Director, Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations

Ideal Candidate Statement
The ideal candidate is an equity-minded practitioner who has extensive experience in communications, marketing, and public relations within an institution of higher education, and possesses a desire to foster equity, be innovative, and thrive in a team environment. The candidate will have a can-do attitude with strong communications, public relations, and educational program marketing experiences. The candidate shall also possess excellent interpersonal skills, budget and personnel management, and a clear understanding of their role to advance the College.

The ideal candidate serves as a key member of the College’s management team and participates in institution-wide strategic planning, enrollment management, crisis communication, and organizational development. Provides vision and direction to ensure alignment of communication strategies with the mission, values, and goals of the College.

Position Description
Under general direction, the Director of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations plans, develops, and implements communications, marketing, and public relations activities for the College including but not limited to the development and implementation of an annual communications and marketing strategy and plan, institutional marketing, and public relations campaigns; serves as the College’s Public Information Officer (PIO); develops and implements internal and external communications, marketing, and public relations strategies; writes and issues press releases; distributes narratives and stories relating to college activities and achievements; direct and conduct community engagement activities and events; develops measures to quantify communications, marketing, and public relations effectiveness; supervises assigned staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) to represent the College to the community at large by developing and sustaining positive relationships with the media, elected officials, key stakeholders, local, state, and federal government, education, and corporate partners. This includes speaking on behalf of the President/Superintendent when appropriate.
• Manages the College’s social media platforms as strategic vehicles of communication, marketing and promotion.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of current laws and pending legislation in matters pertaining to communications, marketing, public relations and other issues that affect the College.
• Respond to and manage the communication of all public records requests.
• Plans, develops, and implements an annual strategic communications plan, marketing plan, and public relations campaigns for the College.
• Coordinates all media relations to safeguard accurate and timely coverage of college news and events using a variety of sources to include social media, newspaper, radio, and television, including sharing newsworthy stores to gain coverage for the College to increase public awareness and protect the College brand.
• Oversees written content for the College communication vehicles, including the website, social media, marketing campaigns, and all other digital and print communications.
• Provides support to the President/Superintendent and other members of the College as assigned on current and potential public relations, community relations, and communication issues.
• Prepares and reviews speeches for the President/Superintendent, members of the Board of Trustees, and the Ohlone College Foundation to present before the College or local, state, and national public and private sector organizations.
• Creates videos, commercials and other marketing materials for digital ad campaigns, flyers, emails to internal and external stakeholders, and radio to promote the College.
• When needed, participates in leadership meetings to inform, influence, and align college-wide initiatives with external and internal communication strategies.
• Leads the development of the institutional narrative and brand strategy to promote a unified and compelling identity across all platforms and stakeholders.
• Advises the President/Superintendent and Board on public opinion trends, emerging reputational risks, and communication strategies using analytics and institutional research.
• Collaborates with, to include but not limited to, Institutional Research, Enrollment Management, Student Services, and Academic Affairs to develop marketing and communications strategies that support student enrollment, retention, and outcomes.
• Participates in strategic planning processes for branding, college reputation, enrollment growth, and student engagement.
• Communicates information to the public and College staff, faculty, students, personnel and administrators regarding pertinent construction activities and emergency situations affecting the campus.
• Attends and conducts a variety of meetings as assigned, including the Board of Trustees, Emergency Response Team, Facilities Committee and other assigned meetings.
• Reviews publications for conformity with design and communication guidelines; elicits support from faculty, staff, and administrators for related information and public relations opportunities.
• Develops measures to quantify and qualify communications, marketing and public relations effectiveness to identify growth patterns and effective practices as well as areas for improvement.
• Strategically plans, manages, and directs Ohlone College marketing and public relations activities to increase student (traditional and non-traditional) enrollments.
• Develops and prepares the annual budget for the department and analyzes and reviews budgetary and financial data related to the area.
• Coordinates and implements a variety of community engagement and public relations-related events including groundbreakings, open houses, campus tours, and press conferences.
• Supervises and evaluates the performance of assigned staff; interviews and selects employees and recommends transfers, reassignment, termination and disciplinary actions.
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity while engaging with a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of faculty, staff and students with physical and learning disabilities.
• Ensures diverse and equity-minded representation in marketing and communication materials.
• Effectively engages and supports historically minoritized groups by addressing issues of equity and improving culturally responsive service-oriented practices.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Current principles and practices of communications, marketing, and public relations.
• Planning, organization, and direction of a public relations department.
• Media relations and organizational communication strategies with a deep understanding of online, print, television, radio, and social media outlets.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Principles and practices of administration, supervision, and training.
• Knowledge of the California Public Records Act.

• Establish, build, and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships.
• Manage multiple projects with competing priorities; Develop and manage budgets.
• Interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Operate a computer, assigned office equipment, and computer software.
• Prepare comprehensive narrative and statistical reports.
• Innovation and accuracy in communicative efforts.

• Plan, organize, develop plans and reports.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Implement supervisory techniques and practices.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Work independently with little direction.

Minimum Qualifications
Any combination equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, public relations or related field and five years increasingly responsible public relations, communications, sales, branding, or marketing and community development experience;
AND
Evidence of promoting equity-minded and diversely represented communications and materials;

Required Application Materials: The below items must be uploaded as attachments for your application to be complete and considered.

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae.
• A cover letter addressing the listed desirable qualifications and personal/professional qualities.
• A list of three (3) professional references including name, position, organization, phone number, email, and relationship to the applicant.
• Unofficial copies of all college transcripts. Official sealed transcripts will be required at the time of hire.
• Diversity question response: What does it mean to have a commitment to diversity, and how would you apply this commitment as you conduct your responsibilities in this position?