Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

St. Lawrence University seeks an Assistant Director of Strategic Communications. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing, the Assistant Director will be one of St. Lawrence’s lead creative storytellers responsible for advancing the national visibility of the University in the marketplace. The position will be responsible for developing compelling and motivating written and photo content. The person will also implement news and content strategies with a priority on enhancing institutional reputation.

 

 

 

Duties/Responsibilities:

 

Research, write, photograph and edit interesting and inclusive content that strengthens St. Lawrence’s brand messages and aligns the University’s personality with what prospective students and families need to know about St. Lawrence

 

Maintain the University’s events calendar and send public notices to local and regional media

 

Assist with curating content from across campus for regular distribution to internal and external audiences

 

Assist with proactive strategic media relations and earned media placements

 

Design and execute an institutional strategy for sharing student accomplishments with their hometown newspapers and websites

 

Serve as the department’s primary liaison for Athletics and Recreation, as well as several other University departments, to ensure stories about faculty, staff, students, and alumni from all academic and co-curricular programs are being considered and shared

 

Helps to maintain and operationalizes the University Crisis Communications Plan as part of the broader Emergency Preparedness Plan and serves as part of the crisis communications team

 

Occasionally serves as University spokesperson when needed

 

Collaborate with Communications colleagues and campus partners to take projects from concept to completion on time

 

Assist the Marketing and Content Strategy team with social media content creation and monitoring as needed

 

Assist the Marketing and Content Strategy team with external marketing campaigns that align with divisional goals and objectives as needed

 

Perform other duties as assigned

 

 

 

Minimum Qualifications:

 

Bachelor’s degree

 

1-3 years of related work experience

 

Excellent writing, grammar, and editing skills, including experience with and knowledge of feature writing, writing for marketing purposes and writing for print and/or digital mediums

 

Proven skills in creativity, analysis, and problem solving, and the ability to evaluate, synthesize, and incorporate ideas and feedback from multiple stakeholders; ability to synthesize complex ideas and concepts into compelling writing

 

Ability to work independently as well as within a team to meet deadlines

 

Possess the cross-cultural abilities to build relationships and work effectively with diverse groups of students, colleagues, and community members

 

 

 

Preferred Qualifications:

 

A bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in English, communications, journalism, marketing, history, or other writing-intensive field

 

Experience in multimedia asset creation and editing that includes photo and video as demonstrated in a digital portfolio. Experience with DSLR camera equipment a plus but not required

 

Familiarity with higher education or a nonprofit setting

 

 

 

Interested applicants must apply online at https://employment.stlawu.edu/postings/3127, uploading all required materials which are defined in the “special instructions to applicant” section.  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position may be directed to Kim Asch, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing, at kasch@stlawu.edu.

 

 

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon the finalist successfully passing a background (including criminal records) check.

 

 

 

St. Lawrence University policy requires all employees and students to be up to date with available vaccinations against Covid-19 including, as applicable, a booster shot. Individuals may apply for a medical or religious exemption from this policy.

 

 

 

Located at 23 Romoda Drive, Canton, NY, St. Lawrence University is a coeducational, private, independent liberal arts institution of about 2,400 students from more than 40 states and 40 nations. The educational opportunities at St. Lawrence inspire students and prepare them to be critical and creative thinkers, to find a compass for their lives and careers, and to pursue knowledge and understanding for the benefit of themselves, humanity and the planet. Through its focus on active engagement with ideas in and beyond the classroom, a St. Lawrence education leads students to make connections that transform lives and communities, from the local to the global.

 

 

 

The University is committed to and seeks diversity among its faculty, staff and students. Such a commitment ensures an atmosphere that is diverse and complex in ways that are intellectually and socially enriching for the entire campus community. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups, as well as from individuals with experience teaching or working in a multicultural environment, are encouraged. St. Lawrence University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

 

 

For additional information about St. Lawrence, please visit http://www.stlawu.edu.