community
• Coordinate efforts between functions to ensure effective and appropriate media and engagement strategy around university (and key external) events commensurate with the mission and reputation of NYUAD
• Provide strategic advice and counsel on proposed events and external bookings and partnerships for the University
• Oversight of Commencement and major University events and ceremonies.
• Creation and oversight of vibrant inclusive and clearly structured virtual University events
• Oversight of protocol policy and oversight of the protocol function in collaboration with the Vice Chancellors Chief of Staff

Community Engagement (Internal and External)

• Provide strategic oversight of Community Engagement initiatives led by the Vice Chancellors office
• Establish and build relationships on behalf of NYUAD with partners government agencies as well as opinion formers and influencers in the UAE and beyond
• Connect the Vice Chancellor and other University leaders with the regions highly placed and influential individuals to showcase NYUADs distinctiveness and raise awareness of the Universitys contributions to the UAE and beyond
• Set the strategic direction direct forward planning and ensure planned initiatives align with and support the broader goals of the University
• Oversee communications with key influencers and partners to ensure alignment with messaging and inform strategy
• Oversight of integrated stakeholder management system in close collaboration with the Development and Alumni Relations Office and other areas as required
• Work with the Chief of Staff and VC office on coordination of visits from VIPs and dignitaries

Required Education:

• Bachelors degree

Preferred Education:

• Masters degree
• Membership in relevant professional organization

Required Experience:

• Extensive 15 years of business experience in related fields
• Minimum 5 years at executive leadership level or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Must include experience leading teams overseeing budgets and a variety of projects and activities
• Experience of relationship management corporate communications government relations and in the development of strategic communications and marketing. Experience in managing sensitive and confidential issues
• Extensive experience in developing and implementing successful high-level communications marketing and engagement programs
• Consummate networker with a strong track record with media; influential stakeholders or institutions
• Proven experience working collaboratively with colleagues at all levels to identify issues and proactively develop communications strategies
• Exceptional communication skills in order to source information obtain confidences build relationships and provide sufficient influence to achieve success
• Experience in managing sensitive and confidential information
• Creative problem solver and strategic thinker with a strong work ethic
• Excellent planning and problem-solving skills
• Strong project/program management skills
• Highly organized able to prioritize multiple projects effectively and work independently
• Excellent understanding of digital communications and marketing stakeholder engagement government relations and how to most effectively ensure the University is well positioned
• Team player comfortable in a highly collaborative environment but comfortable working independently while liaising with remote teams
• Leader and coach of teams with a track record of growing and developing individuals within a team relevant to their ability and works to create a respectful positive and high-performance working environment
• Highly respected well-networked and experienced individual who shares understands and will live and breathe this unique distinctive vision and mission of the institution
• Calm and considered able to respond with an appropriate and balanced response to unplanned events
• A global citizen with the emotional intelligence to adapt their style to the appropriate audience
• Strong personal integrity; committed to understanding the mission of the University
• Knowledge and understanding of the teaching research and outreach roles of a major global university
• High in energy empathy and passion

Preferred Experience:

• Communications marketing stakeholder engagement events government liaison experience and proven successes in the United Arab Emirates or other international setting
• Successful experience leading external relations and/or public affairs in institution of higher education
• The candidate will ideally possess an existing network in Abu Dhabi with familiarity of how to effectively build relationships within the UAE

The University is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity diversity and social inclusion.