Professional Exempt
Full Time

      General Description and Purpose

            Serving as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for Pratt Community College, the Director of Marketing Communications & College Relations develops, implements, and maintains the brand identity and brand voice of the college. The Director is responsible for developing marketing and communications plans and messaging that aligns with the college’s mission, values, and strategic plan. This position serves as the senior advisor for brand development and awareness, enrollment marketing, strategic communications, and the utilization and optimization of multiple media platforms. The Director is supervised by the Vice President of Students & Enrollment Management.

 

      Primary Functions/Responsibilities

      Marketing (40%)

  1. Provide vision and leadership for the Office of Marketing and Communications
  2. Lead the development, creation, and execution of institutional marketing/communications plans that directly support the college’s strategic plan(s) for recruitment, registration, retention, and degree completion.
  3. Collaborate regularly and closely with Enrollment Management/Admissions to grow student recruitment and new student enrollment in support of the college’s strategic enrollment plan.
  4. Lead marketing content strategy, planning, development, and execution with across multiple digital/web platforms (internal and external).
  5. Develops and analyzes key metrics of marketing effectiveness and costs related to digital programs. Conduct and report analysis of site and social traffic.
  6. Coordinates and/or takes pictures and videos related to instructional programs, events, students, and employees as needed. Edits and produces short promotional videos as needed.
  7. Writing and distributing press releases, feature stories, and editorial copy regarding instructional activities, faculty, and students, including honor rolls, key events, honors, trips, and radio PSAs.
  8. Maintains a media contact list and coordinates department communications for promotion internally and externally.
  9. Provides marketing assistance for key departments such as athletics, technical education, performing arts, and student life as needed.
  10. Develops and manages a comprehensive internal communications plan to enhance organizational culture and support a climate of openness and collegiality.
  11. Provides strong leadership to internal stakeholders. Set priorities and deadlines, clearly communicate project goals and reinforce a collaborative work environment.
  12. Serves as the College contact, representative, and coordinator of partnerships, and consortiums as requested and support.
  13. Proactively monitors digital marketing trends and incorporates growth strategies as appropriate.
  14. Develops and manages the advertising and marketing budget line accounts.
  15. Other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Students/Enrollment Management and/or the President.

 Communications (40%)

  1. Lead the development and execution of communication plans for institutional announcements that promote, elevate, and protect PCC’s brand and identity.
  2. Work closely with the college’s president and other senior leaders to capture the ideas, tone, and perspective, and write impactful executive communications that convey those ideas to key stakeholders (internal and external).
  3. Research, draft, and edit a range of executive communication products including talking points social media posts, speeches, emails, high profile correspondence, campus messaging, presentations, and proposals, as necessary.
  4. Ensure all publications and efforts are aligned with institutional, state, and federal policies, regulatory, and accreditation standards.
  5. Cultivate and promote consistent communications across the college’s campus, academic programs, departments, and in local communities that represent a unified college.
  6. Collaborate with subject matter experts (dean(s) and chairs) to understand how to develop communication and marketing for programs in academic and career and technical education.

      Crisis Communications/ Public Relations (10%)

  1. Guided by the college president and in collaboration with senior leadership, execute crisis and issues communications and rapid response messaging to address critical events, ensuring crisis communication plan and message library remains accurate/current.
  2. Assist with oversight and management of the campus early alert system’s messages in collaboration with campus security, and the Chief Information Officer, includes ensuring communications align with federal communications and consumer acts, and CLERY requirements, as well as learning and maximizing technological advances in the alert system platform.
  3.  Plan, schedule, and coordinate special events including holiday, community open house, dedications, workshops, businesses on campus fair, etc.  Oversee event timelines, ordering, and logistics.
  4. Establish a campus environment which is unique and student focused and incorporates services, communication campaigns, visual strategies for events, programs and projects.
  5. Provide meaningful opportunities for students to volunteer their time and energy in response to voiced community needs. To assure that the community service of students is beneficial and effective for both student volunteers and the community.  Serve as sponsor for key service organization.
  6. Assist and support Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives and projects as requested.
  7. Participate in college events including: Beaver Building Days, college fairs, job fairs and other public events as requested.
  8. Seek strategic counsel on reputation and issues management from senior leadership.

