This position is open until filled, Please, attach a current Resume/CV and a Cover Letter. Resume/CV and Cover Letter can either be attached as a .docx or.pdf or listed in the space provided in the application. If documents are attached, just list "see attachment" in the space provided in the application. For assistance, please email cwchr@cwc.edu or call 307-855-2112.

Position Summary

The Director of Marketing and Public Relations is charged with planning, development of all of the organization’s marketing strategies, marketing communication, and public relations activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as media relations coordinator, providing appropriate response to media requests and to ensure media interest in the college. Represent the college at state and regional PR/marketing meetings.

• Provide strategic direction for the college’s comprehensive marketing, communication and public relations program to enhance the college’s image and position within the marketplace and the general public, and facilitate internal and external communication.

• Advance the position of the college and its departments, and programs by providing executive management for all college external marketing, communication and public relations activities, including publications and social media.

• Plan, develop, direct and administer the college’s marketing activities through an integrated approach of marketing and recruitment including internal and external communication, media relations, media buying, public information, publications, community relations, website production, brand management and educational partnerships and partnership expansion.

• Work collaboratively with the college leadership in the development and implementation of comprehensive, strategic communication and marketing plans.

• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director of the Foundation to strategically plan and develop marketing materials for donor development and communication, alumni relations and communication, event marketing, developing capital campaign materials when needed, and collaborating with outside marketing firms as needed.

• Serve as the President and Cabinet’s Public Relations advisor, working with college legal counsel when necessary, on issues of public concern, or where the college’s reputation may be at issue. Provide support for the President in presentations, newsletters and communication when requested.

• Support the college’s strategic plan, manage its reputation, and monitor and advise college leadership on public relations issues most likely to affect the college’s future.

• Collaborate with college personnel and with external agencies, professionals, or businesses in the development of marketing concepts, advertising campaigns, or publication copy and designs. Approve all design and copy of collateral material.

• Provide strategic crisis communication counsel to the college’s leadership and Emergency Response Team, to convey the viewpoints of primary publics, and participate in the formulation of policies affecting those publics. Maintain a crisis communication plan to address emerging critical public relations issues in a timely manner.

• Serve as the primary contact and disseminator of crisis communication messages to the campus community and CWC stakeholders. Maintain required annual training for Public Information Officers as encouraged by FEMA and the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC).

• Serve as the Public Information Officer for the CWC Campus, register with the State of Wyoming, directing the campus process of responding to all public information requests as required by state statute within 7 business days.

• Develop and manage annual budgets for marketing, public and media relations and communication.

• Involve internal constituencies across the institution in delivering the key messages of the college and develop strategies to communicate with internal audiences.

• Develop an institutional brand identity. Oversee the use of the college name and brand and develop policies and standards to build brand equity and enhance the image of the institution. Design, coordinate and evaluate the effectiveness of college-wide marketing programs and projects.

• Ensure the college regularly conducts relevant market research and coordinate and oversee the activity. Monitor trends.

• Oversee the college’s social and digital media communications strategies and its public relations strategies.

• Provide leadership, management and supervision for the Marketing and Public Relations Office, including responsibilities relating to project assignments and deadlines and personnel administration.

• Collaborate with the AVP for Academic Services and other internal stakeholders to: strengthen communications in support of key institutional priorities such as increasing student completion and retention; and to enhance recruitment, expand partnerships and increase certificate/degree enrollments by implementation integrated marketing and communication strategies.

• Coordinate, prepare, and distribute news releases and public service announcements.

• Participates in local, state or regional activities to promote the college.

• Operate within the guidelines set forth in the college’s policies, procedures and practices.

• Perform other reasonably related duties as directed or assigned.

Position Specifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or public relations and other directly related fields from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Master’s degree preferred.

• Experience
  • Five years of experience in marketing, public relations, media relations, preferably in a higher education setting. Supervisory or management experience preferred.

• Licenses/Certifications
• Equivalency Statement
  • Equivalent combinations of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred in related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of best practices in higher education communication.

• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of marketing, communication and public relations activities, including media buying and development of print and electronic advertising.

• Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational and personal sales skills.

• Experience overseeing the design and production of print materials and publications.

• Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations, and standards for the management and disclosure of public information.

• Knowledge of current and emerging public relations issues and trends applicable to higher educational institutions. Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams.

• Skills in news and feature writing, as well as writing for web and social media.

• Skill in the creative use of traditional and new marketing media.

• Ability to establish goals, structures, and processes necessary to build coordinate and execute the marketing and communication functions.

• Ability to develop a strategic marketing plan; coordinate activities with a variety of college staff and departments; prepare and administer budgets;

• Ability to supervise and train employees and to manage multiple projects.

• Ability to direct and manage public affairs programs and activities applicable to a public institutional setting.

• Ability to provide effective advice and counsel on strategic and/or critical public relations issues.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including excellent public speaking ability. Ability to develop and deliver presentations.

• Dynamic leadership skills with proven ability to build a highly productive team of professionals.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

• Demonstrated track record of strong partnerships with media and other public relations professionals.

• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate public opinion surveys and related data collection vehicles, including focus groups.

• Ability to efficiently use computer software, including word processing and the Adobe Creative Suite and a digital camera.

• Knowledge of the full range of branding, marketing, media, PR and other communication strategies.

• Ability to lead both long-term strategic efforts and respond to immediate issues, determine priorities, allocate resources, and manage timelines and projects.

• Knowledge of the comprehensive role of the community college.

Level of Supervision

This position operates under the general direction of the college president and it supervises staff in the Marketing and Public Relations office.

Working Environment

Reasonable accommodation will be extended to otherwise qualified individuals with a legally recognized disability.

• Equipment Used
  • Standard office equipment including personal computer, calculator, fax machine, ten-key calculator by touch, phone, scanners, copy machine, and telephone. Motor vehicle.

• Physical Requirements
  • Tasks require variety of physical activities, which do not generally involve muscular strain, such as walking, standing, stooping, sitting, reaching and light lifting. Regular talking, hearing and seeing required in the normal course of performing the job. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity required to perform some essential functions. Mental application utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability, discriminating thinking and creative problem solving. Ability to operate a motor vehicle and to be able to distinguish colors.

• Environmental Conditions

Work is primarily performed in an office setting. May include some travel as well as weekend/evening work.

Required Skills

Required Experience