Responsibilities

• Strategic Communications and Brand Leadership: Develop and implement a University-wide marketing and communications strategy aligned with the mission and priorities established by the President.
• Advise the President and senior leadership on communications strategy, institutional messaging, reputation management, and emerging issues.
• Serve as steward of the Philander Smith University brand and maintain standards for institutional messaging, visual identity, voice, and presentation.
• Coordinate major institutional announcements, campaigns, and public-facing communications across University divisions.
• Executive, Media, and Crisis Communications: Support the Office of the President with presidential messages, institutional announcements, talking points, speeches, presentations, and other executive communications.
• Serve as a primary University contact for media inquiries as designated by the Office of the President and cultivate productive media relationships.
• Draft press releases, media advisories, statements, briefing materials, and crisis communications resources.
• Coordinate communications involving emergencies, sensitive matters, and emerging institutional issues with discretion, accuracy, and sound judgment.
• Content, Digital, and Marketing: Lead development of compelling content highlighting students, faculty, staff, alumni, programs, partnerships, accomplishments, and community impact.
• Provide strategic leadership for the University website, institutional social media, newsletters, publications, advertising, video, and other digital communications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, or a related field; master's degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations, media relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing integrated communications strategies and managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Exceptional writing, editing, verbal communication, project management, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong knowledge of branding, digital communications, social media, media relations, website content management, and communications analytics.
• High levels of integrity, diplomacy, discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.

Preferred

• Higher education, HBCU, or mission-driven organization experience.
• Experience supporting executive or presidential communications, crisis communications, and institutional campaigns.
• Experience with enrollment, fundraising, or reputation-building communications.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Plans
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Aaccounts and Health Savings Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403B Retirement Savings Plan
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement