Director of Public Relations and Media Relations

Regis College•Weston, MA

17h•Hybrid

About The Position

Regis College seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative communications professional to lead the university’s earned media and public relations efforts. Reporting to the vice president of marketing and communications, the director serves as the college’s primary media contact and spokesperson and contributes to crisis communications, executive communications, and external relations. The role develops proactive strategies to elevate Regis’ academic strengths, student and alumni success, community impact, and thought leadership, while supporting responses to emerging issues and sensitive matters and communications with government and community stakeholders. Working closely with the president, senior leaders, faculty, and colleagues across the university, the director advances Regis’ mission, strategic priorities, enrollment objectives, advancement goals, and institutional visibility. The position calls for strategic thinking and hands-on execution, along with strong writing, thoughtful counsel, creative storytelling, and relationship-building skills. Regular on-campus presence is required, with flexibility for some responsibilities to be completed remotely according to departmental needs and university policies. The director must be available on campus as needed for media opportunities, university events, urgent issues, and emergencies. The role also supports the president and other senior leaders with communications counsel and written materials; coordinates communications during emergencies and reputational challenges; supports communications involving public officials and external constituencies; collaborates across the university to integrate public relations with other communications strategies; and measures and reports on public relations effectiveness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, public affairs, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, media relations, journalism, strategic communications, public affairs, or a related field.
Demonstrated success developing and executing proactive public relations and earned-media strategies.
Experience responding to media inquiries and supporting communications involving complex or sensitive issues.
Strong writing, editing, presentation, and message-development skills, including experience producing communications for senior leaders.
Ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling, audience-appropriate communications.
Strong news judgment and understanding of the evolving media environment.
Ability to provide reliable and diplomatic communications recommendations to colleagues and university leaders.
Ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, and make sound decisions under pressure.
Strong organizational and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing circumstances.
Demonstrated ability to build relationships and coordinate cross-functional initiatives involving colleagues with varied roles, perspectives, and areas of expertise.
Understanding of digital communications and social media as tools for media engagement, reputation management, and amplification.
Commitment to communicating effectively and respectfully with diverse, multicultural, and multigenerational audiences.
Belief in the Regis College mission and the values of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston.
Ability to identify opportunities to elevate Regis’ mission, strengths, and impact through strategic and creative storytelling.
Ability to build trust and work collaboratively across academic and administrative areas.
Calm, credible, and responsive presence during sensitive or rapidly evolving situations.
Diplomatic and direct judgment to navigate competing interests and complex institutional considerations.
Intellectual curiosity, resourcefulness, and attentiveness to developments affecting higher education and the communities Regis serves.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education or another complex, highly visible, mission-driven organization.
Experience in healthcare, education, government, nonprofit, or public-policy communications.
Established relationships with local or regional media, or demonstrated success building productive media relationships.
Experience developing communications for a college president, chief executive, or other senior leader.
Experience supporting government relations, community engagement, or public-affairs initiatives.
Media-training or crisis-communications experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive public relations and earned-media strategy aligned with the university’s mission and strategic priorities.
Serve as Regis College’s primary media contact and spokesperson, responding to inquiries accurately, thoughtfully, and promptly.
Build and maintain relationships with local, regional, higher education, and trade media.
Identify and develop stories highlighting student and alumni success, faculty expertise, academic innovation, research, community partnerships, institutional milestones, and Regis’ contributions to the public good.
Write and edit press releases, media advisories, media statements, talking points, fact sheets, media kits, and other institutional communications.
Maintain a network of faculty and administrative experts who can provide informed commentary on timely topics.
Establish and maintain university standards, protocols, and best practices for responding to media inquiries.
Prepare university representatives for media interviews and other public-facing opportunities.
Coordinate communications planning and execution during institutional emergencies, sensitive situations, and reputational challenges under the direction of the vice president of marketing and communications and senior leadership.
Monitor emerging issues, news coverage, public sentiment, social media conversations, and higher education trends to identify potential risks and opportunities.
Provide communications recommendations to the vice president of marketing and communications and other university leaders.
Develop and maintain crisis communications plans, response protocols, message templates, media procedures, and stakeholder contact lists.
Draft statements, talking points, frequently asked questions, and other materials for urgent or rapidly evolving situations.
Coordinate accurate and timely communications with senior leadership, Campus Police, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, legal counsel, and other university offices.
Participate in crisis simulations, media training, and emergency-preparedness exercises.
Advise the president and other senior leaders on media engagement, public positioning, and institutional messaging.
Write and edit speeches, talking points, presentations, messages, and other presidential and executive communications as needed.
Ensure executive communications are accurate, authentic, audience-centered, and consistent with the university’s mission, values, priorities, and voice.
Support the president and vice president of marketing and communications in coordinating communications with elected officials, government agencies, civic organizations, and community leaders.
Monitor public-policy and legislative developments affecting Regis College and higher education and share relevant developments with university leadership.
Coordinate communications related to government announcements, campus visits, advocacy priorities, and meetings with elected and appointed officials.
Develop materials communicating Regis’ educational, economic, workforce, healthcare, and community impact to external stakeholders.
Help maintain productive relationships with local officials, civic organizations, community partners, and other external constituencies.
Coordinate with university colleagues so public relations efforts are integrated with Regis’ brand, digital, social media, enrollment, advancement, and institutional communications strategies.
Partner with marketing and communications colleagues to extend earned-media coverage across Regis’ owned channels.
Provide communications guidance and editorial support to colleagues across the university to help ensure consistent messaging.
Establish goals and performance measures for public relations and external-affairs initiatives.
Monitor, evaluate, and archive media coverage, sentiment, message placement, and other effectiveness indicators.
Incorporate public relations results into departmental KPIs, reports, and planning.