Communication and Public Relations Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

The manager leads and is proactive in identifying compelling stories and messages for a variety of college constituencies. The manager takes projects from inception to completion and is one of the primary “storytellers” for the college. Duties include collaborating with others across campus on communications with internal and external constituents, serving as the college’s primary media liaison, and assists the president and senior leadership with messaging for public speaking engagements, media interviews, as needed. The manager of college communications is a steward of the Alma brand, working to maintain Alma’s graphic standards and the style guide to ensure consistency and clarity, and serves as the editor and primary content creator for the college’s magazine, The Tartan.

Supervision Received/Exercised:

This position reports to the Senior Director of Marketing.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

- Lead projects from ideation to completion with a sense of urgency, working primarily independently and also collaboratively to execute strategic communication initiatives
This role partners with the Senior Director of Marketing to:
- plan and implement communication goals and action plans aligned with the college’s strategic objectives
- define key messages that articulate the value of an Alma education
- collaborate with the marketing team to disseminate communications across the appropriate media mix to increase brand awareness and visibility
- Maintain media contact lists and positive relations with media, handle all media inquiries, serve as the college's primary spokesperson, monitor news coverage, and expand media placements to benefit Alma College
- Lead creation of multimedia content — including press releases, blogs, audio/video, social media, and email about faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors, and programs, developing story topics, gathering information, interviewing sources, and ensuring accuracy for publications and the college website
- Work collaboratively with senior leadership and the Advancement Office to develop themes, identify subjects, create content, and ensure timely publication of The Tartan, serving as the editor of the college magazine
- Communicate effectively with campus clients, external vendors, and departmental colleagues to determine goals, audience, content, and timelines, fostering positive relationships and maintaining high standards
- Lead collaborative projects, ensuring completion within established timelines and budgets, and oversees the online “Newsroom” and story sharing across the college website
- Advance the scope, quality, and dissemination of college communications by monitoring industry best practices and developing new initiatives and serving as a consultative resource for faculty and staff
- Manage crisis communication and serve as a primary administrator for the college’s crisis alert system
- Develop and refine executive communications, including speeches, remarks, talking points, and messaging for institutional initiatives and public-facing engagements
- Lead and coordinate internal messaging efforts, including campus Town Halls, institutional email communications, and management of the college events calendar, to support campus awareness and organizational transparency- Copy, edit, and proofread communications
- Help maintain the website for accessibility and optimized content performance
- Other duties as assignedREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor's degree in communication, media studies or a related field
- Demonstrated ability to take the lead, strategize, and execute communication initiatives independently and collaboratively
- Excellent written communication skills, with experience in storytelling and writing through a marketing lens
- Experience in building and maintaining strong media relationships
- Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and see them through to timely completion under deadlines
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, web processes and social media
- Experience in leading collaborative projects and bringing them to satisfactory and timely completion
- Excellent presentation skills, including development of appropriate resources
- Receptive to constructive criticism and willing to make revisions as necessary
- Able to work collaboratively and participate actively in meetings with office colleagues, faculty, students and staff across all disciplines
- Able to work evenings and weekends for major college events

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- At least three years of relevant professional experience
- Experience in communication and media relations in a higher education environment
- Able to identify messaging points appropriate for a broad audience and communicate them clearly
- Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, Pell-eligible, and diverse populations

Alma College is classified as a selective Baccalaureate College: Diverse Fields by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Alma is committed to academic excellence and the development of responsible leaders; our students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body.

Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.