On-Call, Director, Media and Internal Communications

Santa Clara University•Santa Clara, CA

8d•$75•Onsite

About The Position

The University Marketing and Communications Office is tasked with strategically sharing Santa Clara University stories throughout popular media, increasing the university’s visibility, enhancing its reputation, and demonstrating its unique value among our key audiences. Reporting to the Senior Director, Public Relations, the Director, Media and Internal Communications, supports the university’s strategic plan and marketing and communications objectives by maximizing positive media coverage, showcasing faculty and staff scholarship and expertise, and strategic positioning of the university’s fundraising goals.; Positioning and creating original content, that supplements and amplifies the coverage by outside media; and serving as a key m on the UMC team helping with optimal messaging to campus on issues of key importance.

Requirements

Understanding and appreciation of the vision and values of a Jesuit Catholic educational mission.
Knowledge of higher education marketing and communication practices.
Experience identifying and developing news and feature stories while proactively working with news organizations.
Experience in pitching and placing stories with print and broadcast reporters, producers and editors.
Experience in conceiving, writing and placing op-eds in national publications
Demonstrated experience in handling complex communications challenges, with strong verbal and written communication skills.
Strong customer service orientation and commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality stories that result in top tier press coverage.
Exceptional writing and organizational skills.
Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to represent University Relations at a high level with media partners, executive leadership and the university community.
Exemplary oral and written communication skills.
Possess organizational and project management skills and an innovative approach to problem solving in working as part of a team.
Must be goal-oriented and a self-motivated individual who can demonstrate accountability, initiative, creativity and focus in a rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment.
Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.
Excellent branding and communications skills to connect and engage with SCU key audiences.
Demonstrated ability to establish credibility with broad and diverse constituencies within a complex organization based upon integrity, critical thinking, and outstanding operational performance.
Demonstrated ability to manage time and work load to multitask and achieve goals in a deadline driven environment while maintaining a strong attention to detail.
Demonstrated level of comfort working and communicating with top executives, community leaders, media representatives and/or university leadership.
Ability to motivate, build long term relationships with and gain the respect of internal and external constituents.
Demonstrated genuine appetite to contribute to a collaborative, ethical, and professional team environment.
Ability to take initiative, present options, and anticipate outcomes; to work with both urgency and calm; and the ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously.
Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, English, or a relevant academic discipline.
A minimum of 8-10 years’ relevant professional experience in journalism (broadcast preferred), communications, including media/public relations and crisis communication.

Responsibilities

Strategically and tactically identify and develop news and feature stories that advance SCU’s goals and support the priorities of the University’s comprehensive campaign.
Proactively work with news organizations, determine what is newsworthy, and effectively pitch and place stories in high value media, online, print and brodcast.
Create and curate stories for SCU platforms, including internal newsletters
Research, write, and pitch major news and feature stories, press releases, op-eds, about Santa Clara University that target and result in top-tier press coverage.
Respond promptly to media inquiries and recognize trends in higher education and in general news and capitalize on opportunities for SCU to be featured in ways that support the university’s strategic plan and marketing goals.
Respond and work with print and broadcast reports on a timely, strategic level.
Manage and directs the curation of press coverage through SCU in the News via email and the Web.
Leverage outside coverage of SCU to build brand awareness among key internal and external audiences.
Develops excellent relationships with print and broadcast outlets.
Acts as an interface between university and the media, serving as university’s spokesperson as needed.
Devises and implements a news media outreach strategic plan that increases the impact of the university’s teaching, ideas, research, programs and initiatives.
Develops communications support tools such as fact sheets, Q&A documents on tight deadlines
Conduct in-depth reporting on various university units, departments, programs and issues, in collaboration with UMC colleagues and senior leadership.
Develop and cultivate strategic and effective relationships with key top tier reporters to increase visibility for SCU and its position as a leading private.
Develop and cultivate strong working relationships with executive staff, key administrators, directors, key faculty, students, staff and programs to gain an understanding of the university’s strengths and priorities.
Contribute to communications projects from conception through completion.
Proactively solicit information from faculty and staff on university accomplishments, research and trends.
Develop in-depth knowledge of university programs.
Collaborate with the Sr. Director Communications and Media to take the lead on discrete projects and serve as backup in Director’s absence.
Under supervision, communicate with audiences during crises, assisting with reputational management before, during and after such crises.
Identify reputational risks and gauge sentiment related to the University name and brand.
Work independently and use focus and discretion in a high-pressure, fast-paced, deadline-driven, team-oriented environment.
Understand, and be able to articulate, and support SCU’s Jesuit and Catholic mission.
Other duties as assigned, including: Serve as backup in Director’s absence. Assist with media measurement. Participate and assist with campus emergency communications needs, emergency scenarios and drills.
Manage student interns, as well as resources and budgets for individual projects.
Hire, supervise, and evaluate student interns.
Direct and manage the work by contracted writers.