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The Executive Director for University Communication reports to the Vice President for Marketing and Communication and provides strategic oversight for university communication, including media relations, university publications, internal university communications, and crisis communication. He/she will be responsible for stewarding and monitoring the presence of Samford University in external communications, including social media, news media, and other outlets. The position will lead the university’s crisis communication team to assure the university is prepared for appropriate response in times of crisis. The position collaborates with other leaders in the Division of Marketing and Communication as well as school-based marketing and communication colleagues across campus to support the university’s strategic communication functions.

Position is required to work after hours and during week-ends.

• Advance the university's local, regional and national visibility and reputation through university communications, providing leadership and direction for university news, media relations, and crisis communication. Develop proactive strategies for promoting the university’s academic programs, public service activities, and faculty and student scholarship and accomplishments. Collaborate with marketing and communication colleagues to demonstrate the impact and value of the university to diverse audiences through a broad spectrum of media.
• Write and edit important university communications for the university, including emails, reports, executive communications, talking points, and internal communications in support of public relations, crisis communication, and reputation management.
• Actively contribute to the creation of news and marketing content as needed to advance the organization. Work with colleagues throughout Marketing and Communication to assure news stories and other marketing content is written and published.
• Ensure brand integrity by monitoring university communication to ensure that it meets high standards of accuracy and quality in content and appearance.
• Collaborate with the Director of Digital Marketing and the Social Media Manager to assure Samford’s social media content strategy is designed to support major university communication objectives.
• Identify opportunities, challenges and emerging communications issues facing the organization. Monitor higher education publications and media outlets that are important to the mission of the university and inform key colleagues of relevant stories.
• Manage selection of, assignments to and other administrative duties related to freelance writers retained by the Division of Marketing and Communication for news and feature stories. Ensure adequate support for serving the needs of the university.
• With the assistance of the university’s Media Relations Manager, oversee a process for daily monitoring and reporting of all news stories mentioning the university and its people. Provide monthly, quarterly, and annual reports documenting news reach to demonstrate university communication efforts and value.
• Serve as the crisis communication coordinator in support of the university’s Integrated Emergency Management Plan, including but not limited to serving on the emergency readiness team, maintaining the crisis communication plan and providing leadership in crisis communication.
• Oversee training and administration of the RAVE emergency alert system and serve as the primary point person for sending emergency messages through the system.
• Provide public relations counsel to the Vice President for Marketing and Communication to ensure that the public relations impact is considered on all important decisions.
• Provide leadership and content strategy for major university publications, including Seasons alumni magazine, Inside Samford, Beeson Magazine, Cumberland Lawyer, and the university’s annual report.
• Be a visible, dynamic and involved participant in the life of the university community. Develop familiarity with all areas of academic and student life.
• Encourage a collegial, team-building work environment and cultivating productive, collaborative relationships with all constituent groups.
• Remain competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses and appropriate training.
• Contribute to the overall success of the Division of Marketing and Communication by performing additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, public relations, business administration, or other related discipline
• Minimum of 7 years of experience directing communications
• A commitment to the Christian mission of Samford University
• High level of written and oral communication skills. Excellent grammar and editing skills are required
• Experience with managing large projects involving multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated expertise in public relations and social media management
• Availability to work after hours and during week-ends

• Administrative experience in personnel management
• Ability to work under pressure and with a high degree of efficiency and accuracy
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well with others
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to work independently with limited direction
• High level of professionalism, with a servant leader orientation
• Experience working with crisis communications preferred
• Possess a strong understanding of AP Style
• Familiarity with the concepts of a content management system preferred