Director of Public Relations and Community Engagement #00021

Virginia Information Technologies Agency • South Boston, VA

4d • $70,000 - $90,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is seeking a Director of Public Relations and Community Engagement to support its mission of advancing Southern Virginia’s economic potential through education, innovation, and collaboration. The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center provides access to higher education, workforce training and programming, innovative industry services, and technologically advanced state-of-the-art facilities and learning labs that includes comprehensive fiscal management, operational and supportive services, community outreach and engagement, and extensive collaborations. These components work together to support the organization’s mission of advancing Southern Virginia’s economic potential through education, innovation, and collaboration. This position plans, develops, and executes clear, accurate, timely, and effective communications with students, staff, partners, and regional community groups. The Director oversees outreach events and initiatives for the SVHEC, strengthens the SVHEC’s presence and engagement within the community, and develops relationships with external agencies, organizations, and community groups. This position also serves as a primary liaison between the SVHEC and local, regional, and other media outlets; coordinates media relations and responses to media inquiries; develops and distributes news releases and other public information; and identifies opportunities to promote the SVHEC’s programs, achievements, initiatives, and community impact through appropriate media channels.

Requirements

• Considerable knowledge of media relations, including responding to media inquiries, preparing news releases and public information, coordinating media interviews, and promoting organizational programs and accomplishments.
• Considerable experience in website management and oversight, social media platforms, digital communications tools, and content management systems.
• Working knowledge of graphic design principles and design software used to develop professional communications and promotional materials.
• Considerable knowledge providing effective day-to-day supervision, leadership, and performance management of assigned staff.
• Considerable knowledge providing leadership and oversight for SVHEC community engagement and outreach activities.
• Considerable knowledge coordinates the development, preparation, and submission of reports, promotional material, and institutional communications.
• Demonstrated excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences across multiple communication platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, employees, community organizations, business and industry partners, government agencies, members of the media, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and engage diverse groups, build collaborative partnerships, facilitate effective discussions, and support problem-solving.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, establish priorities, meet deadlines, and coordinate communications, marketing, public relations, and community outreach initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise employees, provide effective leadership and oversight of departmental operations, develop staff, build effective teams, and achieve organizational goals and objectives.
• High school graduate or equivalent.

Nice To Haves

• College coursework in Marketing, Business, or Education.

Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, and executes clear, accurate, timely, and effective communications with students, staff, partners, and regional community groups.
• Oversees outreach events and initiatives for the SVHEC.
• Strengthens the SVHEC’s presence and engagement within the community.
• Develops relationships with external agencies, organizations, and community groups.
• Serves as a primary liaison between the SVHEC and local, regional, and other media outlets.
• Coordinates media relations and responses to media inquiries.
• Develops and distributes news releases and other public information.
• Identifies opportunities to promote the SVHEC’s programs, achievements, initiatives, and community impact through appropriate media channels.
• Provides effective day-to-day supervision, leadership, and performance management of assigned staff.
• Provides leadership and oversight for SVHEC community engagement and outreach activities.
• Coordinates the development, preparation, and submission of reports, promotional material, and institutional communications.

Benefits

• Background investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI); local agency checks; employment verification; verification of education (relevant to employment); credit checks; and other checks requested by the hiring authority.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED