Assistant Vice President, National Media and Public Relations

Job Title

Assistant Vice President, National Media and Public Relations

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Marketing & Communications

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experience. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

The Division of Marketing & Communications tells the story of Texas A&M and promotes and protects the Texas A&M brand. We achieve our goals through:

• Messaging - We work with peers across campus to develop, distribute and assess messaging about Texas A&M's global impact in preparing future generations of leaders and improving lives through discovery and outreach.

• Branding - We maintain the University Brand Guidelines and provide tools and resources for our campus partners.

• Brand Oversight - We oversee licensing, trademark management and corporate business development relationships to maximize their commercial benefit to the university.

For more information, please visit us at https://marcomm.tamu.edu/

What We Want

The Assistant Vice President, National Media and Public Relations is a dynamic and strategic leader, possessing a passion for higher education, a deep understanding of media relations, and a proven track record of successfully elevating the visibility and reputation of academic institutions or organizations on a national scale.

What you need to know
Salary: Compensation will be commensurate to selected hire's experience.
Cover Letter/Resume: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, business, or related field

• Eight years of progressively responsible management experience in marketing, media or public relations, advertising, communications, or related field with recent experience in higher education or in a higher education supporting organization

• Three years supervisory experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Supervision given

• Proven ability to generate imaginative solutions and create cost-effective alternatives

• Demonstrated knowledge, experience and expertise with technology-assisted communications and marketing

• Demonstrated experience with media relations, including the ability to proactively position University experts and news stories with media outlets

• Superior writing, editing, presentation, and organizational skills

• Demonstrated ability to build consensus and teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven ability of securing high-impact national media coverage and generating positive earned media outcomes

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and messages for a variety of audiences

• Strong leadership abilities, with experience leading and motivating teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute innovative communication strategies that advance organizational goals

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with media contacts, influencers, and other external stakeholders

• Knowledge of current trends and best practices in media relations, crisis communications, and reputation management

• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across departments and levels of an organization

• Commitment to the mission and values of Texas A&M University

• Strategic communications experience within higher education

• Experience working with and within complex, matrixed organizations where research is a major focus

Essential Duties/Tasks:

• Strategic Leadership - Develop, lead others, and execute a comprehensive national earned media and public relations strategy aligned with the organization's goals and objectives that secures high-impact national media coverage and generates positive earned media outcomes. Provide strategic direction and leadership to the media and public relations team, excellence, and results. Develop a strategic plan for national earned media, including planning, directing and evaluating departmental operations. Evaluate and adjust the strategic plan in response to changing organizational goals and external factors. Recommends new departmental and University-wide policies or revisions to existing policies. Serves as liaison and coordinates working relationships with academic and non-academic units of the University. Leads the development of short-term and long-term departmental earned media goals and objectives. Spearheads innovative and new initiatives and partnerships to increase the university’s national awareness and favorability.

• Media Cultivation and Management - May act as a spokesperson and representative of the university, managing relationships and interactions with the media, stakeholders, and the public, particularly pertaining to topics at the national attention level. Build and nurture relationships with key media outlets, journalists, and influencers to grow desired media coverage and enhance the organization's reputation. Monitor media trends and industry developments to ensure proactive and effective communication strategies. Collaborate with the marketing and strategic communications teams to align media efforts with overall brand promotion. Identify key messages and communication priorities to enhance brand positioning and reputation.

• Stakeholder Engagement - Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including members of the media and their staff, thought leaders, and industry partners. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate consistent messaging and ensure alignment with organizational objectives. Proactively seek feedback from stakeholders to inform communication strategies and enhance engagement. Identify and capitalize on opportunities for strategic partnerships to advance organizational goals.

• Hiring, Coaching, and Supervision - Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing national earned media and public relations team. Foster a collaborative and wide-ranging work environment that encourages creativity and professional growth. Provide ongoing training to the team on industry best practices and emerging trends. Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to team members. Directly supervises and maintains responsibility for units within the department, including directing the efforts of and supervising management and other staff. Serve on the departmental senior leadership team. Liaise with external organizations to strengthen collaborative efforts and represent the organization's interests.

• Crisis Communications - Help develop and implement robust crisis communication plans, ensuring the organization is well-prepared to navigate and manage any reputational challenges. Assist, and if necessary, lead, communication efforts during crises, providing timely and transparent information to internal and external stakeholders. Conduct post-crisis evaluations to identify areas for improvement and implement changes to crisis communication plans. Serve as an advisor and consultant to the University community in proactively responding to crises and other media inquiries.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes. 

• Health , dental , vision , life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays 

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave  and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month

• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas 

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time

• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning  training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more 

• Employee Tuition Assistance and Educational Release time   for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

For additional information on benefits Click here

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.