Director of Strategic Communications

Department: Institutional Marketing & Comm.

Job Status: 1.0 FTE

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Chief Marketing and Communications Officer

Work Schedule: M-F, 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., weekends and evening work as required. 12-month position.

Positions Supervised: Writing staff positions.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Works collaboratively with Chief Marketing and Communications Officer to set priorities and develop, execute and evaluate strategies to achieve the goals of the division. Evaulates outcomes and measures results of campains, including analyzing data, reporting, and making recommendationos based on results. Contributes to college marketing and communications work individually through writing and maintains consistency of message and style through editing. Supervises the writing staff and works in close collaboration with other staff to ensure that communications are in alignment with divisional and college-wide priorities. Performs essential functions personally or in conjunction with designated personnel or third parties.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Duties and Responsibilities):

Reasonable Accommodations Statement

Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities that substantially limit one or more “major life activities” to perform the essential functions. Essential functions exclude Other Job Function Statement(s).

Essential Functions Statement(s) To fully meet job expectations, the applicant must perform each function in a fully acceptable manner.

Develops, Executes, and Evaluates Goals and Strategies:

Develops goals and strategies by considering the audiences, channels, communication priorities, and available resources to seek a balanced and well-rounded communication strategy.

Provides project management to ensure timely and accurate project execution. Executes personally and by delegating to other IMC staff or by working with other college personnel or outside vendors.

Evaluates outcomes and measures results of campaigns, including analyzing data, reporting, and making recommendations based on results.

Writes content for college initiatives:

Contributes to the marketing and communications department as an individual contributor primarily through writing and editing.

Engages with staff, faculty, and student on campus to identify newsworthy stories. Researches, interviews, and writes content for digital and print media to support marketing and communication initiatives. This may include marketing materials, fundraising collateral, website copy, recruitment materials, student communications, feature stories, and more.

Edits, proofreads, and approves content created by college staff or outside vendors to ensure accuracy, adherence to college brand standards and style, and alignment of messages with strategic direction of the College.

Management:

Oversees writing and editorial staff and/or interns to ensure timely delivery and adherence to strategy for communications output.

Plans, manages, and executes communication projects in conjunction with staff, faculty and other stakeholders. Includes developing content, establishing schedules, meeting deadlines, writing, curating, directing, and ensuring accuracy .

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the college's policies, applicable laws, and divisional directives. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; establishing expectations and performance goals; promoting collaboration and communication within department and division; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Other Job Function Statement(s) To fully meet job expectations, the applicant must perform each function in a fully acceptable manner

Performs other duties as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS: (The minimum knowledge, skills, abilities, licenses, certifications, and behaviors necessary to fully meet job expectations and to and to perform the essential functions of the job.)

KNOWLEDGE (Defines the mental aspects of the job. Knowledge is obtained through education, experience, training, licensure, certification, or through a combination of the aforementioned.)

Minimum: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Ten years related experience in a communications field, and experience managing one or more subordinates. Journalism or marketing experience a plus, and experience working in higher education preferred.

Desired: Journalism or marketing experience and experience working in higher education.

LICENSE or CERTIFICATION (To include, but not limited to: State requirements, e.g., counselor or nurse; professional certification in a specified discipline, e.g., Certified Public Accountant.) (N/A)

SKILLS (The application of knowledge by the manual, verbal, or mental manipulation of data, words, people, or things necessary to fully meet job expectations and to perform the essential functions of the job.)

To fully meet job expectations, the applicant must:

Communicate effectively using a variety of oral and written styles and techniques appropriate to the audience.

Be highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.

Be proficient in Excel or appropriate alternative software for use in data analysis and reporting.

Effectively and efficiently utilize Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook) or appropriate alternative software to the extent required to perform essential functions;

ABILITIES (Natural talents, developed proficiencies, and or other job-related requirements. This section includes observable behaviors or behaviors that produce observable results necessary to fully meet job expectations of the essential functions.)

To fully meet job expectations, the applicant must have the ability to:

Work effectively under pressure while maintaining a professional demeanor.

Demonstrate managerial techniques including identifying areas of staff performance that should be commended or corrected, having difficult conversations in a timely manner, motivating and coaching employees in order to accomplish goals.

Build and work as part of a team.

Develop a plan and see it through to completion.

Maintain discretion and confidentiality regarding sensitive matters.

Work with all levels of staff, faculty and third parties in a collegial and effective manner.

Make objective decisions effectively.

Understand and continually exhibit awareness, enthusiasm and commitment to college, division, and departmental goals, objectives and strategies.

Accomplish goals and tasks and meet deadlines with minimal supervision personally or through others by delegation, follow up, and oversight.

Achieve or surpass expected results while encouraging cohorts to do the same.

Establish and maintain cooperative employee, alumni, donor, or College friend relationships.

Exude confidence and optimism and to quickly recover from setbacks or disappointments.

Model high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, and ethical behavior.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The following represent the physical requirements of the essential job functions: finger dexterity necessary to operate equipment used in the position, talking, seeing and hearing. Walking, sitting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling and minimal unassisted lifting (up to 20 pounds) associated with the job duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Typical environment is an office setting with moderate noise. May occasionally work in other locations on or off campus to include outdoors.

Disclaimer: The College has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the College reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the College may deem appropriate.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person