Director of Communications

Director of Communications

SUMMARY

This position will report to the VP for Marketing & Communications and will be responsible for directing CCAD's strategic communications strategy, including public relations and media relations as well as internal communications. The Director will work collaboratively with the Marketing & Communications team, and will directly supervise and give feedback to writers and editors (freelance and full-time). The Director will work collaboratively with academic and administrative partners to ensure that the college's messages and wins are shared in a thorough, timely, accurate, and interesting manner, all while aligning each message with CCAD's values and strategic goals. The best candidate is both a strategic thinker and an action-oriented professional who can help set goals for the communications team, implement tactics, manage timelines and workflow, and supervise a number of communication priorities. The employee will work in a hybrid work environment, splitting time between home and work.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to the following:

• Primary responsibility for the voice and written style guide for CCAD, annually working with CCAD's Art Director to update the college's brand resources and to conduct training for internal stakeholders as needed.

• Primary responsibility for CCAD's crisis communication plan. Develops messaging for CCAD in times of crisis and strategies for conveying that to target audiences while meeting tight deadlines.

• Uses project management tool and principles to ensure that all communications and department projects are outlined and met in a timely manner.

• Detects communications issues-and identifies and responds to trends-as they emerge and addresses them directly.

P.R.

• Manages and develops P.R. campaigns and budgets.

• Ensures the college promotes its image in a proper and consistent manner, working alongside CCAD's Director of Marketing and VP for Marketing and Communications.

• Under the direction of the VP for Marketing & Communications, directs CCAD's public relations strategy, creating annual communications plan, preparing media pitches, writing press releases, and writing/editing blog posts.

• Develops and maintains relationships with media, managing all outreach for print, online, and broadcast news coverage.

• Understands media trends, and develops ideas that may attract national attention and enhance CCAD's prestige.

• Develops PR plans and press events for high-profile events.

• Writes talking points for college officials for public speaking engagements and media interviews, and meets with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and administrators to coach and prepare for media interviews.

• Meets with reporters and key promotional and community partners twice a year to pitch stories and secure placements and support.

• Acts as a spokesperson on behalf of the institution, including for broadcast segments.

• Manages the tracking of media coverage and related goals through a reporting software.

• Provides monthly and quarterly media reports for the VP for Marketing & Communications and quarterly board meetings and develops communications strategies for sharing CCAD media coverage with key stakeholders.

Communications

• Develops communications plans for major stories and events. Maintains confidentiality for sensitive and high-visibility news and internal communications initiatives.

• Coordinates with colleagues across the college to ensure that CCAD's stories are being discovered and told in a thoughtful, timely, and accurate manner.

• Oversees internal communications plans for college initiatives and events, working closely with partners from across the college to support them as needed.

• Attend, participate, and support CCAD's Editor in leading weekly editorial meetings, ensuring that CCAD's stories-from alumni successes to PR wins-are shared appropriately via email, social media, blog, web calendar listings, press releases, print pieces, and other platforms.

• Ensures tasks are assigned to CCAD's Editor, other Marketing team members, and freelancers so that CCAD's stories are shared appropriately.

• Assists senior leaders with the creation of presentations, talking points, run of shows, op eds, and other executive communications pieces for the President's Office.

• Ensures copy for email, web, printed pieces, and presentations have been edited.

• Edits content for internal clients across the college to ensure consistent style and messaging.

• Oversees CCAD's Editorial Calendar, working with an internal committee from across the college and the VP for Marketing and Communications to plan and execute all high-level institutional stories.

• Works closely with CCAD's Art Director to plan and oversee key college publications, including its President Report and One Eight Six.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Manages and supervises CCAD's Edtior and a network of freelance writers and editors, providing both with writing and editing assignments.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Experience in higher education

• Experience using Asana

• Reliable and detail-oriented

• Demonstrated experience in decision making, direct communication, collaboration, problem-solving skills, timeliness, attention to detail

• Proven experience with strategic thinking, including developing and executing an idea or campaign from start to finish, including evaluation.

