Communications & Public Relations Specialist

Responsibilities

• Research, interview, write, edit, and publish compelling, accurate, audience-centered, and brand-aligned content that advances College priorities and strengthens the CVTC brand.
• Create feature stories, news releases, blogs, profiles, magazine content, and other written materials that highlight students, alumni, employees, employers, partners, programs and services, and institutional impact.
• Proactively identify story and media opportunities by building relationships across the College community and maintaining awareness of institutional priorities, activities, and community partnerships.
• Adapt feature stories, news releases, and other PR and storytelling efforts into engaging social media content.
• Generate media pitches and materials, cultivate relationships with regional media, coordinate media inquiries and interviews, prepare College sources, and conduct proactive outreach to generate earned-media opportunities.
• Curate and distribute recurring outreach to regional media that highlights College news story ideas, events, partnerships, and other coverage opportunities.
• Develop marketing and promotional content that supports enrollment, outreach, workforce development, brand awareness, and other approved College priorities across web, email, campaign, and digital communication channels.
• Support writing, research, editing, message development, and refinement for selected presidential communications, high-visibility presentations, op-eds, and thought leadership materials.
• Develop and apply messaging frameworks, key messages, proof points, voice and tone guidance, and editorial standards.
• Assist the Director of Marketing & Digital Experience and Vice President Strategic Communications & Engagement and Chief of Staff with public-facing issues communication, media statements, key messages, question-and-answer materials, and other communication resources.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree in Journalism, Communciations, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field with a minimum of eight years of relevant work experience required; OR a bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience preferred.
• Relevant work experience includes professional writing and editing, journalism, public relations, media relations, or related communications work.
• Intermediate knowledge of and skills with technology including software programs for communication, data collection, and decision making including, but not limited to, Office 365 Suite.
• Qualifications:
• In evaluating candidates for this position, the College may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform duties of position.
• The College is seeking to attract diverse instructors and staff who can inspire our increasingly diverse student population. We believe every member on our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. Therefore, we seek applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits of diversity in a higher education community. Consideration will be given to equity-minded individuals committed to collaborating with faculty, staff, administration, students, and community partners who are also committed to closing equity gaps.

Preferred

• Professional photography and editing experience preferred.

Benefits

• 3 – 4 weeks of paid vacation time based on years of service
• 11 paid holidays
• Paid winter break - varies each year based on academic calendar and, at a minimum, includes days between Christmas and New Year’s holidays (some exceptions may apply for essential workers)
• Paid summer break - the week of July 4th
• 4 paid personal days
• 3 weeks (15 days) paid sick time annually for absences due to illness, injury, or doctor and dentist appointments of the employee, dependent children, spouse, or parents of the employee or spouse; cumulative to 135 days (1,080 hours)
• Paid bereavement time
• Paid volunteer time
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,500 annually (eligibility requirements apply)
• Health insurance for employee, spouse, and dependents with attached Health Savings Account (HSA); CVTC contributes $3,400 annually for a family plan or $1,700 annually for a single plan to your HSA