Associate Director, Community Relations & Public Affairs #442798
- Employer
- Lamar University
- Location
- Beaumont, TX
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Communications & Marketing, Community & Government Relations
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
20112633
Position Title:Associate Director, Community Relations & Public Affairs #442798
FTE:1.00
Position Type:Staff
Department:Marketing & Communications
Job Summary/Basic Function:About This Role:
The Associate Director of Communications & Public Affairs will oversee media relations and news releases for Lamar University as well as assisting with traditional forms communications. This position will serve as the main communications contact with all media. This position will also serve as the community relations liaison and representative. The position is within the university’s Marketing Communications team, reporting to the Director of Marketing Communications.
What You’ll Do – Position Duties
As a member of our team, you will have an impact on our clients through accomplishment of the following responsibilities:
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with media on a local, state, and national level.
- Support marketing initiatives across campus and our community.
- Work with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to build newsworthy content.
- Arrange interviews, appearances, and press conferences among other events.
- Ensure brand consistency in all efforts.
- Organize and coordinate all campus announcements.
- Write strong news releases and other writing as needed.
- Track media coverage through Critical Mention and other dashboards.
- Report and quantify all external news involving the university.
- Assist with strategizing crisis communication instances.
- Coordinate speaking roles for the university to the public.
- Mines stories on an ongoing basis, leveraging profiles, events, and angles to support broader university messages that adhere to style and branding guidelines.
- Works with marketing and communications team members or vendors to develop photography, video, including conducting interviews with sources on camera, and infographics to accompany stories as appropriate.
- Work in partnership with the creative services and web communications teams to ensure consistency across all platforms (website, social media, media releases, etc.)
- Develop and maintain communications to the community and community organizations by using a variety of marketing channels. This includes writing stories for media, using social media to repurpose messaging, and developing a community database to share more extensive information and materials.
- Research, develop, and implement Community Relations plans and policies to enhance programs and events designed to strengthen community relationships and increase awareness of Lamar University.
- Serve as a liaison to campus partners for projects, committees or programs with community engagement components as needed.
- Working with partners across campus, guide community relations for the university bringing necessary coordination to existing and new partnerships.
- Serve as a representative for the university at community meetings, events, forums, local business groups, civic organizations, agencies, and neighbors.
- Identify needs and opportunities for outreach within the Southeast Texas community and non-profit organizations in support of the university’s mission.
- Manage and evaluate the Communications Specialist.
Who We Are:
Lamar University is a diverse and accessible global university for life-long learners with a passion for broad-based community engagement. As a vital contributor to the socioeconomic wellbeing and resilience of the Gulf Coast region, our expertise is recognized locally and beyond. Lamar University is home to more than 17,000 students and is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 100 degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals.
Lamar University is committed to fostering a culture of diversity where students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds can learn, work, and serve.
Benefits – Job Perks:
At Lamar University one of the ways we show value to our team members is by offering the following perks:
Our Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Health, dental & vision insurance
- Life insurance
- State of Texas Retirement plans
- Tuition covered at 100% for employees, spouses and/or eligible dependent.
- Paid time off – vacation, sick, and holidays.
What You’ll Need to Succeed – Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public relations, Communications, Journalism, or relevant field
- 5+ years of experience of direct involvement working with news media.
- 5+ years of writing for various mediums, including but not limited to web, news releases and articles.
Lamar University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Veteran's Preference Statement:Lamar University is proud to provide employment preference to veteran applicants in accordance with Texas 805 Government Code, Section 657.003.
Security Sensitive Statement:This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information.
Salary:$53,581 - $61,800
Posting Date:03/20/2023
Open Until Filled:Yes
Organization
Texas Roots. Infinite Possibilities.
Lamar University students enjoy small classes where they can build lasting friendships with professors and peers. The 270-acre campus is in Beaumont, Texas, located about 90 miles east of Houston and 25 miles west of the Louisiana border. A comprehensive public university, Lamar gives students a chance to explore a variety of interests to prepare them to succeed in whatever fields they choose.
Academics
A member of the Texas State University System, Lamar University offers 63 undergraduate, 47 master's and nine doctoral degree programs. The university has more than 13,000 students enrolled in five academic colleges - Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development, Engineering, Fine Arts and Communication. Lamar also offers the College of Graduate Studies and academic programs such as the Center for General Studies.
Students have access to numerous opportunities for scholarships, undergraduate research and study abroad programs. Lamar University students have:
- Performed research for NASA and flown experiments on NASA reduced-gravity flights.
- Presented original research at academic conferences as undergraduates in fields including mathematics, business and sociology.
- Enjoyed a 73 percent acceptance rate to medical and dental schools in recent years, compared to a 39 percent acceptance rate statewide.
- Gone on to lead major companies and make a name for themselves in fields from art and music to nursing and engineering.
Athletics
Students can participate in or cheer on their peers in more than a dozen NCAA Division I sports. Last year, the Cardinals were Southland Conference champions in men's golf, cross country and women's tennis. The volleyball and men's basketball teams were regular season co-champs and the women's basketball team was Southland Conference East Division champion. The LU baseball program has produced several major leaguers. The women's soccer program is entering its second season. The golf team has topped national rankings in recent years.
LU is beginning to rebuild a football program. A coach was hired in 2008. The stadium and athletic complex are being renovated, and the Cardinals plan to return to the gridiron in 2010.
Campus Life
A building boom at Lamar University in the past decade has given students access to state-of-the art facilities for learning, playing, dining and living.
Residents of Cardinal Village, the modern residence halls, have private bedrooms, high-speed Internet and amenities including an outdoor pool, basketball courts and community centers. The new dining hall offers a bistro ambience with international and American cuisine.
Working out in the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center is like a trip to an exclusive gym where students have an automatic membership. Features include a 43-foot climbing wall, an elevated jogging track, new cardiovascular and weighttraining equipment, and courts for sports such as basketball, racquetball and indoor soccer. Competitive types can participate in intramural sports ranging from basketball and flag football to dodgeball, cricket and pool.
Making friends and building a social network is easy at Lamar with more than 100 clubs and organizations registered on campus. Through campus organizations, students can:
- Join a fraternity or sorority
- Get involved in community service
- Delve into a cause
- Nurture spiritual beliefs
- Start networking in future professions
- Do all of the above.
LU is a short drive from many outdoor adventures: a day at the beach, canoeing or fishing on area rivers and bayous, hiking in the Big Thicket National Preserve. Shopping and entertainment options also are nearby including theaters, museums and live music venues large and small.
History
Lamar University was founded in 1923 as South Park Junior College a few blocks from the current location. The name changed to Lamar College in 1932 to honor Mirabeau B. Lamar, second president of the Republic of Texas and the "Father of Education" in Texas. In 1951, the school became Lamar State College of Technology, a state-supported four-year institution, the first junior college in Texas to make such a transition. The name changed to Lamar University in 1971. The university joined the Texas State University System in 1995.
Visit/Apply
Visit campus to learn more about all Lamar University has to offer. Guided campus tours normally are scheduled at 10 a.m. or 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To arrange a campus visit, call (409) 880-8316 or e-mail recruitment@lamar.edu
To apply for admission, financial aid and scholarships, go to http://lamar.edu/admissions
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