Sr Dir, Strategic Communications

Department: Media Relations

Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience/Education

Description

Directs the strategy and overall management of an aggressive, pro-active media relations program and is responsible for leading the development of crisis communications strategies and responses, and reputation management for the University of Houston. Crisis Communications:

• Develops and implements strategic crisis communications and publicity plans for the university.
• Develops proactive reputation management campaign strategies to elevate brand awareness and reputation as well as diffusing negative news and/or category situations, this includes conducting research, drafting media statements and messaging, gathering background information and mitigating risk through the development and execution of a proactive crisis playbook.
• Implements coordinated communications and provides oversight of all strategic communications to ensure consistency of messaging and alignment with defined business objectives in coordination with the Sr. Associate VP for Strategic Communications.
• Supports senior leadership by drafting and/or editing communications, including executive communications and institutional-level press releases.
• Proactively monitors reputational risks, including social media and emerging trends, to mitigate potential crises before they escalate. Media Relations:
• Manages direct and indirect staff, streamlining work processes and strengthening the team working environment.
• Directs and oversees activities related to assigned media relations campaigns; provides guidance to staff writers regarding media activities such as placement and distribution of news releases.
• Analyzes goals and implements programs and activities to enhance long and short-term communications programs to shape brand affinity; develops and maintains quality standards.
• Identifies and cultivates media contacts, with a strong focus on national media, as part of a proactive strategy to aggressively increase coverage of the university, its faculty and programs in support of UH strategic initiatives.
• Serves as a spokesperson for the university on key issues as assigned.
• Develops and manages campaign budgets and reports on campaign KPIs. Conducts ongoing and annual assessments of communications effectiveness at the institution level.
• Indirectly oversees staff responsible for the writing, editing and distribution of news feature stories and other communication materials to ensure effective coverage of university activities.
• Directs and participates in the research and implementation of new media tools and media monitoring services to enhance and track the effectiveness of communications, including directing digital communication initiatives.
• Performs other job-related duties as required.
  
  

MQ: Education: Requires a thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4 year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed. Experience: Requires a minimum of seven (7) years of directly job-related experience. Preferred: Direct experience in journalism, communications or related filed. Experience in Higher Education.

Department is willing to accepted education in lieu of experience and experience in lieu of education.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The policy of the University of Houston-System and its universities is to ensure equal opportunity in all its educational programs and activities, and all terms and conditions of employment without regard to age, race, color, disability, religion, national origin, ethnicity, military status, genetic information, sex (including gender and pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or status, or gender expression, except where such a distinction is required by law.