Assistant Director of Communications, MacMillan

Position Focus :

The MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies is a vibrant international community that is responsible for connecting with all international teaching and research on campus. Home to seven regional councils and a set of transnational programs, the Center hosts more than 400 on- and off-campus events per year.

Reporting to the Director for Outreach and Impact, the Assistant Director of Communications is an integral member of the MacMillan communications team, which is charged with advancing the Center’s overall profile and reputation as a hub and leader for global engagement and interdisciplinary research. The Assistant Director takes the lead on the Center’s website and newsletter and works other members of the communications team to support communications best practices in the Center’s myriad councils and programs.

The Assistant Director is responsible for developing engaging story ideas and crafting creative content for both internal and external audiences across multiple media channels including the Center’s websites, newsletters, and social media accounts. The Assistant Director oversees the administration and ongoing maintenance of MacMillan’s websites and manages and drives an editorial calendar in alignment with the Center’s strategic communications plan. In collaboration with the Director, the Assistant Director arranges website and editorial trainings for staff, collaborates with and advises councils and programs on content development, and communicates about best practices through trainings and editorial guidance. The Assistant Director is the project manager for larger projects, such as the Center’s annual impact report, which requires internal and external collaboration.

The Assistant Director also plays a role in identifying opportunities for external media coverage and liaising with and supervising press at events. In coordination with the Director and other members of the MacMillan community, the Assistant Director uses analytics and other measurement tools to assess the impact of website, social media and other outreach activities to make recommendations for improvement.

The role may also be responsible for the hiring and supervision of student workers, as well as managing website and photography vendors and other contractors.

A cover letter is required with your application. You may be asked to provide a writing sample.

Essential Duties

1. Manages relationships with external media sources. Pursues media coverage creatively and aggressively. Responds to inquiries from national and international news media, student media, the University community and the general public. 2. Enhances the overall quality of media relations for key stakeholders by preparing them for media interviews. Manages relationships with key campus stakeholders with a high degree of professionalism, judgment and understanding of stakeholder goals. 3. Creates compelling story ideas and narratives; produces content for both external and internal channels; writes copy and social media posts and manages content. 4. Plans social media strategies for key University communications and programs. Monitors University social media assets for negative comments or misinformation. 5. Supports short- and long-term communication planning with insights into audiences, channels and culture; coordinates with other communications professionals to achieve institutional goals; leads the communications process within developed standards and protocols. 6. Supports effective response strategies, often in crisis situations requiring 24 / 7 attention and intense media / public scrutiny, and articulates the University’s position via personal interviews or written responses. 7. Produces multimedia content and manages the work of graphic and web designers, student interns, printers, video producers and photographers. 8. Manages communication plans for all stakeholders by understanding the significance of campus initiatives and / or academic work; creates compelling stories and messages to translate the significance through language that is clear and accessible for public awareness. 9. Develops and maintains regular contact with media representatives in multiple disciplines. 10. Maintains the Yale brand and graphic identity standards; supports and maintains standard operating procedures; contributes to digital asset management. 11. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications or related field and five years of experience in public relations, journalism, television, corporate communications or agency work or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Demonstrated experience in developing communications for a range of media and working with creative professionals in design, photography or video.

Required Skill / Ability 1 :

Strong understanding of at least one academic discipline MacMillan is a leader in, as demonstrated by coursework, written outputs or other similar channels.

Required Skill / Ability 2 :

Outstanding writing skills and ability to develop interesting content. Of particular interest are skills in public communications and grant proposals, including an ability to integrate research into coherent and effective written materials for both academic and lay audiences.

Required Skill / Ability 3 :

Expertise and in-depth experience in creating and maintaining webpages, and writing and disseminating social media content, along with the ability to ensure appropriate public messaging and a coherent public presence.

Required Skill / Ability 4 :

Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously and balance priorities, as needed, including managing requests and priorities from multiple senior stakeholders and entities.

Required Skill / Ability 5 :

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to interact well with faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. Ability to push priorities forward with a variety of senior stakeholders, including across the University and externally.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills :

Masters or higher degree in relevant discipline, cultural competency and relevant language capabilities in at least one region MacMillan covers; plus six years’ related experience.

Weekend Hours Required?

Occasional

Evening Hours Required?

Occasional

Drug Screen

Health Screening

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.