Executive Director of Community Relations

Monroe Community College • Rochester, NY

2d

About The Position

The Executive Director of Community Relations provides strategic leadership for Monroe Community College’s community engagement, external relations, and institutional event initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President, Institutional Advancement and Executive Director, MCC Foundation, the position develops and implements strategies to enhance the College’s visibility, reputation, and regional partnerships. The Executive Director serves as a liaison to community organizations, business and industry partners, government entities, alumni, donors, and other internal and external stakeholders, and leads significant institutional events and programs that advance the College’s mission and strategic priorities.

The role uses data and analytics to evaluate engagement efforts, guide strategic decisions, and measure outcomes. It supervises professional staff and oversees departmental budgets and resources. Current direct reports include an Assistant Director of Community Relations and a Community Relations Specialist.

The position requires local and regional travel and the ability to work evenings and weekends as required. It is primarily on one’s feet for long periods, includes regularly moving and lifting items up to 50 pounds, and requires a valid New York State driver’s license. Regular travel to local procurement establishments uses a personal vehicle. Flexible work arrangements may be available depending on divisional, departmental, and position-specific business and operational needs; remote work outside New York State is generally not authorized, except for limited, short-term temporary approval prompted by business or operational needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in communications, public administration, higher education administration, community development, business administration, or a related field.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in community relations, external affairs, public relations, government relations, higher education administration, event management, or a related area.
• Demonstrated success planning and executing large-scale events, programs, and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Experience supervising professional staff and leading cross-functional teams.
• Experience developing, managing, and monitoring budgets and financial resources.
• Ability to analyze and use data to inform strategy, evaluate outcomes, and communicate results.
• Outstanding written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including exceptional business writing and editing abilities.
• Demonstrated success building and maintaining partnerships with diverse community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Ability to work effectively with senior leadership, community leaders, public officials, donors, business executives, and internal constituencies.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.
• Ability to travel locally and regionally.
• Valid New York State driver’s license.
• Ability to remain on one’s feet for long periods and regularly move and lift items up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in communications, public administration, higher education administration, community development, business administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience in a community college, public higher education, or nonprofit advancement environment.
• Experience overseeing major institutional, fundraising, or community engagement events.
• Experience using data analytics, constituent relationship management (CRM) systems, or engagement metrics to assess organizational effectiveness.
• Knowledge of the Greater Rochester region and its civic, workforce, philanthropic, and community landscape.
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Spanish or other languages.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive community relations strategy aligned with the College’s strategic plan and Institutional Advancement goals.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for community organizations, professional associations, civic leaders, government agencies in collaboration with the Executive Director of Government Relations, business and industry partners, and other constituents.
• Build and sustain partnerships that advance student success, workforce development, diversity, equity, belonging, and community impact.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of institutional events, public programs, community engagement activities, and VIP stakeholder experiences.
• Oversee event strategy, logistics, budget development and monitoring, vendor coordination, communications, risk management, and post-event assessment.
• Advise the Vice President, Institutional Advancement, President, and senior leadership on community relations, institutional visibility, opportunities, and external trends.
• Represent the College at community events, public meetings, conferences, and regional forums.
• Collaborate with College units to coordinate outreach, messaging, event participation, and partnership activities.
• Partner with the MCC Foundation on fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship, and advancement initiatives through partnership development and relationship management.
• Collect, analyze, and use data to evaluate engagement efforts, measure effectiveness, identify trends, and support planning and continuous improvement.
• Develop reports, dashboards, presentations, and recommendations using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Manage sensitive and confidential issues and support crisis response in coordination with College leadership and communications staff.
• Supervise assigned staff, including recruiting, training, mentoring, evaluating, setting priorities and performance expectations, and fostering an inclusive, collaborative, high-performing work environment.
• Develop, administer, and monitor departmental and event budgets; steward College resources and oversee expenditures according to institutional policies and procedures.
• Prepare and review correspondence, speeches, reports, presentations, briefing materials, and other written communications for internal and external audiences.
• Perform related duties in support of Monroe Community College’s mission and goals.
• Adhere to the College Code of Conduct; support an equitable, inclusive, and collaborative College environment; maintain technological competencies; commit to the comprehensive community college philosophy and professional growth, including ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

Benefits

• Flexible Work Policy for benefit-eligible employees, with possible flextime or staggered shifts, remote work or telecommuting, and compressed work schedules; availability varies according to business and operational needs.

What This Job Offers

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