Director, Communications and Public Relations Public Relations [Posted September 17, 2012]
POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Communications & Public Relations reports to the President and is responsible for planning, developing and implementing the colleges communications and public relations strategies and plans, both externally and internally. The Director will work collaboratively with members of the leadership team and other key leaders including academic and site leaders to implement strategies that effectively communicate the colleges mission and impact. The Director will be the primary person responsible for media relations, web content and for strategies related to the use of social and emerging media.
This position is a full-time administrative management position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: - Create, manage, present and execute a comprehensive communications plan for all major College undertakings including change initiatives, presidential messaging and other important outreach efforts.
- Coordinate all communication efforts (in collaboration with team members from Advancement, Marketing, Administration & Finance, & Provost Office).
- Lead efforts to increase the presence of Cambridge College, its faculty, students, alums and events/conferences in external media-locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
- Seek out newsworthy stories about faculty, students and alums and develop and launch stories to appropriate media for publication.
- Advise and support the President and leadership in media relations
- Serve as the primary liaison for the college to the media
- Support and manage web content
- Oversee strategy and execution of the use of social media as a communications tool for the college
- Manage preparation, production and dissemination of publications related to public information and public relations such as the college magazine and annual report
- Assist with presentations, speeches, op-ed pieces and articles to advance public awareness of the College.
- Support internal communications including development and implementation of regular and ad hoc vehicles for information dissemination and sharing
- Provide support for the President with internal and external communications including speeches and presentations
- Maintain highest level of confidence when requested.
- Supervise and evaluate staff.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS: Masters degree in communications, journalism or related field; Five to ten years of progressively responsible experience in public relations/communications field at varied levels. Demonstrated experience working strategically with the web. Experience with social media in organizational communications. Prior experience in higher education preferred.
EXPERIENCE: Demonstrated ability to advise and negotiate comfortably with individuals at all levels of the organization. Exceptional oral and written communications skills. Experience in managing sophisticated messaging including crisis situations. Ability to manage stress and work under pressure while multitasking under deadlines. Ability to follow directions and complete tasks accurately and accept supervisory input and constructive criticism. This position will require an individual that understands the mission of the College and our dedication to providing quality education to our students with a high level of service.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk, hear, and effectively communicate with others in person and in writing. The employee is required to be mobile. The employee must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to see others and read documents. This job requires the employee to spend lengthy periods of time performing computer assisted work. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Cambridge College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The College and all its degree programs are authorized by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. The College is authorized to operate and offer selected degree programs in their states by the California Bureau for Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico, and the Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Cambridge College is authorized for operation as a postsecondary education institute by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in the state of Tennessee.