Director of Marketing & College Relations

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by February 23, 2025.

*To be considered for this role, please submit a complete application including Employment History, Resume & Cover Letter. In your Cover Letter, please tell us how your education and experience prepares you to meet the goals of this position.

At Mt. Hood Community College we hold ourselves accountable to align our systems, policies, practices, and resource allocations to strategically and purposefully advance equity. We recognize the harm done to historically excluded people. We work towards a future where all people across the spectrum of difference thrive at Mt. Hood Community College. We seek to provide every person within our community the tools to be successful. We actively design equitable systems to promote fairness and justice.
 
Mt. Hood Community College prioritizes equity and acknowledges the importance of the ongoing and intentional work to interrupt oppression and remove barriers that perpetuate inequity. We strive to become an organization that demonstrates equity in concept, practice, and outcomes, where all people are valued and feel a sense of belonging.

Job Summary

Develops, leads, and executes a dynamic, creative and strategic marketing and college relations plan that supports Mt. Hood Community College’s (MHCC) exceptional mission of accessible, quality higher education for all. Leads efforts in elevating the college’s reputation, attracting new students, and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders, donors to the MHCC Foundation, government officials, service organizations, and the media. Supervises and provides leadership to the marketing and college relations team, manages the department's budget, and oversees all aspects of Public Relations, advertising, branding, and creative events that enhance the college’s standing in the community. Works collaboratively and closely within the Advancement & Community Engagement Division, which includes the MHCC Foundation and the college’s suite of community-based programs.     

Essential Duties

1. Strategic Leadership: Develops and implements a comprehensive, innovative marketing and college relations plan that aligns with the college's mission and strategic goals, emphasizing equity and opportunity for all. Supports the full range of MHCC initiatives, goals and priorities with forward-looking message and creative communications tactical planning.
2. Creative Supervision: Builds, inspires and leads a vision-focused, service-oriented team of creative professionals in producing impactful content, campaigns, and events that resonate with diverse audiences and reflect the college's values. Actively recruits, develops, and maintains a high-impact team, promoting professional growth and fostering a culture of collaboration, teamwork and excellent customer service.
3. College Relations: Builds and maintains strong relationship channels for the college with key stakeholders, including community leaders, donors, government officials, service organizations, and media to enhance the college's reputation and standing. Collaborates with senior leadership to develop creative plans, materials and activities that enhance college-wide reputation and connection – particularly in community standing, donor engagement, bond measure and voter support, community partnerships and student recruitment.
4. Marketing Management: Directs all advertising efforts and branding initiatives to ensure effectiveness in promoting the college’s programs and values. Segments and targets audiences, proactively chooses marketing channels and vehicles, directs marketing content, and uses data to evaluate success. 
5. Publications and Messaging: Develops a suite of core college publications and oversees the creation of key messaging that reflects the college’s identity and mission. Directs staff to develop new creative collateral to promote and support programs, initiatives, and resource development including creative services for the MHCC Foundation.
6. Event Management: Conceptualizes and oversees high-profile, creative internal and external events that promote the college’s mission, build community spirit, and enhance brand recognition and reputation. Supports the MHCC Foundation with signature auction-gala event.
7. Media Relations and Story Telling: Serves as Public Information Officer and responds to inquiries from college departments, the community, and/or external agencies. Develops relationships with local reporters and oversees strategy for creative media pitches that build the college’s reputation. Leads team members to develop and implement editorial calendar of storytelling across MHCC social, online, and print vehicles.
8. Reputation Building: Employs proactive, creative tactics to build the college’s reputation within and across the full Service District, including proactive tactics such as innovative events, strategic partnerships, and community-based branding initiatives.
9. Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizes data and analytics to assess the effectiveness of marketing and college relations strategies, making informed decisions and adjustments to improve outcomes. Produces reports to track progress that aligns with MHCC’s Strategic Plan and Environmental Study.
10. Budget Management: Oversees the department’s budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to maximize impact.
11. Internal Collaboration: Works closely with other departments to support the college’s mission and ensure cohesive messaging and branding across all platforms. Provides structure for providing collaborative marketing and communication counsel and direct services / partnerships to internal departments.
12. Leadership with the ACE Division: Supports the Vice President with special initiatives such as college bond measures, MHCC Foundation major gift campaigns, and creative support for the Division’s community-based programs (Small Business Development Center; Apprenticeships, Workforce and Community Education; and Childcare Resource & Referral). Performs related duties as assigned.

Additional Duties

1. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, public administration, or a related field.

Experience/Training:

• Minimum (5) years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, public relations, strategic communications or related field, including two (2) years of lead or supervisory experience.
• Experience in public relations which includes working with community based organizations, public and elected officials, service organizations, and/or donors.
• Experience in developing and implementing marketing and/or communications plans.
• Exceptional written and verbal communications, relationship-building, and team leadership skills.
• Experience in high-profile event planning.
• Experience working with diverse backgrounds; demonstrated commitment to promoting access and diversity.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in marketing, public relations, public administration, or a related field.

Experience/Training:

• Marketing and/or Public Relations experience within a public college or university setting.
• Experience working within advancement-related departments or divisions that include high collaboration between public advocacy departments such as foundation, marketing, public relations, government relations, community-based programming or other combination.
• Past or current involvement  with Council for the Advancement and Support of Education; National Council for Marketing and Public Relations; or other education-related professional development association related to position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to build and operationalize a creative marketing and college relations plan in support of a highly missional cause.
• Proven leadership in developing creative engagement activities.
• Strong organizational, strategic planning, communication, human resource, and interpersonal skills, with a team-based approach to leadership.
• Ability to motivate and develop a high performing creative staff.
• Knowledge of policies, trends, and issues in education marketing, community reputation building, and fundraising. 
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including, but not limited to, media, government leaders, business and industry partners, donors, agencies, community organizations and/or education institution.
• Excellent attention to quality control.
• High personal integrity and sound professional ethics.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Computer proficiency to effectively communicate, gather data and generate reports.
• Ability to be flexible, manage multiple tasks and shifting priorities, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Strong commitment to the mission of Mt. Hood Community College.

 

Working Conditions

Work is typically performed in a normal office environment while sitting at a computer terminal. Visual eye strain and repetitive hand/wrist motion for data entry and keyboarding functions. Works outside of typical schedule including evening and weekend hours as necessary to meet workload demands.

Important Information
MHCC only accepts applications through our online application system at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/mhcc/default.cfm. For technical assistance, please call 855-524-5627.

Please note:  We do not request or read letters of recommendation.  Also, it is not necessary to upload a large number of documents with your materials.  We are looking for the required documents and perhaps one or two additional documents of your choosing (optional).  Faculty applications require a current resume, cover letter and official transcripts (copies are fine for application purposes) and/or any required certificates or licenses.

Position subject to budget consideration and approval.  

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background check as part of the employment process.

MHCC is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered.

MHCC provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235; OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015.

Qualifying veterans and disabled veterans may obtain preference by submitting as verification of eligibility a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) or a letter from the US Dept. of Veteran's Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension to your application. Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

If you are seeking this preference, appropriate documentation must be provided at the time of application.  You may submit an electronic copy in the document upload area of the application in the section marked "veterans' preference document," or fax to 503-491-7257 or mail to Human Resources, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR   97030.  If you do not have your documentation, you may request it through your Veterans' Administration Office.

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three working days prior to the date of need.

Mt. Hood Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity. 

Salary : $101,084 - $151,690