Assistant Director, Communications

Loyola University, United States

Updated: about 4 hours ago
Location: Chicago, ILLINOIS
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: ;

Posting Details
Posting Details


Position Title Assistant Director, Communications
Job Category Administrator
Office/Department Marketing & Communications
Work Environment Hybrid
Location Timonium Campus
Staff Job Type Full-time
If Temporary or Visiting, Estimated End Date:
Position Summary and Duties
The Assistant Director, Communications will plan, coordinate, and implement Loyola University Maryland’s media and public relations strategy including news content and placement across multiple communication platforms to reach local, regional, and national markets. The assistant director is responsible for providing consultation to campus constituencies on communications and media relations strategy, including crisis communications. This position serves as a communications liaison between Loyola and various organizations, public agencies, and the general public on media and public relations issues.
Essential Functions:
1. Media Relations – Create and implement a media relations strategy for the University. Write, post online, and disseminate press releases to promote Loyola University Maryland news and events. Monitor news to identify opportunities to position faculty and administrators as experts and thought leaders in the media both through proactive recommendations and timely responses to media inquiries. Pitch stories for placement opportunities. Cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with writers, editors, and producers in traditional and new media, focusing on local, regional, national, and higher education media. Partner with agencies supporting the media relations initiatives of the University. Provide media relations services to internal staff, including interview preparation, message development, and communications counseling. Schedule interviews and facilitate interviews with the media. Track media hits and analyze the impact. Serve as the media spokesperson for the University when needed.
2. Emergency Communications – Serve on the University’s emergency management team operations group; on-call for crisis communications needs 24/7; write, review, and disseminate emergency messaging for other operational disruptions and emergencies; produce required deliverables; advise public safety on incident alerts, write and disseminate wrap-up incident alerts; evaluate and revise crisis communications plans; participate in weather calls and execute inclement weather messaging; maintain inclement weather templates and directions.
3. Web Communications – Maintain websites sharing media hits and promoting faculty experts, as well as the rankings/accolades page, and other sites as needed.
4. Copywriting and Content Generation – Collaborate with other members of the University Marketing and Communications team and staff, faculty, and students University-wide to develop and implement effective written content.
5. MarComm Projects – Contribute to project planning with members of Marketing and Communications. Write and edit copy for project deliverables.
6. Campus Communications – Manage Loyola Today. Maintain day-to-day interactions with business leaders during team events and events on campus. Support the Director of University Communications on assigned project work and during crisis situations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required.
5-8 years of experience
Preferred Qualifications
• Excellent communication skills, including professional writing skills and news and web, knowledge of social media, and strong technical skills are required.
• Demonstrated skill in effectively dealing with news media in a way that is credible and reflects high integrity and ethical standards.
• Experience in recognizing and developing news and feature stories and in communicating them effectively (verbally and in writing) in appropriate styles for radio, television and print media, the web, and social media.
• Ability to serve as a campus spokesperson to the news media
• Experience contributing to a successful news, communication or public relations program for a college, university, news media organization, government agency or other large, complex knowledge-based organization.
• Experience and skill in the intersection of news media coverage and knowledge of how to use social media to extend coverage
• Ability to work effectively with campus constituencies including deans, vice presidents, administrative staff, faculty members, students, donors, and alumni.
• Knowledge of and commitment to Loyola’s mission as a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education.
• Excellent analytical skills, gathering data and presenting in an understandable format.
• Effective and creative strategic thinking and planning skill.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Superior time-management skills and ability to maintain project deadlines.
Ability to use good judgment.
Job Posting Date 01/22/2024
Priority Application Deadline Date
Job Close Date
Anticipated Start Date
University Description
Loyola University Maryland is a Jesuit, Catholic university committed to the educational and spiritual traditions of the Society of Jesus and to the ideals of liberal education and the development of the whole person. Accordingly, Loyola inspires students to learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world. Loyola’s beautiful, historic Evergreen campus is located in Baltimore, and its graduate centers are in Timonium and Columbia. Loyola enrolls 4,000 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students across the Sellinger School of Business and Management, the School of Education, and Loyola College of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1852, Loyola is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States and the first to bear the name of Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.
Diversity Statement
Loyola University Maryland strongly values the benefits that diversity brings to the workplace. In accord with its Ignatian values, the University is committed to creating and promoting a community that recognizes the inherent value and dignity of each person. Loyola University Maryland does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, or any other legally protected classification. The University recruits, hires, and promotes in accord with this policy and its Core Values.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Successful candidates for any staff, faculty, or administrative position at Loyola University Maryland will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Note: In some cases, experience and/or education may be substituted for requirements.
Quicklink for Posting https://careers.loyola.edu/postings/7118

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