Communications Director

The College of St. Scholastica

Since 1912, The College of St. Scholastica has been preparing students for a life of purpose, in addition to economic gain, by emphasizing the Catholic Benedictine values it was founded on.

St. Scholastica is an independent private college with locations across Minnesota, including our original campus in Duluth. Enrollment in our undergraduate and graduate programs has grown from 2,200 to 4,000 in the last decade, due, in part, to our commitment to making high-quality education available online and through convenient evening and weekend formats.

http://www.css.edu/


Position Details

Communications Director
Job
Full-time
9/18/2020
Minnesota
Duluth, MN

The Communications Director manages and directs the College’s internal and external communications strategy, ensuring that communications are consistent in messaging and branding, supporting the College’s mission, vision, and values. The director represents the President and senior leadership in written and electronic communication and develops and fosters relationships with media members. The position reports to the Chief Operating Officer.

Key Results/Responsibilities:

  • Manages the College’s public and media relations initiatives for external and internal audiences; develops and crafts communications including press releases, and publications 
  • Conducts communications efforts to build value and awareness of the College’s brand to generate enrollments and build affinity with alumni and donors
  • Enhances the College’s relationship with key media and ensures beneficial and positive media coverage; acts as the College’s press secretary; coordinates news conferences and media interviews; assists media in identifying campus thought leaders to serve as experts for interviews
  • Works to expand the college’s strategic communications on digital platforms, and with local, regional and state media
  • Liaises with campus safety and facilities to coordinate crisis communications ensuring accurate and timely provision of information
  • Collaborates with colleagues including, but not limited to, marketing, faculty, advancement, and enrollment management
  • Maintains brand integrity; collaborates with the digital marketing team to align the communications strategies with social media, St. Scholastica website news and profiles, and internal portal; oversees the College’s editorial guidelines
  • Ensures effective cross-cultural communications messaging and brand engagement
  • Provides direction and leadership regarding communications specifically targeted for and to communities of color
  • Actively engages with the Sisters of the St. Scholastica Monastery to effectively incorporate College history and the Benedictine values in all communications work
  • Tracks and assesses communications activities and identifies areas for improvement
  • Ensures the fiscally sound operation of College Communications by exercising management practices which result in operations within allocated budgets
  • Provides leadership and supervision of Communications staff: Plans, organizes, administers, reviews and evaluates the work of assigned staff and students

Detailed Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develops brand awareness and communication effective in communities of color
  • Assists in composing and successfully placing guest columns in opinion-editorial pages in newspapers and digital news sites
  • Coordinates media events and press conferences
  • Oversees the content development for Scholastica magazine
  • Remains current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, and attending professional development events, trainings and webinars
  • Provides media relations support for enrollment and advancement initiatives
  • Assists the President with government relations, including supporting Duluth Days at the Capitol
  • Assists with writing Presidential and senior leadership communications to faculty, staff and students, including research
  • Oversees content map and writes faculty/staff monthly newsletter

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in communications, marketing, or related field; AND eight (8) years of professional experience in communications, journalism, public relations and marketing operations; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. 

Competencies:

  • Strong leadership skills, ability to take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment; ability to work independently, multi-task and manage multiple projects and situations simultaneously and with diplomacy
  • Outstanding professional writing skills and the ability to tailor communication style to reflect the voice of the institution and its leadership for various communications and audiences
  • Demonstrated strong intercultural fluency
  • Proven record of success in planning and problem solving with the ability to think proactively, innovatively, and strategically
  • Meticulous attention to detail; impeccable copywriting and copy-editing abilities
  • Analytical and technological skills; knowledge of computer applications and systems used in the field of communications
  • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range and diversity of constituencies
  • Ability to motivate, train, develop, and manage others
  • Able to attend evening and/or weekend events

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in a higher education or non-profit environment
  • Bilingual English/Spanish

Salary is commensurate with qualifications.



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