Job Description - Director, Media & Community Relations (DEA00000450)
Salary Range: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
About SMU
SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence. Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact. SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Department:
Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body. DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Senior Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development. SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fundraising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.
About the Position:
This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Director of Media and Community Relations reports to the AVP for Marketing and Communications and is responsible for leading a team of media relations professionals to position SMU nationally and locally as a premier teaching and research institution. This role also oversees community engagement with the goal of delivering meaningful impact in the DFW community. The Director works closely with Strategic Communications on sensitive and emergency issues that affect brand reputation.
Essential Functions:
- Creates and leads the media relations strategy, communicating university goals and priorities through faculty, program, alumni and student stories and commentary pieces. This role collaborates with colleagues in creative, digital and other teams across campus to widely share media stories and information about SMU.
- Cultivates relationships with strategic national and regional media, devises media strategies, develops key messages and stories and serves as the media relations liaison with the rest of SMU.
- Collaborates with the creative and digital marketing teams to maximize digital visibility of stories by employing SEO strategies and, when appropriate, redesign traditional media content for digital platforms and social media distribution.
- Manages a team of media relations professionals who build and maintain relationships with journalists at targeted global and regional outlets and identify story opportunities to spotlight SMU strengths. Assigns and edits media pitches and news releases for consistent voice. Ensures team responds to media queries on a timely basis and capitalizes on breaking news. Supports major University events that engage media.
- Oversees community engagement efforts that highlight the impact of SMU in North Texas, including the creation of the strategic community engagement plan and its execution.
- Collaborates with Strategic Communications to maintain SMU’s reputation, including media training/coaching and executing crisis communications. Guides placement choices for SMU stories and advises colleagues in SMU schools and units on messaging and media relations.
- Position requires occasional evening and/or weekend work to support SMU events or crises and active monitoring of cell phone.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree is required. Master's preferred. A degree in Journalism and/or Communications is strongly preferred. A minimum of seven years of professional work experience and at least three years of supervisory/management experience are required. Experience dealing with crisis and emergency communications and experience creating content for traditional media, social media, web, video and a variety of platforms are also required. Experience in journalism and digital publishing, preferred. Experience in using digital media to amplify news content, desired.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Candidate must also demonstrate strong written communication and editing skills. Must also be adept at crafting clear and concise content that effectively communicates complex information to diverse audiences, including the use of typography, photos, graphics and video; and takes a hands-on approach to tracking down and sharing great stories. Proven track record of placing story ideas with national and global outlets is essential.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills. The ability to lead and mentor teams of media professionals is essential. Leading teams in the shift from traditional to new media writing, preferred.
Candidate must be well-versed in issues and potential conflicts across the higher education landscape. An established network of media contacts, ideally in higher education, both in Texas and nationally preferred. Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Suite (e.g. Word, Outlook and PowerPoint). Must also have experience with Meltwater News, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Experience with and/or a working knowledge of content management systems (e.g. Sitecore) and project management systems (e.g. Asana), preferred.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
- Sit for long periods of time
- Carry/lift 25lbs
- Stand
- Walk for long distances
Deadline to Apply: This position is open until filled. Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by October 20, 2024.
EEO Statement: SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601,
SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution. SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
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