Director of Communications - Communications and Marketing

University at Albany • Albany, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Communications, in partnership with the Vice President for Communications and Marketing, leads the development and execution of a comprehensive communications strategy that advances the University's strategic priorities and elevates its reputation among internal and external audiences. Serving as a senior communications strategist and advisor, the Director anticipates opportunities and emerging issues, shapes institutional messaging and ensures that communications resources are aligned with the University's most important goals. The Director leads media relations, internal and executive communications, crisis and issues management, and institutional content strategy. The Director leads a high-performing central communications operation and serves as a key integrator across a distributed network of communicators. Working closely with Marketing, Digital Media, Social Media and campus partners, the Director strengthens the University's ability to reach priority audiences through coordinated messaging, audience strategy, technology, data and effective channel management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in English, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing or related field from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
• Ten years of communications experience, with seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, including managing staff and editorial oversight.
• Knowing how newsrooms operate, how to pitch journalists, and how to maintain contacts across local, trade, and national outlets.
• Familiarity with measurement and analytics tools to tie PR and marketing activities directly to business outcomes.
• Persuasive and executive writing; leadership and team management skills, interpersonal and counseling skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
• Demonstrated ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education communications or a similarly complex, mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing email newsletters, with a strong understanding of audience segmentation, performance metrics (e.g., open rates, click-through rates, conversions) and continuous optimization.
• Experience using analytics to inform content strategy, distribution decisions and audience growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead an integrated university communications strategy aligned with institutional priorities, reputation goals and needs of internal and external audiences
• Oversee the planning, creation and editorial direction of content.
• Provide editorial leadership, including content review, coaching and quality control, with a strong understanding of the news cycle and provide timely, accurate output.
• Develop an audience centered channel and distribution strategy across university websites, newsletters, media relations, social media, digital platforms, print and emerging formats.
• Lead and manage direct reports/team providing guidance, support, and performance feedback to assure goals, programs, activities, and personnel practices are consistent with and contribute to the University's mission.
• Lead employees for maximum performance and dedication, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Complete performance management feedback and goals timely and per requirements, offering constructive feedback and developing improvement plans.
• Other reasonable duties as assigned

Benefits

• The University will not seek, request, or rely upon an applicant's wage or salary history in determining whether to interview, hire, or establish compensation for an applicant.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior