Assistant Director of News & Media Strategy

Trinity Univesity•Waxahachie, TX

About The Position

The Assistant Director of News & Media Strategy is a strategic communicator, writer, and media relations professional. Reporting to and working closely with the Senior Director of News & Media Strategy, the Assistant Director helps advance the university’s strategic objectives through storytelling and by practicing the basic tenets of crisis communications. This is accomplished by building and maintaining excellent relationships with internal stakeholders and the local and national news media, by maintaining an awareness of the university’s strategic objectives, and working creatively to communicate those objectives. The Assistant Director is a vital member of the Strategic Communications and Marketing (SCM) team, and will work with colleagues from social media, strategic communications, strategic communications, digital strategy, creative strategy and business operations and project management.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field.
Ten years of experience in communications related field, especially in news writing or higher ed communications.
Excellent understanding of the best practices and technical implementation of news writing, strategic communications, and media relations.
Excellent writing skills.
Experience working in complex environments with multiple stakeholders who work outside of communications.
Working knowledge of content management systems to be able to post stories on university news site.
Excellent proofing and copy-editing skills.
Ability to communicate effectively and creatively, both verbally and in writing.
Strong organizational and project management skills.
Calm under pressure, dependable, diplomatic, proactive, and strategic.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in journalism, communications, or related field.

Responsibilities

Creates and executes media relations strategies and tactics that include helping media fill requests for interviews with campus experts and proactively placing stories in the local and national news media about topics that are important to the university.
Writes news and features for Trinity platforms, including the News Center, that focus on strategic objectives; works with SCM team members on best methods to promote these stories across platforms.
Tracks media coverage daily of Trinity and its students, faculty, staff, and alumni and writes short summaries of coverage.
Develops relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts.
Works with the Senior Director to address and manage crisis communications. This could include participating in crisis management planning meetings, writing and/or editing responses to the media, and arranging media interviews.
Continually builds relationships with university faculty, staff, and students to identify stories and people worth sharing and understanding campus issues.
Plans and oversees press events in coordination and at the direction of the Senior Director.
Stays current on national and local news related to Trinity University specifically and higher education in general.
Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience and integrity to provide professional leadership during emergencies.
Provides informed counsel on issues.
May manage student interns.
Complies with all Trinity University policies and guidelines.
Performs other duties as required.