Director of Content and Public Relations

About Curry College:

Founded in 1879, Curry College is a private, four-year, liberal arts-based institution in Milton Massachusetts. In addition to the main campus classes for adult learners are also offered at our campus at Cordage Park in historic Plymouth. Curry College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Curry College offers 22 undergraduate majors, over 60 minors and concentrations, as well as five graduate programs.

The Curry College mission is to educate and graduate students prepared to engage in successful careers and active citizenship with a global perspective. They are an inclusive community of diverse learners and educators, committed to continuing their legacy of developing effective communicators with reflective and critical thinking skills. They mentor and empower their students, building meaningful relationships that inspire them to achieve their ambitions.

Curry College provides rigorous and relevant academic programs to undergraduate and graduate students, and their rich blend of liberal arts and career-directed programs is enhanced by practical field experiences and co-curricular activities. Learning at Curry extends beyond the classroom and is embedded in all that they do.

Diversity and a culture of equity and inclusion among students, faculty and staff are crucial to the mission statement of Curry College.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, sex identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law, including Title IX.

Job Description:

Job Summary:

Under the supervision of the Vice President of Marketing and Communication, the Director of Content and Public Relations will provide key leadership, innovation and direction in creating and executing effective public relations and editorial strategies to generate awareness, create and distribute content, build relationships and influence action across a wide variety of Curry College's external and internal publics. The Dir. of Content and Public Relations is responsible for effectively leading an active newsroom and editorial function, as well as extensive volume of media relations matters, including but not limited to: liaising with members of the news media to facilitate positive external coverage of the College and its constituents, and to respond to crisis communication situations; engaging with faculty and staff to develop and promote thought leadership campaigns and highlight achievements to both internal and external audiences; and engaging with institutional leadership to manage issues and to advance Curry's academic and cultural identity consistent with the College's mission and brand.

Essential Functions:

1. News and Publications:

• Write and edit timely web stories, press releases and other content, including breaking news, college events, profiles, round ups, and community achievements; cover events and provide limited support photography when necessary;
• Write and edit a wide variety of other content as needed including marketing text, philanthropy-focused stories and articles, feature articles, remarks and speeches;
• Seek out informative, compelling stories about the College, its programs, students, faculty, alumni, events, and institutional initiatives;
• Maintain a bank of story and profile ideas and keep inventory to assure timeliness of published content;
• Oversee newsroom production and release schedule and ensure the College's websites, social media, and other digital marketing channels are up-to-date with news releases, articles, etc.; 
• Assign stories as appropriate and provide editorial oversight for all textual content;
• Capture event photography as necessary/appropriate for limited event news coverage;
• Collaborate with campus colleagues to generate content and disseminate news effectively across departmental communication channels;
• With the Vice President, oversee the production of and contribute content to Curry Magazine, including news and feature stories;
• Scan news and blogs for competitive and industry news and clips for story ideas;
• Evaluate e-newsletter process and frequency for designated constituencies and manage production and distribution;
• Serve as copyeditor and/or ghostwriter for senior administrators as necessary.

2. Media Relations:

• Develop external and internal media relations strategies and operations intended to serve institutional objectives in the areas of development, recruitment, and retention;
• Cultivate media relationships to build interest in and coverage for the College; Develop and maintain media contact lists; utilize media list building, distribution, and monitoring services and software;
• Discern appropriateness and pitch the media for news coverage, institutional profiles, faculty and administrator interviews, trend stories, participation in round-ups, issues response, etc.; 
• Track and pitch editorial calendar and editorial page opportunities; 
• Develop and maintain public relations protocol documents;
• Advise faculty and staff on when and how to respond to media queries or seek media placements, and how to prepare for interviews;
• Develop and implement media training program for employee's;
• Develop and maintain standard talking points for recurrent topics, and develop talking points for emerging matters in a timely and effective manner;
• Oversee the monitoring of media reports on the College, its students, faculty, and staff;
• Coordinate media access to campus and provide media management for special events;
• Serve as an official College spokesperson as assigned and field media inquiries.

3. Crisis and Emergency Communications:

• Participate in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive crisis communications plan for the College with the Emergency Preparedness Committee; continually evaluate, refine and make recommendations for adjustment to plan and in compliance with other related College policies, plans and procedures; manage, update, and maintain emergency communication documents and materials;
• Implement crisis/emergency communication tactics during times of crisis or emergency or school closings or class cancellations due to weather or other emerging situations;
• Provide emergency communications training for relevant staff;
• Participate as a member of the Emergency Response Group during times of potential crisis.

4. Strategic and Internal Communications and Issues Management:

• Collaborate with senior leadership and other department colleagues to develop and implement communications, which may be confidential in nature and/or involve controversial topics or issues, for designated constituent(s);
• Serve on Strategic Plan Committees and Work Teams as assigned;
• Serve as a standing member of the Bias Incident Response Team (BIRT) and assist BIRT in implementing communications per protocols if and as needed.

5. Departmental Team Leadership:

• Regularly meet with the Vice President for Marketing and Communication and other directors to contribute to departmental direction;
• Uphold and promote the department's mission and priorities within the department and the College community;
• Keep the Vice President for Marketing and Communication and other key campus stakeholders informed, and solicit appropriate input and/or approvals before acting on decision.

Additional Functions:

• Director of Content and Public Relations will attend major College events, serve on College committees as assigned, and participate in special projects under the supervision of the Vice President for Marketing and Communication;
• Supervise interns and work-study students (as available);
• Compile and analyze data and produces reports to the Vice President of Marketing and Communication;
• Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor or his/her designee.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations or other related;
• Five to seven years of experience in a professional public relations, journalism, or communications environment with progressive responsibilities and measurable results;
• Superior and demonstrated writing, editing and proofreading skills as well as the capacity to communication clearly and effectively in all written settings;
• Superior project management abilities with experience guiding an editorial process and managing a busy newsroom;
• A combination of experience across environments is desirable, with a minimum of three to five years of experience serving in a media relations role;
• Must be resourceful with a proven record of success in implementing proactive content generation/PR/media relations campaigns with business, higher education, trade and/or mainstream media;
• Must possess established media contacts;
• Exceptional public speaking and verbal communication skills to provide clear, concise and accurate information in response to questions or requests of a highly sensitive or routine nature;
• Experience with media distribution and monitoring software platforms;
• Experience with capturing photography and Photoshop (non-expert);
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as events, media, and public relations needs and opportunities;
• Occasional ability for local travel. A valid unrestricted Massachusetts driver's license is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in marketing, communications or related field;
• Experience in higher education communications and PRSA certification are a plus.

Additional Information:

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Curry College will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

At the College's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be excepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the College, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Employment in this position is contingent upon the successful completion of all required pre-employment background checks.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be directed to the College's Title IX Coordinator, Rachel King at Rachel.king@curry.edu, (617) 979-3516, or King Academic Administration Building, 55 Atherton St, or US Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights ("OCR") - Boston Office, 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-3921, (617) 289-0111.

Application Instructions:

Please apply online at https://www.curry.edu/about-us/community-resources/employment/job-opportunities for consideration. Interested applicants must submit the following:

• a cover letter;
• a resume; and
• a list of three professional references, one of which must be a former or current supervisor, including complete contact information and professional titles;
• a writing sample such as a news article, feature article, press release, profile or other relevant material related to the responsibilities of the role.