DIRECTOR OF EARNED MEDIA AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

Ithaca College•Town of Ithaca, NY

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications, the Director of Earned Media and External Communications advances Ithaca College’s reputation through proactive, opportunity-driven storytelling across traditional, digital, and emerging media channels. This role focuses primarily on identifying and cultivating opportunities to share the college’s stories, expertise, and impact, while providing secondary support to the Senior Director of Communications on crisis communications, internal communications, and risk management. Serving as the first point of contact for media inquiries, the Director builds and sustains relationships with journalists, content creators, influencers, podcasters, and emerging media platforms. The role requires strong editorial judgment, exceptional attention to detail, and fluency across today’s evolving media ecosystem.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2-3 years professional experience, or the equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to shape clear, compelling narratives for different audiences and platforms.
Exceptional attention to detail, paired with sound editorial judgment and accuracy.
Creative problem-solving and original thinking, including the ability to see opportunity beyond the literal or obvious and translate it into effective communication.
Demonstrated success advancing a brand, organization, or individual’s reputation through storytelling, media engagement, or audience-driven platforms.
Experience shaping narratives on social media, particularly through platforms such as TikTok or through work with influencers, creators, or nontraditional media outlets.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust and credibility with journalists, creators, faculty, administrators, and external partners.
A collaborative mindset and a passion for working within a mission-driven, higher educational environment.

Responsibilities

Proactively identify and pursue opportunities to advance Ithaca College’s reputation through strategic storytelling across traditional, digital, and emerging media channels.
Serve as the primary point of contact for incoming media inquiries, exercising strong judgment, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, producers, content creators, influencers, podcasters, and emerging media voices.
Pitch stories and expertise to both established outlets and nontraditional platforms, including creator-led and audience-driven channels.
Identify and elevate faculty, students, alumni, and institutional leaders as compelling sources and storytellers.
Monitor media coverage and online discourse across platforms, including social media and emerging communities, to assess reputation, surface opportunities, and flag risks.
Collaborate closely with colleagues across the Marketing Communications division to align narratives, timing, and distribution strategies.
Draft, edit, and oversee high-quality written materials, including media pitches, statements, backgrounders, and briefing materials, with exceptional attention to detail.
Support the Senior Director of Communications on crisis communications and issues management as needed, including drafting materials and providing backup support.
Support campus safety and emergency communications as part of the College Emergency Response Team (CERT), working in close coordination with the Senior Director of Communications, the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, and institutional leadership.
Provide support to the Senior Director of Communications during incidents or situations requiring heightened coordination, judgment, and discretion, assisting with drafting, review, and dissemination of communications as needed.
Collaborate with the Marketing Communications team to shape and disseminate content for internal communications channels, reinforcing alignment between external storytelling, institutional messaging, and campus audiences.
Support Senior Director of Communications for institutional leadership communications, including messaging related to the President, Executive Council, and Board of Trustees.
Reinforce strong copyediting and fact-checking practices across the communications team, contributing to a culture of accuracy, precision, and credibility in high-visibility and high-stakes communications.
Stay current on changes in the media landscape, platform behavior, and audience dynamics, bringing insight and experimentation to the work.