Vice President, Integrated Communications

DeVry University is committed to closing society’s opportunity gap and addressing emerging talent needs by preparing learners to thrive in careers shaped by continuous technological change. Through innovative programs, strong industry partnerships, and a student-first approach, we empower individuals to improve their lives, strengthen their communities, and advance the workplace.
 Our colleague experience is an area of intentional and continuous focus. At DeVry University, we care deeply about our people, because it is through our colleagues that we deliver our unique value to learners and partners.
 
 Opportunity
The Vice President of Integrated Communications provides strategic leadership for DeVry University’s internal and external communications, including institutional reputation, media relations, thought leadership, crisis communications, and colleague engagement. Reporting to the Chief University Relations and Belonging Officer, this role partners closely with executive leadership to ensure communications are clear, aligned, and impactful across colleagues, faculty, students, alumni, and external stakeholders.
Operating within a lean, collaborative environment, the VP of Integrated Communications balances enterprise-level strategy with selective hands-on execution for high-stakes and sensitive communications. The role leads a small communications team and sets direction, standards, and priorities while building scalable processes that strengthen consistency, trust, and institutional impact.
Responsibilities:
 
Strategic Leadership
• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that elevates DeVry’s visibility, reputation, and impact – across our footprint.
• Develop and implement integrated communications plans for all the university's needs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the DeVry Executive Leadership on strategic communications, media relations, and crisis communication.
• Align all communications with DeVry’s mission, goals, and strategic pillars – ensuring message consistency across all channels.
• Oversee and guide the creation and execution of campaigns that promote institutional achievements, academic excellence, and community impact.
• This role sets the institution-wide communications strategy and narrative, while also stepping into selective high-stakes execution — including crisis messaging, executive visibility, and sensitive organizational communications — in support of DeVry’s lean, collaborative operating model.
• Leads the University-wide emergency crisis communications as DeVry's Public Information Officer (PIO) and guides response(s) as needed. This role is part of the core Emergency Response Team under the guidance of DeVry's National Incident Commander.
• Oversees crisis communications readiness, including scenario planning, message playbooks, and coordination with Legal, Security, Academics, and IT, serving as the Public Information Officer for institutional emergencies.
• This role leads the application process for external recognition and showcases the impact and value of DeVry University.
 
Public Relations and Media Strategy
• Lead proactive and effective media relations efforts that focus on key products, reputation, and transformation efforts that align owned and earned communication channels around driving messaging into the market.
• Establish an integrated measurement dashboard, aligning discipline-specific metrics into a single view – that tells the story and impact.
• Lead and create a proactive media relations strategy to promote DeVry news, thought leadership, and achievements.
• Guide crisis communication strategies and develop preparedness protocols.
• Leads DeVry’s external reputation strategy, including proactive media relations, thought leadership development for senior leaders, and institutional storytelling that elevates visibility and impact across our strategic pillars.
• Leads institutional and executive thought leadership efforts that strengthen DeVry’s reputation and visibility.
 
Internal Communications
• Lead internal communications strategy to strengthen our messaging, trust, and alignment across colleagues, faculty, and students.
• Partner with DeVry leadership to ensure clear, timely and transparent communication during institutional initiatives and change.
• Oversee all colleague communication channels, ensuring messaging reflects DeVry’s culture of CARE, collaboration, and accountability.
• Provides strategic direction and governance for internal communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment across colleague, faculty, and student audiences, while the team manages day-to-day channel execution.
 
Team Leadership, Culture and Collaboration
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing communications team, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability and togetherness.
• Collaborate across departments, including marketing, alumni relations, student central, academics, government relations, etc, to ensure alignment and amplify impact.
• Manage budgets, resources and performance metrics across all communications functions.
• Thrives in a lean, matrixed environment by prioritizing effectively, delegating day-to-day execution to the team, and building scalable processes and systems that strengthen communications impact over time.
 
Qualifications
• 10+ years of experience in communications, with at least 5+ years in a leadership role, ideally within higher education or mission-driven organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field required; a master's degree preferred.
• Proven success in strategic communication planning, media relations, and social marketing engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive issues, provide executive council and lead through complexity and change.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience in crisis communications, particularly in emergency management response.
• Experience with content creation and delivery.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external key stakeholders across the organization, including senior leaders.
 
This position will be posted for 5 days.
 
DeVry University offers benefit options for full-time colleagues, including:
 
• 401(k) and Roth Plan w/match
• Paid Tuition Program
• Remote and Flex Work Options
• Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Fertility Coverage
• Family and Domestic Partner Coverage
• Adoption Assistance
• Wellness Programs
• Volunteer Time Off
• Technology Stipend
• Career Development Programs
• Mental Health Care Programs
• Tax Savings Account (FSA and HSA)
• Short-Term/Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Life, Accident, AD&D, Critical Illness Insurance
• Auto/Homeowners, Pet and Legal Insurance
• Exclusive Discount Programs
• Family Care Services
• 2nd.MD, a virtual expert medical consultation service
• Health Advocacy Service
 
We believe that a vibrant and collaborative workplace is essential to our educational mission and the success of our community. We are committed to a workplace environment where all colleagues feel valued, respected, and supported.