Description
Position Title: Assistant Director of Communications and Media Relations
Reports to: Vice President for Marketing
Supervises: Potential Work Study Students
Primary functions: Enhance the visibility, understanding, and perception of Saint Vincent College and its mission, vision, goals, activities, and accomplishments through building relationships with and providing content for local, regional, and national media. Work closely with the Vice President for Marketing on enhancing and executing internal and crisis communications with both key constituents and the broader community.
Required Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in communication, journalism, public relations, English, or a related field, or equivalent communications and media relations experience in a nonprofit or higher education environment.
- Experience: Three to five (3-5) years’ experience in a public relations, communications, or similar professional environment, with a strong portfolio showing professional experience as a writer. Experience in a higher education environment is preferred.
To Apply
Please submit a cover letter, resume, 2-4 writing samples, and contact information for three professional references with your application. Writing samples may include articles, blog posts, press releases, essays, etc. that demonstrate varied writing styles. Additional materials may be requested at later stages of the search.
Essential Duties
- Write and distribute press releases and stories to media and other key constituents to be published on media distribution lists, the stvincent.edu website, the College’s magazine (1846), and other core communications channels.
- Create and execute a proactive media relations strategy to build relationships and engage with key media partners in Western Pennsylvania and beyond.
- Collaborate with campus partners to identify and tell stories about the College’s students, faculty, and alumni, including, but not limited to, the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni relations, the three academic schools, and others.
- Present story ideas and photo opportunities to media outlets and collaborate with these outlets on connecting with the resources and people necessary to tell stories aligned with the College’s mission via earned media.
- Maintain an overview of all current and planned media relations efforts to build more strategic campaigns and efforts over time.
- Monitor news media mentions of Saint Vincent College to create a trackable archive of the impact of earned media on brand awareness and engagement.
- Assist with and create content for internal communications efforts to engage the community including updates from the president, the monthly Saint Vincent Insider email newsletter for faculty and staff, the MySV web portal, and others.
- Help to refine and execute as needed the College’s crisis communication plan in collaboration with the Vice President for Marketing, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Public Safety, and others.
Other Duties
- Collaborate within the Office of Marketing and Communications to assist with other tasks related to copywriting, editing, visual content production, website updates, and other core tasks aligned with the individual skillset.
- Work within the Office of Marketing and Communications to create and be a part of an efficient project workflow in which communications and media relations are considered in the context of larger initiatives related to recruitment, alumni stewardship, and more.
- Participate in a variety of College lectures, activities, and events sponsored by the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, the Office of the President, individual academic schools, and others as requested and appropriate.
- Other duties as assigned.
Special Challenges And Environment
Performs in a fast-paced office environment that requires quick responses to story ideas and external requests, managing many deadline-oriented projects concurrently, and maintaining high quality standards for all content published about the College. Work will be highly visible by core College stakeholders and requires frequent public contact.
10% local/regional travel is required.
All positions require the incumbent to be able to fully embrace the unique mission and identity of the College as a Catholic, Benedictine liberal arts and sciences institution. Saint Vincent College is committed to diversity and encourages applicants from all qualified candidates. Saint Vincent College is committed to building a diversified and competent population of faculty and staff and encourages applications from women and minorities. Saint Vincent is an equal opportunity employer.
About the Organization Saint Vincent College is an educational community rooted in the tradition of the Catholic faith, the heritage of Benedictine monasticism, and the love of values inherent in the liberal approach to life and learning. Our mission is to provide quality undergraduate and graduate education for men and women to enable them to integrate their professional aims with the broader purposes of human life. The programs, activities, and encounters that make up student life at Saint Vincent College encourages the intellectual gifts, professional aptitudes and personal aspirations of students to mature harmoniously.
EOE Statement We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.