Director of Communications at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Maryland

Job Description:

Requisition Number:

AS800P

Director of Communications

$102,000 - $110,000 annually

Administrative

Global Ends Policy Statement of Desired Outcomes


Frederick Community College exists to provide all Frederick County residents and others who choose to enroll at the College, with the education, workforce preparation, skills, abilities, and personal growth necessary to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world, at a cost that demonstrates the prudent use of the College's available resources.



Position Summary:


The Director of Communications (DOC), responsible to the Office of the President, is a creative, innovative, experienced communications professional comfortable in a dynamic environment to develop and execute comprehensive, research-driven communications strategies while cultivating responsive relationships. The goal is to foster College-wide collaboration using an integrated communications strategy that promotes the desired outcomes of the College's Global Ends Policy Statement.


The DOC supports the President's Office with executive communications, media relations, presentation and visual media development, event forums and ceremonies, a cadence and quality control of communication materials to internal and external audiences, and proactively leading FCC's message development and narration to demonstrate impact to all stakeholders. This encompasses institutional public relations activities as well. Working closely with the President and senior leadership, the DOC will plan and execute communication campaigns focused on achieving specific organizational goals through clarity in messaging as it relates to College initiatives, employee/student/alumni accomplishments, changes that influence the student and employee experience and crisis and issues management. In collaboration with the Office of the President and Marketing team colleagues, the DOC will leverage cross-functional skills across a variety of platforms (including intranet/digital/print/social media), engaging the College's operational divisions and cultivating relationships to create compelling content that tells the stories of experiences and success unique to the FCC community.


Elevating the importance of strategic communication at the College, this role will lead in the development of College-wide communications policies/procedures, critical communications involving College-wide alerts/emergency/weather/closure messaging, and other initiatives and resources as merited. The DOC also serves as the College Public Information Officer (PIO) and handles all Public Information Act requests and public affairs duties as the liaison between the College and regional public information officers, the media, governmental and elected officials and the public in general. This is the right place and time for the right person!



Essential Duties and Responsibilities:


The duties below are representative of the duties of the classification and are not intended to cover all the duties performed by the incumbent in this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the scope of work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this classification.



Institutional Commitments:

1. Develop, implement and continually evaluate an aggressive and comprehensive strategic communication strategy. This strategy will include a College-wide, systematic, comprehensive, research-based plan driven by desired institutional outcomes. Provide leadership in achieving specific organizational goals, indicative of a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and social justice.


2. Serve as the FCC contact for all aspects of public relations operations, including but not limited to creating press releases, managing media inquiries and correspondence and a practice of professional protocol and publication timeliness. Serve as college spokesperson as directed and provide media interview preparation for other College leaders as necessary.


3. Serve as the College's Public Information Officer (PIO) and liaison to the regional public information officers' group and other key community coalitions; process Public Information Act requests in accordance with legal guidelines; lead in plan creation and coordination with the President and campus leaders in a College emergency or crisis response.


4. Work collaboratively with all employees involved with any institutional communications and serve on all College committees related to institutional communications.


5. Anticipate College-wide needs and engage in an analytical, data-driven approach to problem solving and decision-making support where consistency in message is required.

1. Prepare regular communications for the President, including, but not limited to speeches, talking points, briefings, correspondences (internal and external), College-wide messages, video scripts and social media posts. Support speechwriting/talking points for the Chair of the Board of Trustees as necessary.


2. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with media members, internal and external stakeholders and partners as organizational goals merit.


3. In coordination with Marketing team colleagues, manage content creation and edits to the Office of the President's web pages and social media. As required, support major College events such as convocations, regional/state site visits, conferences, ceremonies, employee and student town halls and special events.


4. Serve as a legislative liaison/government relations support as necessary, for the President.


5. A commitment to policy governance operations and facilitation of the institutional communications necessary with internal and external stakeholders.


6. Manage the DOC budget. Operationalize budget practices and procedures that meet administrative obligations and maintain a balanced budget.


7. Other duties as assigned by the President and/or Chief of Staff to the President.

1. Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution OR combination of education and related professional experience2. Minimum of six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience at the leadership level, to include experience in functional areas such as communications, public relations, crisis communication, media relations, public information, and/or related professional experiences3. Advanced and refined written and verbal communications skills4. A proven track record of developing and executing communications plans successfully5. Refined skill in media relations, including work across a variety of media platforms 6. Ability to develop positive and effective working relationships with such groups as the President, the Board of Trustees, College leadership teams and other employees, students, the media and community representatives7. Demonstrated skill in sensitive, respectful, and effective communications with people who are diverse in their cultures, language groups and abilities.8. Skills which demonstrate a leadership style that is responsive, accessible, creative, collaborative, productive, outcome-oriented, and committed to collegial relations9. Unquestionable integrity, vision, flexibility, and sense of humor10. Demonstrated skill at successful goal completion in a time sensitive, fast-paced, results-driven environment

1. Master's degree from an accredited institution, in a related field2. Ability to converse in another language other than English (Spanish preferred)3. Experience with developing and managing integrated communications campaigns, drawing from multiple disciplines including media relations, government relations, advertising, and public opinion research4. A persuasive communicator, skilled in the ability to craft inspiring and persuasive messages to internal and external stakeholders5. Demonstrated proficiency with planning, scheduling, executing, and managing major projects and organization/campus-wide initiatives, simultaneously if required6. Strong strategic thinker with understanding of how larger economic and public policy landscapes impact communications abilities and needs to target audiences7. Can quickly understand and distill complex issues

8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday


Some occasional evenings, weekends, and on-call work required

Full Time

Yes

Yes

10/21/2024

Yes

11/04/2024

All applications and required documents must be submitted online. Mail, e-mail, or fax submissions will not be accepted. Cover letters may be addressed to the Search Committee and should briefly address your qualifications as related to the requirements of this position.



For best consideration, applications should be received by November 4, 2024. Review of applications after this date is not guaranteed.



A full list of FCC benefits can be found here:
https://benefitguides.psafinancial.com/view/563817862/




FCC offers a generous benefits package which includes medical insurance, dental and vision plans, waiver of FCC tuition for employee and eligible dependents, tuition reimbursement, generous leave benefits, retirement plans, and more! Frederick Community College prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its activities, admissions, educational programs, and employment. Frederick Community College, an equal opportunity employer, values campus diversity in students and staff and encourages members from historically under-represented groups to apply.

Frederick Community College is committed to the principles of equal opportunity and strictly prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status in its activities, admissions, educational programs, and employment.