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Job Details:

Job Title: Director of Communications and Marketing

Organization/School: Thaddeus Stevens College

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Description: Job Title: Director of Communications and Marketing
Department: Division – President’s Office
Position Status: Full-Time
Directly Reports To: President
Classification: Exempt
This position provides overall leadership, management, and coordination of a robust, integrated, multi-channel approach to marketing, communications, creative services, and public relations on behalf of the college. As a senior leadership team member, the director provides college-wide strategic direction and implementation of marketing and communication plans to expand the college’s reputation, reach, enrollment, retention, and philanthropic goals.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Brand Management
• Manage the college’s reputation and brand via public relations, media relations, and all internal and external communications.
• Ensure marketing and communications efforts build and sustain positive relationships with internal and external constituencies, including students, employees, media, government, alumni, business and industry representatives, the community, and the general public.
• Create and manage an overall communications and marketing plan, including a budget, editorial calendar, etc.
• Oversee the college’s public relations and media strategies to create awareness of the college within the community and across the state.
• Develop, direct, and evaluate marketing and promotional strategies across the college and the college’s efforts in earned, owned, paid, and shared media through data-driven decision-making.
• Guide the president, cabinet/college leadership, and the Communications and Marketing team in communication development and distribution (written and spoken).
• Maintain college’s branding guide, and disseminate to appropriate college personnel and vendors/liaisons when necessary.
• Manage relationships with external vendors on design and production operations, media buying, website updates, and digital and print campaigns for the college.
• Represent the college at community meetings and events.
• Serve as a representative on a wide range of college committees to manage the brand through associated communications and marketing actions.
Content Creation and Distribution
• Serve as chief information architect across all of the college’s communication channels.
• Lead the preparation of a variety of communications, including but not limited to internal communications, print and digital newsletters, blogs and articles, op-eds, informational pages, advertisements, event announcements, media advisories and press releases, digital content (website, social media, etc.). This includes the coordination of the content (copy, design, etc.) for internal and external marketing campaigns.
• Serve as editor for all print and digital materials distributed by the college, including the Tower Magazine, admissions view books, newsletters, messages to students and families, etc.
• Ensure university announcements, events, and stories are properly promoted across platforms and to stakeholder groups, collaborate with programs and offices on the appropriate topics and needed distribution to key audiences.
• Ensure college messaging is creative while meeting strategic purposes, and that content is aligned with the needs and attributes unique to each communication platform and channel.
• Be deeply connected to campus life to anticipate and/or respond to emerging opportunities for communication that support and highlight the College's mission.
• Collaborate with Enrollment and Student Services on open houses and other enrollment-focused public events, and create promotional strategies to increase awareness for participation.
• Initiate and write accessibly and in AP style for internal and external audiences.
• Develop and maintains an annual marketing calendar.
• Monitor market trends, news, and media.
Media Relations
• Coordinates all media relations efforts.
• Serves as the college’s spokesperson on media matters.
• Cultivates and maintains strong partnering relationships with the media and the college’s community partners, working to engage their support of the college.
• Writes and distributes press releases, media advisories, and articles for media outlets and for the college community.
• Manages media personnel during college visits or at college-sponsored events and activities.
• Manages day-to-day inquiries from the media and provides responses in a timely manner.
• Proactively pitches stories and sends targeted news releases that reflect and support the college’s mission, programs, events, activities, and community.
• Provides daily media monitoring to keep aware of trends and competitors.
• Advises and supports the President and leadership prior to and during media events.
• Analyzes all media coverage of the college and drafting appropriate reactive and proactive statements and responses
Public/Community Relations
• Proactively identify external opportunities to engage with communities in support of strengthening and expanding the college’s reach, as well as to manage the college’s reputation.
• Engage internally with the college community by visiting classrooms/labs, meetings, events, special initiatives, and activities to capture information shared via photo and video, as well as conducting interviews where appropriate to share associated information via various communications channels.
• Represent the college at community meetings and events.
• Support the planning of college events and activities designed to improve internal and external relations.
Advertising
• Develop and manage the college’s internal and external advertising campaigns, in all print and digital capacities.
Digital Marketing
• With accessibility at the forefront, oversee the college’s digital marketing strategies, including but not limited to website management, social media, SEO, advertising, etc.
Emergency/Crisis Communications
• Lead the dissemination of emergency notifications and college communications on high priority initiatives.
• Develop a crisis communications management strategy and direct communications efforts in collaboration with college’s crisis management team and in alignment with the college’s policies and procedures
• Develop and maintain a library of standard crisis, issues and incident-related statements and procedures for cascading information as appropriate for the college.
• Serve as the College spokesperson during crisis.
Presidential Communications and Events
• Support the President’s Office for speaking engagements, events, presentations, etc.
• Develop scripts and talking points tailored to individual events and meetings.
Budget
• Develop and implement annual budget, provide budget management and oversight, as well as resource allocations.
Staff and Office Management
• Manage staff and interns, and ensure that each team member has the skills necessary to execute the college's marketing and communication goals.

