Director of Communication

R504406 – San Francisco

Reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications and serving as a senior member of the department, the Director of Communication serves as the College’s primary spokesperson; creates, implements, and evaluates a multi-year communication plan to inform and raise awareness about CCA and supporting the institution’s strategic plan, mission, vision, and goals. Areas of responsibility include: public and media relations; executive communications; internal communications; neighborhood/community/government relations; social media; and public information.

The director of communication produces communications for the college’s internal and external stakeholders to keep them informed of institutional news and developments. Internally, the director creates and implements strategies to communicate to faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, and donors to promote awareness of institutional happenings. Externally, the director proactively communicates with the media and other interested parties to share important developments and institutional changes to maintain a positive image of the college.

In support of the college’s goal to bring all college operations from Oakland to San Francisco by 2021, the director will lead the execution and ongoing refinement of the Campus Unification Communication Plan.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Internal/External Communications – 30% of time

• Evolution of and continued implementation of Campus Unification Communications Plan that includes strategic use of all communication tools (digital, print, in person large and small group meetings, etc.)
• Works with HR and academic administration to plan agendas for All Staff and All Faculty meetings, as well as broad based messaging to these groups.
• Oversees and helps create and produce major publications such as the bi-annual college magazine (Glance) and the president’s newsletter.
• Develops opportunities for college leadership to share plans with and hear from reps of key constituents.
• Serves as liaison with key neighborhood groups and city officials.

Public Relations and Media Relations – 25% of time

• With VP, sets proactive media relations strategy.
• Direct all aspects of media relations to further the goals of the president and the college.
• Serves as a spokesperson and a lead point person on media interactions.
• Prioritizes media opportunities to obtain significant and impactful coverage that reinforces brand identity.
• Oversees cultivation and management of press relationships.
• Trains key faculty and staff for interacting with the media, and identifies those who will be most effective in telling the CCA story.
• Serves as a liaison with public relations agencies.
• Manages communication staff to maximize efforts to shape awareness and understanding of CCA through media coverage and PR.

Executive Communications – 25% of time

• Shape content and delivery strategies for broad-based, internal and external communications from the president, provost and other senior leadership.
• Facilitate communication of top executives by drafting, editing, and finalizing content for major speeches, letters to the community, articles in print and on the web, editorials, blogs, etc.
• Work with president, senior cabinets members, and staff in HR and academic affairs to plan content for key staff, faculty and student meetings.
• Develop a comprehensive and coordinated issues/crisis communications plan; provide high-level communications and public relations counsel to the risk management team to minimize reputational risk and damage.
• Write all risk and crisis communication announcements to ensure public safety and accurate information and coordinate dissemination via email, Rave, Portal, cca.edu, social media, media outlets, and others as the plan warrants.

Public Information – 5% of time

• With input from the Enrollment Services Office, researches, prioritizes and develops strategies to improve CCA’s institutional rankings and ratings among key online and print sources. Works with staff in ESO, institutional research, and administration to ensure rating agencies receive the most up-to-date information about CCA.
• Serve as the point person for external inquiries regarding facts/history about the college.
• Distributes CCA factsheet in forms useful to a variety of constituencies.

Administration – 10% of time

• Oversees the day-to-day activities of the communications function including budgeting, planning and staff development and supervision of the Media Relations Manager.
• Lead and direct the communication staff and coordinate at strategic and tactical levels with all departments across the college.
• Coordinate unit plans, goals, and objectives, designing systems of effective controls to guide work toward expected outcomes, and evaluating progress towards their accomplishment.

Social Media – 5% of time

• Work with the Social Strategist & Storyteller to set and execute the college’s social media strategy in support of the college’s strategic initiatives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA/BS in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or closely related field is required.
• Seven or more years of significant and progressively challenging communications experience within an education or cultural setting.
• Minimum three years management experience is required.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills; Ability to write authentically for different “voices” within the college.
• Energetic, resourceful, driven, creative
• Demonstrates initiative in seeking new kinds of opportunities to raise awareness about the College’s event and initiatives
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top tier reporters and editors, and in successfully positioning subject matter with the media to achieve high-impact placements.
• Well-informed of evolving best practices specific to higher education media relations, executive communications, and college-rankings.
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to work on deadline and multitask.
• Experienced budget manager and supervisor with track record of maximizing effectiveness of limited resources.
• Ability to work well with staff, faculty, trustees, students, donors, and volunteers.
• Proven record of flexibility and successful teamwork, especially in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with social media, presentation software, Google apps, and media tracking software a must.
• Strategic thinker with understanding of the role of multi-platform integrated communications to advance organizational objectives.
• Media contacts in the art and design community preferred.

Location

San Francisco

Application Instructions

Applicants are required to attach a cover letter and resume. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Recommended document file formats are Word or PDF. If there are multiple attachments, we recommend compressing/zipping your files into a zip format file. There is also a place in the application for you to provide a link to large documents. Please submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions.

Application Deadline

For staff positions, screening begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.

EEO Statement

As an educational and cultural institution, California College of the Arts has a responsibility to provide access and opportunities for all people, with special attention to supporting groups historically underrepresented in higher education.

We believe 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.

California College of the Arts is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.

Questions?

Please address any questions to hr@cca.edu.

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/1425731.

Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (CCA) is an independent art college with 21 undergraduate programs in architecture, design, fine arts, visual studies, and writing. The college also has graduate programs in architecture, comics, curatorial practice, design, design strategy, film, fine arts, visual and critical studies, and writing. Through these programs, the college has created a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment. Diverse cultural perspectives enrich the CCA community and the college believes that continuing to expand the horizons of the students and faculty is essential to achieving its educational objectives. With campuses in Oakland and San Francisco, CCA currently enrolls 1,950 full-time students.

Apply online