Marketing and Communications - Assistant Director of Public Relations

Cedarville University•Cedarville, OH

18h•Onsite

About The Position

Cedarville University is hiring a full-time, exempt, on-site staff member in the Public Relations Department within its Marketing and Communications Division. The Assistant Director of Public Relations develops and shares compelling stories highlighting the university’s people, programs, and mission. The role manages a team of student public relations writers, oversees the creation and distribution of university news content, serves as Merit Manager, coordinates institutional advertising, and collaborates with academic schools and departments to identify strategic storytelling opportunities. The position reports to the Executive Director of Public Relations and works 2,080 hours annually. The role writes news stories for internal, external, web, and social media audiences; trains and supervises student writers; reviews and publishes news releases; manages Merit communications and the Cedarville Stories podcast; coordinates advertising; maintains ExpertFile and the university’s Experts Guide; and assists with crisis communications when needed. Other duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Strong writing skills.
Proven experience in journalism, editing, professional writing, or a related area.
Ability to strategically use AI.
Exceptional proofreading and editing skills.
Ability to read, write, and speak English.
Proficiency in common office software systems.
Valid driver’s license.
Keyboard proficiency.
Ability to read and proofread with extreme care and accuracy.
Ability to hear and discern spoken words during phone or in-person interviews.
Attention to detail.
Ability to organize, prioritize, and complete assignments with minimal supervision.
Ability to multitask.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication, professional writing, or English preferred.
Photoshop knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

Generate newsworthy, mission-aligned stories for internal, external, web, and social media audiences.
Train, mentor, and evaluate student public relations writers.
Assign stories, manage deadlines, and develop student writers’ public relations writing skills.
Manage student schedules and timesheets.
Review and edit news releases.
Post news releases on the university website and key department pages.
Use Merit software to communicate student-related stories, dean’s list announcements, and commencement announcements.
Write show notes for the Cedarville Stories podcast, and post and distribute the podcast.
Request advertising creative and place advertisements in selected media outlets.
Manage ExpertFile by posting weekly or biweekly content to help generate media interviews for Cedarville faculty.
Manage the Experts Guide on Cedarville’s public relations webpages.
Assist in crisis communication situations when needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.