Media Relations & Community Outreach Director

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

1d•$78,936 - $105,775•Hybrid

About The Position

If you like working in the community, building relationships with the people you serve, and having a healthy work-life balance, we have the job for you. Join the police department at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the largest academic health center in the Rocky Mountain region. You'll have an important job serving those who protect others through ground-breaking, life-saving research at the forefront of transformative education, science, medicine, and healthcare.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in marketing, journalism, public relations, communications, business administration, business, or a directly related field from an accredited institution
A minimum of 6 years of professional experience in media relations, public affairs, or strategic communications.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Strong oral and written communication skills
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional and administrative personnel at all levels, including outside organizations and the public
Ability to understand and work within a complex institution with extensive government, regulatory and compliance responsibilities, as well as formal reporting and coordinating lines of authority
Strong understanding of media relations principles, AP style, and public information best practices
Ability to develop strategic communication plans and manage public perception with a focus on transparency, responsiveness, and customer service
Demonstrated ability to manage social media platforms and digital content for organizations branding and public information with us of social media management tools, content creation and basic graphic/video editing
Must be willing to travel for national, state, and local conferences, meetings, training, exercises, and other professional development activities
Must possess and maintain a valid State of Colorado Driver’s License or be able to obtain one within 30 days of hire
Applicants will be required to pass a Police Department Background Check which may include one or all of the following: Personnel History Questionnaire, Integrity Interview, Polygraph Examination, Fingerprint Check, Drug Screen, Credit/ Civil Check, Criminal History and Driving Infractions Check, Reference Checks, and Post-Conditional

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis if the degree is in a field of study directly related to the work assignment OR a combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.
Experience in a public safety and/or law enforcement setting
Experience working in a higher education setting
Experience in managing social media and web content management systems such as Facebook, Instagram, Marketing Cloud, Sitefinity, Cava, etc.
Experience handling crisis communication and serving as a spokesperson during high profile or sensitive incidents

Responsibilities

Develop and manage public information releases, media inquiries, and crisis communications strategies
Serve on the Unified Crisis Communications Team and coordinate communications during Emergency Operations Center activations in partnership with the Joint Information Center Manager
Advise department leadership on communication strategies, sensitive issues, and reputation management
Coordinate and produce public-facing communications to strengthen community relations and maintain effective partnerships with print, radio, electronic, and television media outlets
Develop newsletters, brochures, videos, recruitment campaigns, and public awareness materials while ensuring consistent branding and messaging across all platforms
Attend and coordinate community outreach events, public engagement initiatives, and recruitment activities, including job and career fairs
Develop internal and external communication plans and align outreach, media relations, and social media efforts with departmental goals