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.
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