Executive Director of Strategic Communications & Content

John Carroll University•University Heights, OH

About The Position

The Executive Director of Strategic Communications & Content partners with the AVP and VP to develop and execute multi-year and annual strategic communications and public relations plans, with KPIs and performance dashboards tied to enrollment and reputation goals. The role integrates brand, news, and enrollment storytelling across university channels and audiences, establishes editorial standards, and maintains brand consistency across colleges and departments. The Executive Director leads media relations, crisis and issues communications, thought leadership initiatives, the university newsroom, and end-to-end editorial and content strategy across news, social media, video, and the university magazine. The role also oversees social media strategy, supports University Advancement campaigns and alumni communications, and leads the ethical use of AI tools and Generative Engine Optimization strategies to improve content workflows and visibility. This position supervises, coaches, and evaluates five content, editorial, multimedia, graphic design, and social media professionals. It establishes efficient processes for project intake, prioritization, review, and approval; ensures published content meets accessibility and brand standards; manages vendor and agency relationships; and performs other related work as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in public relations, communications, or marketing, including at least five years supervising professional staff.
Demonstrated success developing and executing multi-year strategic communications or marketing plans tied to measurable organizational goals.
Record of placing stories in national media on behalf of a complex organization and strong relationships with media organizations.
Experience leading content teams across writing, design, video, and social media, including coaching and developing early-career staff.
Experience with crisis communications.
Exceptional writing, editing, and presentation skills, with the ability to synthesize ideas quickly and perform under deadline.
Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to lead multiple projects and build repeatable processes.
Ability to use data and analytics to measure results and guide decisions.
Commitment to collegiality, confidentiality, accuracy, and honesty, and diplomacy in balancing competing campus priorities.
Interest in and support for John Carroll’s Jesuit Catholic mission to inspire individuals to excel in learning, leadership, and service in the region and in the world.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in communications, marketing, or a related field, or professional accreditation such as APR.
Higher education experience, particularly in enrollment marketing or advancement communications, or experience at a Jesuit or Catholic institution.
Familiarity with web content management systems, social media analytics, and media monitoring tools.
Experience managing agency or freelance partners and departmental budgets.
Knowledge of the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio media market.
Creative problem-solving ability and skill in bringing structure to fast-moving work.

Responsibilities

Partner with the AVP and VP to develop and execute multi-year and annual strategic communications and public relations plans, with KPIs and performance dashboards tied to enrollment and reputation goals.
Integrate brand, news, and enrollment storytelling across channels and audiences, establish editorial standards, and maintain brand consistency across university colleges and departments.
Provide strategic communications counsel to faculty for media appearances, including tailored briefing materials and media training.
Direct local, regional, and national media relations to secure print, broadcast, digital, and podcast placements, prioritizing key enrollment growth markets.
Support execution of the university crisis and issues communications plan alongside the AVP and Chief of Staff; lead media responses and serve on Emergency Management and Weather Emergency teams as needed.
Develop thought leadership initiatives, including a faculty speakers bureau, op-ed program, and expert source guide.
Oversee the university newsroom and author, edit, and approve news releases, media advisories, pitches, and web stories; leverage rankings and awards in earned-media campaigns.
Supervise, coach, and evaluate a team of five content, editorial, multimedia, graphic design, and social media professionals; establish career growth pathways and performance goals.
Own editorial and content strategy for news, social media, video, and the university magazine, and provide content for web and enrollment communications.
Establish processes for project intake, prioritization, review, and approval across Enrollment, Advancement, Athletics, and academic colleges.
Oversee social media strategy.
Lead ethical integration of AI tools into content creation and workflows, and develop Generative Engine Optimization strategies for visibility in AI-powered search engines.
Ensure published content meets technical accessibility standards, best practices, and brand requirements across email and print mediums.
Manage campaigns with University Advancement involving alumni, donors, and campaigns, and support the Editor-in-Chief of the Alumni magazine.
Manage relationships with content, PR, and digital vendors and agencies; evaluate performance and recommend vendor strategy to the AVP.
Perform other related work as assigned.