Communication Manager

About Oakton Community College :

For 50 years, Oakton Community College has been the setting where thousands begin or continue their college or career studies. Educating people of all ages, from all walks of life and from more than 40 nations, Oakton focuses on improving the quality of life for everyone who enters its doors.

We offer:

Continuing education
Great benefits
Paid winter break
FRIDAYS OFF during the summer


Job Description:

Basic Function and Responsibility:

Under general supervision from the Director of Communication and External Relations, develop, support, and implement internal and external communication strategies, including for crisis communications and confidential/sensitive matters, to improve the student and employee experience and enhance the College's reputation as a leading higher education institution and community resource.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist and provide input to the Director of Communication and External Relations to support development, refinement and implementation of internal and external communication strategy.
  
• Assist in creating and implementing internal and external communication strategies for crisis communications, including confidential and sensitive matters related to College operations and labor relations, to preserve or enhance the College's reputation. Exercise extreme discretion and professional judgement while providing support and counsel to members of the College's leadership, colleagues and students.
  
• In the absence of the Director of Communication and External Relations, serve as the College spokesperson and point person for media relations ? including for crisis communications and matters involving confidential and sensitive information related to College operations and labor relations.
  
• Serve as a member of the College's Emergency Communication team, collaborating to share emergency communications (i.e., campus closures) on appropriate channels as needed.
  
• Develop and maintain relationships with College faculty, staff, students and external stakeholders to proactively develop stories highlighting student, employee and institutional success, high profile events of public interest, college initiatives and other items of interest to the media and public. Vet and ensure accuracy of content, and recommend appropriate channels and strategies through which to share content.
  
• Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional and national media, including specialized media outlets focusing on higher education. Maintain accurate, up-to-date media lists for print, radio, television, on-line and non-traditional (blogs/podcasts) media outlets.
  
• Develop and maintain a calendar of recurring college events and media coverage opportunities to help guide/organize the College's communications strategy.
  
• Proactively pitch media members to earn positive news coverage. Follow up as needed to confirm media interest.
  
• Respond to media requests by obtaining and providing necessary information and resources in a timely manner.
  
• Coordinate media interviews with students, faculty, staff and external stakeholders. Provide media training to subject matter experts as needed to ensure preparedness, including by sharing interview best practices and facilitating mock interviews.
  
• Assist with planning and execution of press conferences and events of interest to media members.
  
• Use media monitoring tools to build media lists, track and analyze coverage, and generate coverage reports to share with administration, Board of Trustees and other stakeholders.
  
• Develop and distribute accurate and compelling communication content for internal and external publications, including press releases, op-eds and editorials, external newsletters, social media content and other channels as needed.
  
• Refine and implement content strategy the for weekly employee e-newsletter "Oakton Matters." Manage and vet employee requests for content inclusion to ensure accuracy of information and alignment with overall standards and guidelines. Curate content to ensure key messages are communicated clearly to the intended audience.
  
• Work collaboratively with departmental and interdepartmental colleagues to maintain and update the Press Room Page and other pages of Oakton's website.
  
• Collaborate with the Director of Communications and External Relations and other college stakeholders to develop content for internal and external facing events, including script/speechwriting and development of multi-media, visual materials.
  
• Collaborate with management, including the Board's collective bargaining teams, to strategize and develop internal and external communications related to collective bargaining negotiations and labor relations.
  
• Represent the College at internal and external functions as needed.
  
• Perform other job related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Working Conditions:

• A bachelor's degree in journalism, English, communications, marketing or related field required; or an equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired.
  
• Three years of professional and/or equivalent experience in a journalism (print, online, broadcast) or media relations/communication role is required.
  
• Ability to effectively communicate in print, electronically, in person, and on the phone with media members, and internal and external college stakeholders to enhance the College's public image.
  
• Must possess high-level writing and proofreading skills. Working knowledge of AP style required.
  
• Must be an inventive, strategic, organized, collaborative, team player and be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously. Must possess critical thinking skills and an ability to work under minimal supervision.
  
• Experience with the Microsoft Office suite of programs (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) and Google Suites (calendaring, email, Docs, and Drive) preferred.
  
• Higher Education experience, or experience working in a large organization consisting of multiple departments preferred.
  
• Familiarity with the Chicago media market and established relationships with working journalists preferred.
  
• Experience using media monitoring tools such as Cision, Meltwater etc., to develop media lists and track coverage a plus.
  
• Experience using email marketing software such as Constant Contact to develop communications and build lists a plus.
  
• Experience creating social media content for multiple channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter) and knowledge of social media best practices preferred.
  
• Experience creating web content and knowledge of SEO best practices preferred.
  
• Experience creating multi-media content (photo, video, editing) preferred.
  
• General office environment, little or no exposure to adverse working conditions.
  
• May be asked to work occasional evenings and weekends to support College initiatives on campus or at other locations.

Additional Information:

Supervision Received:

General supervision from the Director of Communications and External Relations.

Supervision Exercised:

Manage and provide supervision to freelancers, vendors and student employees.

HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:15 am - 5:00 pm

SALARY: $59,433

Based on the needs of the college and with Administrator approval, some positions at the college may have remote or hybrid schedule options available. Please note, that during the 65 working day probationary period, employees are required to report to campus.


Application Instructions:

For further details, visit our website at www.oakton.edu and select the Employment link to view Employment Opportunities.

Please be sure to have a current resume, cover letter, and list of, at least, three (3) professional references with contact information prepared to submit with your application. One (1) of the references must be your most recent, direct supervisor.

Oakton Community College is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution, committed to employing competent, qualified individuals. Oakton Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, socioeconomic status, sex or gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation in admission to and participation in its educational programs, college activities and services, or in its employment practices.

Oakton requires all employees to adhere to a Vaccination /Testing Mandate

Posted positions may be removed from the Oakton website without notice when it is determined that no additional applicants are required.

URL: www.oakton.edu