Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated strategic communications plans supporting university priorities, presidential initiatives, enrollment, advancement, and institutional reputation.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and strategic direction to the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager, establishing priorities, aligning work with institutional goals, and supporting professional development and performance.
• Guide the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager in the development and execution of integrated content, social media, and communications strategies that strengthen the university’s reputation and audience engagement.
• Serve as a communications advisor to university leadership on messaging, storytelling, and audience engagement.
• Lead strategic content planning across print, digital, web, social media, and multimedia channels.
• Write, edit, and oversee high-profile communications including leadership messaging, feature stories, newsletters, websites, institutional publications, and major digital campaigns.
• Coordinate cross-functional communications projects with colleges and administrative divisions, including projects led or supported by the Social Media and Strategic Communications Manager.
• Support media relations efforts by developing messaging, background materials, strategic communications plans, and integrated digital content.
• Serve as a member of the university's emergency and crisis communications team, developing messaging, coordinating digital communications, and providing direction for social media response during critical incidents.
• Establish workflows, priorities, content calendars, and quality standards for strategic communications and social media efforts, ensuring effective coordination between institutional storytelling and digital engagement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital communications, or a related field, including experience leading multifaceted communications projects and providing direction to staff, project teams, or other communications professionals. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field
• Professional experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans for a complex organization; Demonstrated experience developing, writing, and editing high-level communications for internal and external audiences; Experience developing and executing social media strategies and creating content for institutional or organizational social media channels; Experience working in higher education or another large, complex organization; Experience with crisis and emergency communications; and Experience with social media management, content management, analytics, and digital publishing platforms

Benefits

• San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary.