Director Of Communications & Public Relations

Overview

Touro University Nevada (TUN) is seeking an experienced Director of Communications and Public Relations to work under the direction and supervision of the Assistant Vice President of Administration. The Director is charged with overall leadership of the university's media and public relations, social media, and internal communication functions, as well as leadership of Touro's strategic communications content approach. The Director will understand deeply their role as the university's chief storyteller and the fluid responsibilities surrounding this vital role to the institution. Under the direction of the Assistant Vice President of Administration, the Director of Communications and Public Relations is expected to take on any/all tasks in the quest to learn all facets of the project.

Located in Henderson, Nevada, approximately twenty-five minutes from the notorious Las Vegas strip, Touro University Nevada is a non-profit medical, health sciences, and education graduate university focused on positively impacting our community in healthcare and education. Our values surrounding social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity are steadfast and are clearly visible in the actions of our students, faculty, staff, and graduates.

We invite you to apply to our position for consideration to join the ranks of our diverse, talented, and professional staff and faculty. Please visit the tun.touro.edu/administration/human-resources website where you can see a comprehensive listing of optional benefits and Human Resources contact information.

Responsibilities

Broad Responsibilities

Broad responsibilities include proactively elevating the university's academic profile and reputation on a local, state, and national level; consistently telling the university's story through a strategic and innovative approach that maximizes both human and capital resources; developing and executing an integrated, comprehensive university-wide communications strategy; integrating the communications planning efforts of deans and academic program directors; supporting and advancing a research-based approach to using key messages and identifying target audiences; leading crisis/emergency plans; serving as principal liaison with media; and identifying and supporting innovative and best practice methods for communicating with employees and other internal groups.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as the lead writer and content developer for the university. Responsible for researching and writing news releases and news stories to distribute to the news media. Responds to the needs of reporters who are looking for sources for stories. These range from administrative sources to faculty experts to comment on news stories and may include supervising a reporter/videographer in helping to manage schedules and video requests, researching stories, conducting interviews, writing stories and managing projects.

• Provide strategic communications recommendations to the administration and faculty. Consult with faculty and administrators on university activities and programs, including publicizing and promoting activities with high news value to the news media. Provide media training to faculty and key administrators.

• Develop a communications strategy and annual plan to include media relations, executive visibility, community relations and internal communications raising visibility and connecting key internal and external stakeholders in meaningful ways, advancing the university and increasing the value of the university's degree programs.

• Produce articles, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, slideshows, short films, livestream events, and other types of content for print and digital media.

• Collaborate with students, deans, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and donors to gather and develop storytelling assets and concepts.

• Provide content for, write, and direct the production of the monthly TUNews newsletter, Touro YOU donor magazine, the university's alumni/ae magazine, social media channels, employee recruitment flyers, and other identified communication pieces. Draft other institutional communications such as nominations for prestigious awards, policy announcements, press releases, and event invites.

• Create and direct messaging and campaigns across social media channels in liaison with outside PR agency, outside social media vendor, internal departments, and student workers.

• Coordinate between college/school/department/program and outside graphic designer, printer, bulk mailer, and/or various outside vendors necessary for completion of projects.

• Collaborate with university departments to manage and maintain the TUN photos library.

• Ensure that messages from senior management are properly reflected in communications to stakeholders.

• In collaboration with the Director of University Marketing and Advertising, direct university video projects in liaison with internal departments and outside vendors.

• Establish and track analytics for all communication platforms.

• Research, write, edit, and fact-check marketing collateral for print, email, social, and web.

• Given the nature of the 24/7 news and issues cycle, this role requires availability outside of traditional work hours.

• Provides guidance and mentorship to direct reports by ensuring the appropriateness and currency of job responsibilities, initiating, and hiring recruitment for temporary and continuing employees, providing, or directing the provision of training and development, evaluating performance, approving leaves of absence, and responding to personnel issues.

• Represents the University at key events.

• Acts as a spokesperson for the University as designated by the Assistant Vice President of Administration.

• Develops and maintains relevant policies, procedures, and editorial standards.

• Other duties as assigned and relevant to executing work within the general scope of the role.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has supervisory responsibilities. It supervises the following position(s) and external contracts:

• Social Media Specialist/university-contracted social media agency.

• Team of Federal Work Study students (FWS)

• External Public Relations Consultant(s)/Firm

• Professional Photographer(s)

Institutional And Cultural Commitments:

Demonstrated commitment to fostering a professional experience and team culture that feels fluid, calm, and harmonious using soft skills such as an enduring positive attitude, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. Demonstrated commitment to Touro University's values, including:

• Ethics: Personal accountability and professional ethics in all things we do. Demonstrated understanding of Touro policies and guidelines. Simultaneous focus on individual development and the greater good.

• Integrity: Teamwork to achieve departmental goals and fulfill the Touro mission, focused on the needs of our students. Robust communication and collaboration to include others and ensure continued learning. Contribution to a workplace environment that fosters growth, intellectual inquiry, and innovation.

• Respect: Treatment of all people with dignity, respect, and inclusion. Interactions with students, employees, partners, and members of the community that always conveys an attitude of helpfulness, client service with a focus on positive outcomes, and cheerfulness. Recognition that the little things are often the big things: being on time, giving your best effort, helping others, keeping promises. Being kind.

Qualifications

Education:

• Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Preference given to degrees in public relations, marketing, journalism, communications, or business.

• Five years of experience in communications or marketing communications roles or commensurate positions. Preference given to experience in a higher education setting.

• Proven ability to write persuasively. Preference given to candidates with experience in philanthropic writing.

• Proven track record of successfully executing social media campaigns and content.

• Ability to execute multiple projects simultaneously and produce high-quality deliverables on tight deadlines.

• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated success developing and implementing communications strategies in a university environment.

• Ability to communicate with a diverse group of individuals, internally and externally, particularly contractors, suppliers, peers, and senior management.

• Self-starter, proven track record of teamwork, innovation, and results.

Experience:

• Seven or more years of experience in communications or marketing communications roles. Preference given to experience in a higher education setting.

• Experience in medical and health care related disciplines.

Skills & Abilities:

• Teammate · Storyteller · Researcher

• Collegial · Detail-oriented · Motivator

• Adaptable · Resilient · Determined

• Humble · Creative thinker

• Mature interpersonal and relationship-building skills

• Heartfelt commitment to Touro's cause

• Having deep integrity, honesty, and the ability to maintain confidentiality

• Willing to persevere through adversity