Public Information Specialist (Director of Communications) - 0078236

University of Hawaii•Kapolei, HI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Serves as the official spokesperson for UH West O‘ahu, representing the campus in media, public, and crisis-response situations. Works in coordination with the UH System Office of Communications to align campus messaging with systemwide goals, initiatives, brand standards, and communications governance. Cultivates strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community leaders, and public officials to support transparent and proactive communication. Ensures compliance with federal/state law, board policy, UH System guidelines, and best practices related to public records, media law, accessibility, brand governance, and digital content standards. Manages day-to-day operations of the UH West O‘ahu Communications Office, including project prioritization, workflow, and editorial calendar management. Supports and organizes special events to advance public relations, outreach, philanthropic, academic, and community engagement efforts. Continuously monitors emerging issues, current events, and public sentiment to adapt communication strategy and ensure institutional readiness. Cultivates and maintains strategic relationships with traditional and digital media outlets to ensure accurate and timely coverage of UH West O‘ahu programs, initiatives, student success stories, and faculty expertise. Plans, develops, executes, and evaluates comprehensive communications strategies that support UH West O‘ahu’s mission, strategic enrollment goals, campus priorities, and community partnerships. Provides strategic leadership for content planning, digital media, marketing, and public information to ensure effectiveness and consistency of messaging and institutional voice across all platforms. Leads internal communications strategy to support transparency, reinforce institutional priorities, and ensure employees are informed, engaged, and aligned with campus direction. Develops, recommends, and drafts messaging, talking points, statements, and other communication materials for campus leadership, including the Chancellor and senior administrators. Oversees UH West O‘ahu social media strategy, content governance, and execution across platforms (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube), ensuring best practices in audience segmentation, engagement, analytics, and emerging tools. Coordinates media relations activities; responds to inquiries; proactively books appearances/interviews on television, radio, podcasts and other media platforms; and manages the preparation and delivery of responses and background materials, including on-camera representation when appropriate. Oversees development, writing, editing, and dissemination of news releases, media advisories, statements, speeches, briefing materials, and internal communications. Provides coaching and strategic communication support to administrators, faculty, staff and students including preparation for public and media appearances, crisis situations, and sensitive stakeholder communications. Directs production of multimedia content (photo, video, web, and print) to support communications, storytelling, enrollment, advancement, and community engagement priorities. Implements data-informed communication strategies using analytics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and guide future decisions. Serves as UH West O‘ahu liaison to the UH Foundation on messaging that supports philanthropic goals, alumni engagement, and campus advancement priorities. Leads and supervises staff, assigns work, evaluates performance, and ensures high-quality execution of communication and media activities. Develops and administers UH West O‘ahu Communications Office budget, assists in budget planning, and ensures expenditures align with priorities. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Possession of a baccalaureate degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, or related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for communications and/or public media/media relations; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
Advanced and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of developing and emerging concepts, principles and methodologies in the area of strategic communications, public/media relations, and digital content production, including emerging platforms and analytics.
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of principles, theories, federal and state laws and systems associated with public records, media law, crisis communications, and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated ability to understand problems from a broad interactive perspective and use reasoning to discern underlying principles and issues when problem solving, and apply creative thinking to resolve problems in new and innovative approaches.
Demonstrated written and verbal competence in presenting ideas, concepts and models clearly using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply processing software.
For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex issues, identify communication implications, and develop creative and innovative solutions.
Demonstrated proficiency in using word processing, CMS, social media analytics, and multimedia content tools, including graphic design and video editing software.
Demonstrated experience developing and executing media strategies and securing earned media coverage.
Demonstrated experience developing or executing crisis communication plans and managing real-time media issues.
Demonstrated experience in administrative and fiscal operations related to media, communications, or marketing functions.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in journalism, communications, marketing, public relations, or related field.
Professional experience as a journalist or on-camera spokesperson.
Experience with live-streaming, video production, and web-based content distribution.
Experience developing public engagement or community-based campaigns.
Demonstrated leadership and/or peer recognition within communications, media, or related fields.
Experience working within higher education, a public university system, or a complex public-sector institution.
Experience executing internal communications strategies to improve employee engagement and institutional alignment.
Experience collaborating with fundraising or advancement offices on campaign messaging.
Experience with SEO, digital marketing, analytics, or audience development strategies.
Knowledge of Hawai‘i history, culture, and language.
Ability to work outside normally scheduled hours and travel to cover events as required.
Demonstrated proficiency with social media strategy, content development, and platform analytics.

Responsibilities

Serves as the official spokesperson for UH West O‘ahu, representing the campus in media, public, and crisis-response situations.
Works in coordination with the UH System Office of Communications to align campus messaging with systemwide goals, initiatives, brand standards, and communications governance.
Cultivates strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, community leaders, and public officials to support transparent and proactive communication.
Ensures compliance with federal/state law, board policy, UH System guidelines, and best practices related to public records, media law, accessibility, brand governance, and digital content standards.
Manages day-to-day operations of the UH West O‘ahu Communications Office, including project prioritization, workflow, and editorial calendar management.
Supports and organizes special events to advance public relations, outreach, philanthropic, academic, and community engagement efforts.
Continuously monitors emerging issues, current events, and public sentiment to adapt communication strategy and ensure institutional readiness.
Cultivates and maintains strategic relationships with traditional and digital media outlets to ensure accurate and timely coverage of UH West O‘ahu programs, initiatives, student success stories, and faculty expertise.
Plans, develops, executes, and evaluates comprehensive communications strategies that support UH West O‘ahu’s mission, strategic enrollment goals, campus priorities, and community partnerships.
Provides strategic leadership for content planning, digital media, marketing, and public information to ensure effectiveness and consistency of messaging and institutional voice across all platforms.
Leads internal communications strategy to support transparency, reinforce institutional priorities, and ensure employees are informed, engaged, and aligned with campus direction.
Develops, recommends, and drafts messaging, talking points, statements, and other communication materials for campus leadership, including the Chancellor and senior administrators.
Oversees UH West O‘ahu social media strategy, content governance, and execution across platforms (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube), ensuring best practices in audience segmentation, engagement, analytics, and emerging tools.
Coordinates media relations activities; responds to inquiries; proactively books appearances/interviews on television, radio, podcasts and other media platforms; and manages the preparation and delivery of responses and background materials, including on-camera representation when appropriate.
Oversees development, writing, editing, and dissemination of news releases, media advisories, statements, speeches, briefing materials, and internal communications.
Provides coaching and strategic communication support to administrators, faculty, staff and students including preparation for public and media appearances, crisis situations, and sensitive stakeholder communications.
Directs production of multimedia content (photo, video, web, and print) to support communications, storytelling, enrollment, advancement, and community engagement priorities.
Implements data-informed communication strategies using analytics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and guide future decisions.
Serves as UH West O‘ahu liaison to the UH Foundation on messaging that supports philanthropic goals, alumni engagement, and campus advancement priorities.
Leads and supervises staff, assigns work, evaluates performance, and ensures high-quality execution of communication and media activities.
Develops and administers UH West O‘ahu Communications Office budget, assists in budget planning, and ensures expenditures align with priorities.
Other duties as assigned.