• Commitment to CCAD's Core Values of Respect, Positivity, Inspiration, and Accountability

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Position requires a BA/MA degree in Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations or related field, Minimum of five years of experience in communications, marketing, PR, or related field.

• Minimum of three years of management experience with supervisory responsibilities. (Five years preferred.)

• Proven experience in operating in high-stress situations while meeting tight deadlines.

• Has strong relationships with local, regional, and national reporters.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• The employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.

• The employee frequently is required to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.

• The employee is occasionally required to stand: walk: and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

• Occasional travel may be required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

COMPENSATION: This position is full-time, exempt. Compensation is commensurate on experience and qualifications. CCAD offers a benefits package including: vacation time, additional paid time off while the college is closed during winter break, sick time accrual, health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, 403B retirement contribution, tuition remission, campus parking, and free admission to the Columbus Museum of Art.

HOW TO APPLY: Visit www.ccad.applicantpro.com/jobs/ to submit your application. When asked to upload application materials, please submit a resume/CV and a cover letter. If you are applying from any website other than CCAD or Indeed, you will receive a follow up email 3 hours after your initial submission directing you to follow the link and complete your application. You must complete this two-step process, or your application will be considered INCOMPLETE.

CCAD Vaccination Requirement Notice

Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is committed to protecting our students, employees, and our communities from COVID-19. Toward that goal, and in consideration of guidance released by the state of Ohio, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a variety of public health authorities and professional organizations, CCAD is implementing a vaccination requirement policy for its students and employees.

All employees, including on-campus, hybrid, or fully remote status, are required to receive the Covid-19 vaccination as determined by CCAD and provide proof of their fully vaccinated status upon hire.

Reasonable Accommodation: Employees in need of an exemption from this policy requirement due to a medical reason, or because of a sincerely held religious belief must request a Request for Exemption form from Human Resources to begin the interactive accommodation process after an official offer of employment is accepted. Accommodations will be considered and/or granted where they do not cause CCAD undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

Please direct any questions regarding this notice to Human Resources at humanresources@ccad.edu.

*CCAD reserves the right to modify, supplement, revise, or rescind any part of this notice as it deems necessary or appropriate with notification.

About CCAD:

Columbus College of Art & Design teaches a diverse undergraduate and graduate student body in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, accredited, and nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States. CCAD offers 11 BFA programs in a variety of visual art and design disciplines, a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, and a Master of Professional Studies in Retail Design that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and commerce at the highest level. At the core of CCAD is The CCAD Way, one of Creative Collaboration, Intentional Inclusivity, and Proven Potential. Our Core Values of Respect, Positivity, Inspiration, and Accountability unite us. CCAD's Presidential Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion works to help CCAD grow with intention into a more inclusive and equitable institution. Learn more at ccad.edu.

About Columbus:

As the 14th largest city in the country and the largest and fastest-growing city in Ohio, Columbus is collaborative, open, and dynamic. Between incredible arts and entertainment, exciting collegiate and professional sports, and a spectacular downtown riverfront of sprawling greenspace, Columbus has something for everyone. Here, you'll find all the culture and amenities you'd expect in a major city, with the friendly and approachable attitude of the Midwest. Franklin County, where Columbus is located, is the epicenter of the state's political, economic, and social presence and is home to 1.3 million residents with a median age of 34. Columbus is a top city for equality and was the recipient of a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign in 2020. And central Ohio is serious about higher education: the Columbus region is home to 52 college and university campuses, with 22,000 annual college graduates. Because CCAD is closely tied to the city's numerous art and design spaces and ever-expanding districts, you'll have plenty of places to experience creativity and showcase your own.

EEO Statement:

As an educational and cultural institution, a culture of equity and inclusion is not an add-on at CCAD, rather it is central to how we define creative excellence and the health of our institution. CCAD believes that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence, and our student, faculty, staff, and trustee bodies should reflect the diverse world in which we live, with attention to race, ethnicity, religious creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and ability. At CCAD, we are determined to foster an environment of inclusion and equity. CCAD is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.

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