Perform other duties as assigned to advance projects, initiatives, and priorities of the college.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree required (marketing, business, communications preferred);
• Master's degree preferred (MBA, Marketing, Communications, Education);
• At least five years of relevant experience;
• At least five years of related leadership experience;
• Proven results in managing social media platforms, websites and analytics, database/spreadsheets, Publisher, Adobe Creative Cloud;
• Demonstrated ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously while managing deadlines.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action. Assemble diverse data and prepare reports.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, presentation, and interpersonal skills; emphasis on working with a diverse population.
• Deal with constant interruptions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Independently make decisions and solve problems.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience collaborating with internal and vendor partners.
• Interpret and apply campus rules and policies. Interpret local, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain composure during stressful and urgent situations.
• Meet schedules and time lines.
• Commitment to advancing equity and access to higher education;
• Operate a computer and business-related software.
• Operate a variety of standard office equipment.
• Plan and organize work.
• Understand and follow oral and written directions.
• Work independently and confidentially, with discretion.
• Employee development and performance management skills.
• Excellent time management, organization and scheduling skills.
• Ability to foster relationships among internal departments and among key constituents.
• Skill in budget preparation and management.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
Conditions of Employment
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a residential, two year technical college that serves economically disadvantaged as well as tuition-paying students. The College prepares students for skilled employment in a diverse, ever-changing workforce and for full, effective participation as citizens of the community, the Commonwealth, and the nation. Committed for over a century to lifelong learning, inclusiveness, and community outreach, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology dedicates itself to the development of Pennsylvania's technical workforce. For information about the College, visit www.stevenscollege.edu.
Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment such as a computer, phone, and copier. Must be willing and able to perform some night/week-end work for events, including but not limited to athletic events, open house, registration, homecoming, banquets, graduation ceremonies. Work can include tight timelines and some offsite travel.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This is largely a sedentary role; however, this would require the ability to lift occasionally, walking, and bending or standing as necessary. Work involves operating a computer, sitting for extended hours at a desk and communicating over telephone or by email.
Application Process: Application materials must include a cover letter, a current resume, and academic transcripts. Send applications to Heather Burky, Attention: Director of Marketing and Communications, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, 750 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 or burky@stevenscollege.edu. Applications will be reviewed upon submission and the posting will remain open until the position is filled.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (the “College”) does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age (as applicable), religion, ancestry, veteran status, or any other legally protected classification.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Website: https://stevenscollege.edu/

Start Date: 05/01/2023

Application Deadline: 04/30/2023

Application URL:

How to Apply: Application Process: Application materials must include a cover letter, a current resume, and academic transcripts. Send applications to Heather Burky, Attention: Director of Marketing and Communications, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, 750 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 or burky@stevenscollege.edu. Applications will be reviewed upon submission and the posting will remain open until the position is filled.

Contact Information:

Heather Burky
Thaddeus Stevens College
Human Resources
750 E King Street

Lancaster, PA 17602

(717) 391-6935
burky@stevenscollege.edu