Director of Communications and Events - Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

Job Description

Director of Communications and Events - Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY 

Job ID:                      29085 

Compensation:       $132,987 - $141,858 

Closing Date:          Open until filled 

CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION 

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, founded in 2006, has become nationally recognized for its innovative programs. The only public graduate journalism school in the northeastern U.S., it prepares students from diverse economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds to produce high-quality journalism.

As the profession continues to reinvent itself for the digital age, the Newmark J-School is at the forefront of equipping the next generation of journalists with the reporting, writing, interactive, technological, and entrepreneurial skills they need to find stories and tell them effectively. The school currently offers a Master of Arts in Journalism, a unique bilingual M.A. in Journalism for students fluent in English and Spanish, and the nation's first M.A. in Engagement Journalism.

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is seeking a strategic communications leader who will ensure all internal and external messaging serve the school’s mission, its strengths, and its goals, including the campaign to provide free tuition. The position reports to the Dean.

The ideal candidate will be a writer, editor, and content strategist who will outline, develop, and carry out their strategic vision for using effective communication and messaging strategies in line with the vision and mission of the school. The Director will be responsible for drafting announcements, newsletters, and press releases, as well as posting and engaging on social media. They will stay abreast of and promote campus activities; remain up to date on local, national, and global news; develop speeches, positions, and talking points for the Dean and other leadership; and build strong relationships with media outlets across New York and the nation. 

The Director will also work with leadership, faculty, and staff to develop and host public and private events at the school. These will range from book talks, film screenings, and panel discussions; to commencement, homecoming and awards ceremonies; to fundraisers, private receptions, and board meetings. All events will be geared at not just elevating the profile of the school but also ensuring the school serves as a hub of thought leadership in the industry.
 
A successful Director of Communications will be a creative problem-solver who exercises sound judgment and can respond professionally and efficiently to crises or challenging situations. They will have strong interpersonal skills and a good work ethic; will understand instinctively how successful fundraising thrives on and stems from effective communications; and will understand their role in the school’s community, mission, and overall goals. 

This position requires the incumbent to work in person.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Create a comprehensive strategic plan for using communications to promote the school’s activities and goals.
• Develop remarks, talking points, positions and policies, and communications strategies for leadership.
• Draft and edit news announcements, press releases, newsletters, and social posts across platforms.
• Help manage communications crises, including by making sound, discerning recommendations to leadership on complex or sensitive issues as they arise.
• Maintain and build professional relationships with media across New York and the U.S.
• Set up and track media interviews; set goals for increasing monthly numbers.
• Develop and promote strategic storytelling across multiple platforms and formats, related to events, programs, and school activities.
• Manage and monitor all school’s social media platforms and channels.
• Develop internal and external communications around events; help the Department streamline logistics; identify ways to increase engagement.
• Work with academic affairs and other staff to launch programming related to journalism and current events.
  - Work closely with Development team to host cultivation and stewardship donor events, including receptions, awards ceremony, and private gatherings.
• Coordinate with school staff, faculty, and leadership on internal communications.
• Perform other related duties as assigned 

Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree and eight years' related experience required.

A preferred candidate should have:

• Bachelor's Degree in marketing, public relations, journalism, or related field.
• Exceptional writing, editing, reporting and presentation skills (including ability to write in different styles and for various audiences).
• Knowledge of media relations, internal and external communications, and public relations, executive speechwriting, communications and messaging.
• Experience with crisis communications.
• Strong interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and problem solver.
• Strong organizational, time, and project management skills.
• Decisive and flexible; exercises solid judgment.
• Ability to easily build relationships with NYC and national media outlets.
• Active interest in local, national, and international news.
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for journalism and journalism education.
• Experience working on a capital or comprehensive campaign.
• Experience in higher education.
• Must be able to attend events in person, whether on weekdays, evenings, or weekends.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be offered for this position. 

CUNY Title Overview:

• Develops, implements, and oversees College-wide marketing plans to achieve institutional goals.
• Designs and executes a comprehensive strategic plan for marketing, advertising and communications
• Develops overall advertising and media strategies to achieve image, awareness, enrollment, recruiting, and/or fundraising goals
• Provide professional and managerial oversight of a broad range of marketing programs and tools, including digital, print, mail, broadcast, social networking, and other media
• Manages and develops internal staff and external resources
• Develops and analyzes key metrics of marketing effectiveness, as well as budgets and costs related to marketing programs and campaigns
• Performs related duties as assigned. 

Benefits:
CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development.  We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off.  Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world. 

How to Apply:
Go to http://cuny.jobs/ and search for Job ID 29085.
Click on "Apply Now" which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample as one file in Word or PDF format.

Equal Employment Opportunity:
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply.  At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups.  Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

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