Director of Communications

MSU Jobs•Starkville, MS

14d

About The Position

The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM) seeks an experienced communications and marketing leader to direct the development and implementation of an integrated communications strategy that advances the college’s priorities. Key focus areas include student and faculty recruitment, academic departments, clinical and diagnostic laboratory services, executive communications, and alumni and donor engagement. Reporting to the associate dean for administration, the director works closely with college leadership and university partners to shape compelling, cohesive messaging that reflects the excellence of MSU CVM’s teaching, research, clinical and diagnostic services, and outreach. The director provides communication and marketing support for all MSU CVM locations, including the main Starkville campus; the Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Flowood; the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Pearl; the Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Stoneville; and the Gulf Coast Aquatic Health Laboratory in Gulfport. Employees hired into Intermittent positions are limited to working no more than 720 hours per fiscal year.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or a related field with a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in marketing, communications, public relations and/or journalism setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Ability to manage, motivate and lead staff.
Excellent writing, proofreading and editing skills for print and web publications; strong news judgment with a sense of which stories will engage and motivate audiences; and experience with creating and executing a communications strategy.
Strong media relations experience as a journalist and/or substantial experience working with reporters; proven ability to translate stories into compelling content; and a strong understanding of which types of content resonate most effectively across various social media platforms and audiences.
Experience with marketing through websites and social media platforms as well as printed publications.
Familiarity with e-marketing software and digital communication tools, with the ability to apply emerging technologies to strengthen marketing and outreach efforts.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to plan, coordinate, and execute initiatives using digital and collaboration tools.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written and ability to work with a variety of personalities.
Demonstrate ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and take initiative in a dynamic environment.
Possess excellent organizational skills.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated supervisory or team-leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Oversee communication and marketing staff, setting goals, establishing priorities, and ensuring effective management of deadlines and deliverables.
Lead the development, planning, and execution of an integrated communication and marketing program that supports the college’s strategic goals through the creation and oversight of written, digital, and multimedia content, including social media, video, print, web, news, features, and editorial coverage.
Cultivate relationships with faculty, staff, and students to remain a visible and reliable resource within the college and to support the development of timely content, feature stories, and communications.
Ensure consistent and strategic messaging across the college including departmental communications, recruitment, advancement, alumni relations, and other priority areas while collaborating with campus partners to maximize reach and effectively address both internal and external stakeholders.
Develop analytics data, implement decisions based on that data, and regularly report findings to college leadership.
Uphold and guide the college’s visual brand standards across digital content, social media, and all signage and displays, while utilizing The Hub, the online tool for submitting content requests for outbound marketing and communications
Direct and edit the college’s annual report and all college communication materials.
Serve as the primary media contact as well as spokesperson for the college or identify appropriate spokesperson(s) with support from the Office of Public Affairs.
Assist with the development and dissemination of crisis communication for both internal and external audiences.
Contribute to planning, preparation, and support for accreditation site visits.
Maintain relationships with the Office of Public Affairs and Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine to maximize coverage of the college on a local, state, and national stage.