Executive Director of College Relations,… at Flathead… · Kalispell

DEPARTMENT:

President

PAY RANGE:

$100,000 - $125,000 based on education and experience. Full-time, 12-mos., benefit eligible.

Unlock Exceptional Benefits at FVCC (Worth ~$25K)! You'll receive generous employer contributions towards your Health/Vision & Dental, up to 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 12 holidays. Plus, build your future with the Montana Public Employee's Retirement System and a 403(b) match up to 7%. And that's not all - invest in your continued education when you explore Tuition Waiver benefits for you and your dependents!

FLSA:

Exempt

CLOSING DATE:

Open until filled

SUMMARY

This position leads college relations, marketing and communications for Flathead Valley Community College and its affiliated brands, the Wachholz College Center (WCC) and Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center. The Executive Director owns brand and marketing strategy for all three brands and ensures that community relations, media relations, communications and marketing efforts are effective, consistent and aligned with the College's mission, vision and purpose.

The Executive Director leads the College Relations, Marketing and Communications department, which is responsible for the design and content of the FVCC and WIEC websites and well as supporting website event and performance marketing for WCC, all social media; paid and earned media, graphic design, photography, video and multimedia production for all brands. The Executive Director also serves as a member of the College's senior leadership team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Leads integrated marketing, communications and college relations for FVCC, WCC and WIEC, including brand building and management; websites; print publications; social media; video and multimedia; email and e-newsletters; paid and earned media; and public relations.
• Owns overall brand and marketing strategy for FVCC, WCC and WIEC. Establishes and maintains brand standards, visual identity and messaging so that each brand and sub-brand is distinct, consistent and clearly connected to the College.
• Develops strategic communications and marketing plans and comprehensive guidelines, and coordinates implementation of the plans with the President and the senior leadership team. Maintains a multi-year marketing plan that promotes the College mission and enhances the visibility and reputation of each brand. Promotes and executes programs of continuous assessment and benchmarking of goals, programs and services.
• Creates, owns and directs execution of the comprehensive marketing strategy and plan for WCC. Partners with the WCC Director to support ticket sales, partnerships and facility rentals Directs the WCC Marketing Manager in end-to-end marketing of events and performances.
• Drives messaging to key stakeholders, including prospective and current students and families, WCC audiences and patrons, community and employer partners, alumni and donors.
• Oversees the conceptualization, design and creation of print and electronic marketing and public relations materials that coordinate with the College's academic calendar, and ensures that marketing efforts are created, approved and distributed in a timely fashion to maximize effectiveness.
• Provides leadership, motivates and empowers staff to create environments that promote innovation; sets standards for delivering quality services. Sets the priorities of a team responsible for brand and creative services, website design and content, digital and paid marketing, WCC event marketing, social media, video and multimedia, media relations and internal communications. Allocates staff and shared creative resources across FVCC, WCC and WIEC based on the volume and type of content each brand requires.
• Develops and manages the department's marketing and advertising budgets across brands.
• Leads website strategy for the FVCC and WIEC websites, including design, look and feel, user experience, content and final copy approval. Through the Digital Marketing Website Manager, directs site structure, content, search engine optimization, analytics and accessibility so the websites serve as primary marketing and enrollment tools. Partners with Information Technology on hosting, security and technical infrastructure.
• Sets the overall vision and strategy for video, multimedia and digital design content across brands, websites and social media. Directs the Graphic Designer and the Multimedia Specialist to meet the growing demand for digital design and video content.
• Leads paid media strategy, planning, placement and budget across brands, including search, social, digital display, streaming, broadcast and print advertising.
• Oversees social media strategy for FVCC, WCC and WIEC; sets standards for content, voice and engagement and creates content as needed. Prioritizes platforms and frequencies to meet and exceed goals.
• Leads data, metrics and reporting strategy for marketing. Directs efforts to collect, report and use data, including web analytics, campaign performance and social engagement, to make data-informed decisions and report results to the President and senior leadership. Leads research and selection of marketing-related external services and vendors.
• Writes, edits and approves content for presentations, speeches, websites, newsletters, video scripts and correspondence. Provides final review of content and designs for errors before printing or publishing final work.
• Sets strategy, look and feel and provides final copy and content approval for special projects, including the President's Report, Viewbook and Continuing Education catalogs.
• Supports the FVCC Foundation with content creation, marketing and personnel assistance at Foundation events as needed.
• Manages crisis communications and provides counsel to the President during crisis situations. Oversees media relations and press activity for all brands and serves as a College spokesperson as appropriate.
• Serves as an ambassador for the College and fosters cooperative relationships with colleagues, media, schools, community groups, government officials, business and industry and other external partners to enhance and promote the College.
• Monitors community, media and industry issues that may affect the College’s reputation or brands, and advises the President and senior leadership on communication strategy and response. Stays current on higher education marketing and communications trends and applies them to College strategy.
• Directs photography and video coverage of campus, FVCC Foundation,WCC and WIEC events and special functions; maintains college archives, brand asset libraries and relevant resource files.
• Serves on internal and external boards and committees.
• Attends related trainings, workshops and professional development.
• Actively participates in the development of a climate that promotes and supports innovation and efforts to continuously improve services to students, faculty and the College.
• Creates and maintains a collaborative and collegial environment with colleagues and maintains effective working relationships.
• Maintains professional ethics and confidentiality of students in accordance with applicable laws and policies.
• Advances the mission of FVCC by serving on or convening committees and contributing in the community in college-related activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Reports to the President.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises the College Relations, Marketing and Communications department, including the following positions:

• Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications
• Graphic Designer
• Marketing Manager, Wachholz College Center
• Communications and Social Media Coordinator
• Digital Marketing Website Manager
• Multimedia Specialist

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in public relations, business/marketing, communications or closely related field; AND, a minimum of five years of progressively responsible work experience in the areas of professional public relations, communications, business and/or marketing.
• Master's degree from an accredited institution in public relations, business/marketing, communications or closely related field; AND, a minimum of three years of progressively responsible work experience in the areas of professional public relations, communications, business and/or marketing.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an accredited institution in public relations, business/marketing, communications or closely related field.
• Work experience in communications, marketing and public relations in a higher education setting.
• Experience leading marketing for multiple brands, including live events, performing arts or venue programming.
• Experience supervising a creative and digital marketing team.
• Work experience in various technology applications related to marketing and communications.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong skills in internal and external public relations, reputation management, knowledge of current media practices and the social, business and economic climate of the local community.
• Strong skills in current paid and unpaid digital marketing practices, including Google Ads, paid social and social media marketing.
• Skills in full stack marketing, including brand creation and management across multiple brands, print production and website strategy and content.
• Knowledge of website content management, search engine optimization, web accessibility standards and web and marketing analytics.
• Knowledge of video and multimedia content strategy and production.
• Ability to lead, develop and motivate staff and to allocate shared resources across brands with competing priorities.
• Strong time management skills, with ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities.
• Ability to analyze and utilize market research and institutional data for the development of marketing and public relations plans, programs and objectives.
• Ability to interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the College.
• Ability and willingness to serve as a representative for the College by interacting appropriately with the community.
• Ability to work within policies and procedures of FVCC.
• Ability to intermittently work non-traditional schedules including evenings, weekends, etc.
• Ability to maintain effective and positive professional relationships.
• Ability to follow and issue directions.
• Demonstrated communication, presentation, customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain regular and acceptable attendance levels.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.
• Ability to respond in the event of an emergency.
• This is a Medium Duty job, according to the Selected Characteristics of Occupations Defined in the Revised Dictionary of Occupational Titles, U.S. Department of Labor and Industry. Medium Duty involves exertion of 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10-25 pounds frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds continuously to move objects.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must apply online at https://www.fvcc.edu/about/careers-at-fvcc; paper submission of applications or resume materials are not accepted for open positions. FVCC does not retain application materials for future consideration. Additionally, applicants are required to submit the following documents by uploading them to the online application:

• Letter of application indicating how you meet the minimum qualifications and detail your work experience as it relates to the position's Knowledge, Skills and Abilities; AND
• A current, comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae; AND
• Unofficial transcripts for all degrees held and Professional Certifications, when applicable. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will submit official transcripts for all degrees held and applicable certifications to FVCC HR upon hire. Only transcripts from accredited institutions will be accepted; AND
• Three professional references, with complete contact information, must be provided on the application form. Professional references must be individuals most familiar with applicant's work experience, skills, and work behaviors and supervisory experience. Do not list family and friends for professional references.

EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATIONS, REFERENCE CHECKS AND CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS: Prior to any offers of employment, FVCC conducts thorough employment verifications and reference checks and may contact organizations and individuals not listed on an applicant's application or resume. Additionally, FVCC conducts post-offer criminal background checks.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: FVCC is an equal opportunity employer. It is FVCC's policy that all individuals are entitled to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran’s status, service in the uniformed services as defined by state and federal law, physical or mental disability, national origin or ancestry except as authorized by law. These protections extend to all management practices and decisions, including recruitment and hiring practices, appraisal systems, promotions, and training and career development programs, as required by federal and state laws.

FVCC BOARD POLICY: The FVCC Board Policy Manual is available to review at https://www.fvcc.edu/about/board-administration/board-of-trustees/board-policies

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: FVCC provides reasonable accommodations upon request to qualified individuals with disabilities during all phases of employment including the application and selection process. No applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE ACT: Preference applies in hiring and provides a uniform method by which special consideration is given to qualified Veterans. Veterans’ Preference laws do not, however, guarantee Veterans a job, nor do they give Veterans’ preference in internal actions such as promotion, transfer, reassignment, and reinstatement. Applying for a preference is voluntary and that all information related to a preference is confidential and used only during the hiring process; the information will be maintained in a separate confidential file. To claim Veterans' Preference, you must complete the Veterans' Preference Form (form is available at https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and email it along with document(s) that verify your eligibility for employment preference to HR@fvcc.edu. Claims for Veterans' preference must be received by Human Resources prior to position closing date.

WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION: Based on the Windfall Elimination Provision, FVCC employment may not be covered by Social Security. To learn more about the Windfall Elimination Provision click https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf.