Description

Description

The director of communications manages a team of four full-time employees and student workers as needed. The position is a leadership position and reports directly to the chief marketing and communications officer.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Examples of Duties

• Direct the development and distribution of information that tells the university's story across multiple platforms; work collaboratively within University Communications and Marketing and with other offices to develop and implement content strategy.
• Oversee an editorial staff responsible for proactively identifying and creating content for internal and external audiences; manage assignments, edit copy, measure effectiveness and ensure that efforts meet university goals and standards.
• Oversee the development and distribution of information for the news media; respond to requests from the press; serve as back-up to the university spokesperson; provide media training when needed.
• Work with departments across campus to build understanding of the importance of effective and targeted communications strategies that align with university goals and messages.
• Strategize and oversee internal communications to employees via the employee e-newsletter and occasional emails.
• Take a leadership role in emergency communications, including development of messaging, selecting sites for journalists covering emergencies, responding to journalists, preparing talking points, anticipating questions, among other responsibilities.
• Assist the chief marketing and communications officer with executive communications for the chancellor and issues management and monitoring; represent the office on assigned committees; serve as back-up to the chief marketing and communications officer as needed.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field; at least five years of relevant experience; exceptional writing, editing and overall communications skills; demonstrated understanding of communications and public relations principles, strategy and tools, including news, print and digital media (including web and social media); strong news judgment; experience managing teams and complex projects required.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in a higher education environment. Master's degree or higher.

R equired Documents: A letter of application, CV, and three references.

Contact: Jeff Harmon,jeff.harmon@siu.edu

Benefits

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.

Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Employee Assistance Program.
SIUC also provides extensive tuition benefits for its employees and their families such as: tuition waiver/application fee waiver for the employee and their dependents , a Legacy tuition rate for children of SIU Alumni , and Civil Service Employee Counsel (CSEC) Education Assistance Program (EAP) .

For more information please visit: https://hr.siu.edu/benefits/