Other (10%)

  1. Other duties as assigned by the college president or the Vice President of Students and Enrollment Management.
     

Coordination and Accountability Tasks

  1. Work with College employees and students to execute marketing and promotional initiatives.
  2. Schedule production printing and artwork requests for publication as requested.
  3. Maintain frequent contact with vice presidents/deans, faculty, athletic director and others regarding activities on campus.
  4. Assist in coordination of campus special events.
  5. Work with local and regional media in presenting pertinent information regarding the college.
  6. Gather information from other institutions and illustrate national trends that may affect the College.
  7. Serve on teams and committees and work with student leaders and clubs/organization to establish awareness of belonging through events and initiatives.
     

      Supervises the Following Staff

Supervise and mentor the position of Marketing Communications & College Relations Specialist.

 

      Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

  1. Advanced skill in writing and editing
  2. Skill in work with creative services teams as well as outside vendors and agencies
  3. Skill in developing marketing objectives that support business goals and establishing strategies that positively drive results.
  4. Advanced skill in effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication
  5. Advanced skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public
  6. Skill in decision-making and problem-solving
  7. Knowledge of marketing budget development and management
  8. Knowledge of integrated marketing plans and campaigns across owned and paid channels
  9. Knowledge of marketing best practices and digital media landscape
  10. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  11. Possess working knowledge of all digital marketing – internet, mobile devices, social media, search engines, and digital media.
  12. Ability to analyze data to determine the effectiveness of social media campaigns.
  13. Proficient in developing social media strategies, creating and managing content, and creating actionable plans.
  14. Knowledge of Google Analytics and other analytical tools.
  15. Ability to sustain communication with diverse groups, anticipate problems, reconcile conflicts and maintain a strong philosophical base for student activities.
  16. Ability to prepare materials for all media, including the ability to utilize desktop publishing technology, including Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Publisher, and Adobe Illustrator.
  17. Digital photography skills and related technology.
  18. Understanding of the mission and philosophy of community colleges.
  19. Possess skills necessary to creatively design publication and promotional materials.
  20. Must be a self-starter and have the ability to work with little direct supervision.
  21. Ability to continuously evaluate and improve the institution’s public relations and communications program.
  22. Enthusiastic, self-motivated, team-oriented.
  23. Able to effectively organize time and tasks and willing to travel.
  24. Excellent organizational and management skills, including processes, projects and time.
  25. Willingness to work evenings and/or weekends; irregular and flexible hours.
  26. Application of general design principles.
  27. Ability to coordinate complex projects with multiple deadlines and budgets.
  28. Ability to identify news and stories of value and organize information into a news story or feature.
  29. Ability to work under pressure, take instruction and meet deadlines.
  30. Working knowledge of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) preferred.
  31. Must be of sound character capable of serving as role model with a high degree of ethical standards and excellent leadership ability.
  32. Ability to represent the college professionally including: personal appearance, wardrobe attire, communication skills and conduct.
  33. Possess a valid driver’s license and willingness to travel throughout Kansas independently.

   

   Experience

  1. Two years’ experience in communications, marketing, design, public relations, or comparable area required.
  2. Two years experience in coordinating programs and special event planning required.
  3. Experience and skills in web design, web content maintenance, and online program development are required. Experience with Google Analytics and Drupal preferred.
  4. Two years of experience in desktop publishing is required.
  5. Two years of experience as a social media manager is required.
  6. Experience in working in higher education preferred.
  7. Experience in coordinating programs and people successfully preferred.
  8. Portfolio review of designs, marketing plans/campaigns, photographs, business communications, and web designs required with interview.
  9. Will have a good understanding of web design and maintenance, with the ability to navigate web pages comfortably.
  10. Civic engagement service and experience preferred.
     

      Education

Bachelor degree in communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, journalism, or related field required. 

 

      Certifications and/or Licensure

 

      Work Conditions/Environment

Work is performed primarily on-site in an office setting on campus and/or occasionally remote.  Must be able to travel independently and work in off-site locations. Requires ability to work flexible hours and be able to deal with stressful conditions in a calm and professional manner. Light lifting up to 40 pounds may be necessary on an occasional basis. Must be able to walk across campus and access various types of buildings.

 

      Other

While working remotely, one must be available during regular business hours to respond in a timely manner to inquiries, attend meetings via video conferencing, conduct business, manage projects, manage digital communication flow, and effectively perform the day-to-day duties of the job. The position requires frequent contact with staff, faculty, administration, and external persons, which can be conducted remotely or in-person. The position may require evening and /or weekend work.