Director, Communications

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive media and public relations strategies to elevate the university’s reputation and visibility.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national news media outlets.
• Serve as the chief storyteller, identifying and curating campus stories for print, digital, and social media platforms.
• Act as executive editor for the university magazine, Voice.
• Lead the university’s social media efforts, including content development and calendar management.
• Develop strategic communication plans for both internal stakeholders (faculty, staff, students) and external audiences (prospective students).
• Provide expert counsel and communication support to the President and executive cabinet.
• Assist in the implementation of university crisis communications plans and serve as a Public Information Officer when required.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• 7 years of organizational leadership experience in media or public relations.
• 7 years of experience managing through influence in complex, deadline-driven environments.
• 5 years of experience in strategic decision-making and multi-channel communications planning.
• 3 years of experience in staff management and 3 years of experience in print publication production.
• Strong media relations, crisis communications, and issues management skills.
• Superior writing and copy editing skills for diverse audiences and formats.
• Basic knowledge of CRM (Slate) to support campaign strategy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a higher education environment.
• Expertise in content marketing.
• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) certification.
• Graduate degree in journalism, communications, or a related field.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and wellness plan.
• Tuition remission program for employees, spouses, and dependent children.
• Generous contribution to the University’s 403B retirement plan.
• Generous time off plan.

About the Company

Established in 1891, the University of La Verne is a diverse and inclusive community committed to ethical reasoning, lifelong learning, and civic engagement. Recognized for excellence in education and social mobility, the university serves a global community of over 89,000 alumni.