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Executive Director, External Relations, USAHS

Employer
University of St. Augustine
Location
California, United States
Salary
Not specified
Date posted
Jan 10, 2018
Laureate Education's University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) seeks an Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations. The Executive Director will be a member of Laureate's External Relations and Public Policy (ER&PP) group, and will have a matrixed, collaborative leadership role at USAHS. Role of The Executive Director of External Relations for the University of St. Augustine ​The Executive Director is responsible for: * Building integrated communications, public and media relations strategies based on USAHS's business model, goals, objectives, and target markets; * Collaborating with marketing to develop communications and public relations initiatives that align with marketing goals/strategy of the institution; * Establishing and maintaining a strong, collaborative, and coordinated relationship with cross-functional business partners and team members throughout USAHS, and using those relationships to create and lead communications strategies that establish and raise brand awareness of USAHS; * Establish ongoing external relationships for reputation-building purposes, and with media and reporters in communications outlets that are relevant to USAHSs businesses; * Leading communications that build and protect the reputation of USAHS and that reinforce that our students are always at the center of everything we do; * Creating and executing strategies that reflect and promote USAHS's thought leadership in higher education; * Ensuring the strategy, content, and delivery of USAHS communications considers multiple potential audiences; * Leading and managing communication team members who are accountable for the day-to-day communications activities at USAHS institutional level. The Executive Director of External Relations for USAHS will collaborate with marketing and other colleagues at USAHS campuses to build organizational brand and reputation, with particular emphasis on the following. Public and Media Relations * Establish and implement proactive and reactive media outreach in support of USAHS institutional priorities and ensure that PR/media relations priorities and messaging are aligned with/support marketing and business objectives and plans. This includes leading development of communications strategies; initiatives and integrated content that support program launches; thought leadership opportunities, innovation, diversification of programs or activities to gain awareness of our institutions; reputation, faculty and alumni; and public and media relations activities/events in key markets aligned with USAHS. * Lead thought leadership initiatives to enhance industry and local reputation of USAHS, faculty and alumni. * Lead community engagement efforts to build relationships where USAHS campuses are located and to protect reputation with local community/leaders. * Manage activities of USAHS external public relations agencies and/or consultants; * Collaborate with USAHS leadership and marketing business partners to develop compelling and effective communications strategies and messaging for external and internal audiences in support of USAHS's institutions priorities and interests; ensure that these messages are consistently presented across relevant internal and external communication platforms, including faculty/staff, students, regulators, and the public. Crisis/Issue Management: * Collaborate with USAHS and ER&PP leadership teams on external communications to mitigate the impact of a crisis; * Develop, manage and lead creation of targeted messaging and talking points with speed and efficiency. * Manage crisis communications process and protocol, suggesting improvements and revisions as necessary. Internal Communications: * Manage internal communications in collaboration with USAHS business partners, including newsletters, organizational announcements, emergency communications, etc. * Develop messaging, policy positioning, thought leadership pieces and speeches for the CEO and President of USAHS, as well as for prominent faculty members. Communications Compliance and Quality: * Build and protect USAHS's reputation for keeping students at the center of everything we do; * Ensure USAHS communications align with Laureate's mission, regulatory and legal parameters and are sensitive to higher education as a regulated industry; * Provide communications leadership and counsel upon request from throughout the USAHS organization. Informed Business Decision Making * Work with USAHS marketing and business partners to ensure clear understanding of program elements such as admissions requirements, course curriculum, program outcomes, and professional accreditations. * Measure, report and analyze all USAHS communications activity, and use data/results to quantify expected ROI and track performance. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel domestically a requirement of the position. POSITIONS SUPERVISED: Manager- and Director-level professionals in external communications, including public and media relations, as well as any external PR agencies. Education: * Bachelor's degree required, graduate-level education desirable Experience: * Minimum 8 years communications (public relations, media relations, generalist in external communications) experience required * Outstanding writing skills are a prerequisite for this position, as is the ability to tailor communication style to reflect the voices of the organization for different communications and audiences. * Experience managing communications in a crisis required * Ability to write, and apply strategic and issues management skills with speed and efficiency * Must have experience developing and managing a budget that aligns with key priorities, and understanding of the financial implications of public relations and media relations programs * Outstanding writing skills are a prerequisite for this position, as is the ability to tailor communication style to reflect the voices of the organization for different communications * Multi-lingual skills and/or experience managing communications in an international organization a plus * Ability to maintain in-depth understanding of the USAHS and Laureate's plans and strategies in the higher education market place. * Ability to multi-task, triage, prioritize and manage a number of project requests and initiatives

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