Associate Director Of Communications

Warren Wilson College is seeking a talented writer and strategic thinker to serve as Associate Director of Communications. As Warren Wilson College's chief content creator and spokesperson, the Associate Director of Communications is responsible for promoting the College through social media and traditional news outlets. This is a unique opportunity to be the storyteller-in-residence of a dynamic, student-centered college that is positioned as an innovator in higher education. The College's bold efforts toward learning-in-action, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and climate justice provide ample opportunities to feature students, faculty and staff in high-impact stories. We are seeking a highly collaborative and creative team player who can discover, shape, and channel these stories across diverse audiences, with local, state, national, and global reach.

The primary areas of responsibility for this position consist of creating and curating content including images, video, and text; managing social media accounts and relationships with media contacts; guiding the content creation and skills development of a student "crew"; effectively handling cross-media campaigns; responding to media and public inquiries; acting as a spokesperson to the press; and serving as a resource to select members of the campus community.

Interested individuals should read further to learn more about the qualifications and job responsibilities for this full-time, exempt position. Applicants are required to submit a resume and cover letter, which includes your experience working with a diverse range of identities and experiences including, but not limited to, previous DEI training or initiatives.

First consideration will be given to candidates who apply by Sunday, July 14, 2024. Please be aware no relocation assistance is available for this position.

Our mission:

Warren Wilson College, rooted in liberal arts education, is committed to providing educational programs that prepare graduates to engage in groundbreaking scholarship and creative work; pursue meaningful careers with professionalism; and lead purposeful lives dedicated to fostering a just, equitable, and sustainable world. Toward that end, the College utilizes an innovative educational approach that intentionally integrates academics and experiential learning (through campus work and community engagement) for a rich, challenging student experience. Our students matriculate through deliberately scaffolded courses and signature capstone experiences that combine intellectual foundations with experiential skill development and problem solving. In that vein, Warren Wilson College is committed to fostering students' curiosity, empathy, and integrity by providing them with a variety of perspectives, mentors and role models.

To fulfill this mission, the College, through its Strategic Imperative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), is embarking on institutional initiatives that infuse DEI into all aspects of its functioning. Specifically, the College is unwavering in our commitment to the dignity of all people - particularly those populations who have been both historically oppressed and continue to experience systemic oppression. While we value the breadth of diversity necessary for a rich campus culture, we also recognize the particular challenge and opportunity for growth and leadership around race, noting that such a focus necessarily intersects with deepening efforts around other aspects of identity. We are committed to a culture of educational access and ensuring that students and employees from a diverse range of identities and experiences will thrive in this community. Fully living out this commitment involves incorporating DEI knowledge, skills, and practices in all academic programs and administrative capacities to advance inclusive excellence at all levels of the College. In alignment with our DEI commitment, we welcome and invite applicants who desire to, and possess the skills and experience to, advance this work. We welcome applications from members of racial/ethnic underrepresented groups (e.g., BIPOC/people of the global majority) and individuals who have experience working with diverse student populations (e.g., racial/ethnic, income, immigration status, sexual orientation/gender identification, etc.).

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree and four years of relevant experience.

• Demonstrated experience working with the news media and/or serving as a public spokesperson for a brand or organization.

• One to three years demonstrated experience managing or regularly contributing content to a branded / commercial social media account, blog, or website.

• Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a high level of discretion and professionalism.

• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of digital photography and video.

Preferred Qualifications

• One to three years of higher education experience managing college/university communication.

• Two years of supervisory experience.

• Experience managing paid ad campaigns.

• Demonstrated ability to create professional and engaging multimedia.

Key Responsibilities

1.Serve as a campus "reporter" and "news editor," discovering and communicating the stories of the College that will contribute to new student recruitment and retention, fundraising, and reputational enhancement.

• Learn and write about student-faculty, student-student and student-staff projects that are enhancing student learning and the overall student experience.

• Deploy stories and vignettes appropriately across all communication channels tailoring them for the likely audiences.

• Maximize examples of the impact of the current strategic plan on students, the community, Western North Carolina and beyond.

• Oversee and guide the work of students who will contribute photography, video and other content through a campus work crew.

2.Manage social media accounts and media contacts in ways that advance marketing goals.

• Work closely with leaders in Advancement and Enrollment to assist in the development and execution of external communications campaigns that support annual goals.

• Develop and execute promotion for high-profile events.

• Work with Marketing to collaboratively create, curate, and manage content, including images, video,and text.

• Maintain a basic Media Relations webpage for the College with resources that include boilerplates, fact sheets, images, etc.

3.Effectively plan, execute, and evaluate media campaigns.

• Maintain current knowledge of social media trends and platforms' best practices, policies, and processes.

• Develop and execute a social media strategic plan to effectively engage multiple audiences across the College's social media platforms.

• Set campaign goals, regularly evaluate success, and adjust tactics as needed.

• Maintain current knowledge of advertising strategies, processes, and effectiveness for College needs.

• Cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with regional and national media outlets and individual journalists to facilitate story placement and coverage.

4.Respond to media and public inquiries in ways that raise the profile of the institution.

• Moderate social media accounts and respond to comments and emails in a timely and accurate way.

• De-escalate social media controversies using best practice methods with the aim of seeking a resolution that creates the least possible damage to the College's brand and reputation.

• Respond to media and reporter inquiries rapidly, accurately, and in ways that minimize disinformation and negative coverage.

• Proactively involve College employees as necessary, and continuously look for opportunities to raise the profile of the institution.

5.Serve as a spokesperson for the College, and advise College employees on how to best handle social media and public relations opportunities.

• Remain calm, articulate, and professional even on short notice or while under pressure, including in front of television news cameras.

• Issue media alerts, assist in developing talking points, and orchestrate media at events.

• Work with the Emergency Response Team to lead external crisis communications.

• Advise and coach members of the College community, including senior administrators, in how to work with the media, as directed.

• Advise and coach College employees in the basics of effective social media account management, as directed.

6.Draft, edit and advise on internal communications.

• Assist in proofing and revising communications about important or controversial topics.

• Evaluate, recommend, and, where appropriate, maintain tools for internal communication.

• Make recommendations to strategically expand the scope of the College's internal communications efforts in ways that support the College's mission and strategic plan.

• Perform additional duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

Warren Wilson College is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.