Director of Communications

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner; Providence, Northern (RI, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner seeks to hire a director of communications who will work strategically with senior leaders to create and execute a comprehensive communications plan for OPC and its workforce centers. The director will supervise communications staff and vendors to ensure messages are aligned with the mission and vision.

The role involves serving as the first point of contact for news media, developing integrated plans, managing media, and ensuring

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, education, or related field.
• 7+ years of professional communications experience, with at least 3 years of managing personnel.
• Ability to develop effective communications plans, strategies, objectives and tactics.
• Strong written and oral communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in public relations, advertising, marketing, web development, social media, video production, e-communications, publications and branding.

Responsibilities

• Develops, refines and implements an integrated communications strategy for OPC, CPE, and the workforce centers.
• Creates strategic plans and message development for OPC, CPE, the workforce centers, and campaigns.
• Oversee all earned, paid, and owned media and marketing activities for OPC, CPE and the workforce centers.
• Develops and ensures consistent brand messaging and graphic identity.
• Manages communications staff and vendors to achieve department’s goals.
• Represents the office to the news media as spokesperson.

Skills

Strategic planning

Independent work

Written comms

Oral comms

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Public relations

Advertising

Marketing

Web development

Video production

Branding

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, education, or related field

Job description

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner seeks to hire a director of communications, who will work strategically with the chief strategy officer, Council on Postsecondary Education, and the senior leadership team to create and execute a comprehensive, integrated communications plan for the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner and its workforce centers toward the primary goal of creating internal and external support. The director will supervise and direct the communications staff and/or communications consultants to ensure that all communications efforts are strategically aligned, consistent, clear, and supportive of the mission and vision of the Council on Postsecondary Education, the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, and the workforce centers (Westerly Education Center, Woonsocket Education Center, RI Nursing Education Center). The director of communications serves as a first point-of-contact for news media and is empowered to serve as a spokesperson.

Responsibilities

• Develops, refines and implements an integrated communications strategy for OPC, CPE, and the workforce centers
• Creates strategic plans and message development for OPC, CPE, the workforce centers, and unique campaigns and projects
• Oversee all earned, paid, and owned media and marketing activities for OPC, CPE and the workforce centers
• Develops and ensures consistent brand messaging and graphic identity
• Manages communications staff and vendors to achieve department’s strategic goals
• Promotes the utilization of WEC, WOC, and RINEC to business, industry, college, universities, and other training providers
• Copywriting for executive speeches, presentations, reports, social media properties, websites, and more
• Provides executive communications support for project implementations across the office
• Writes speeches and presentations, and prepares the commissioner and members of the senior leadership team for public appearances and media interviews
• Responds to public information inquiries and serve as spokesperson for the OPC, CPE and the workforce centers
• Directs, creates, produces, and distributes written and online communications to the news media
• Serves as webmaster for RIOPC.edu, WesterlyEdCenter.org, WoonsocketEdCenter.org, RINursingEdCenter.org, and RIReconnect.org
• Manages social media properties and supplies content for OPC, WEC, WOC, and RINEC
• Conception, design, and copywriting e-newsletters and blast emails as well as contact list maintenance
• Conception, graphic design, copywriting, and production of a wide variety of marketing collateral materials, such as flyers, postcards, signs, etc.
• Maintains relationships and a rapid-contact list with communications counterparts at CCRI, RIC, partner state agencies and the Governor’s office to build new coalitions of support for initiatives and coordinate messaging on shared priorities
• Prepares budget requests, monitors and approves expenses, and initiates budget changes
• Develops and assesses internal (i.e., staff) communication processes, initiates changes as needed, and oversees the implementation
• Supports event functions at the education centers related to marketing courses and training at the centers, as well as special milestones
• Gathers information via participation in staff, planning, situational, and sharing meetings; and curate information for various communication needs
• Represents the office and centers in public forums as appropriate
• Engages in/supervises videotaping, recording, and photography in support of communications functions
• Maintains a written crisis and rapid-response communications plan, including an internal notification tree so the office can respond quickly without relying on additional communications staff
• Maintains a documented brand and style guide and an editorial/content calendar to ensure consistency across all channels in the absence of a larger team to cross-check work
• Builds and maintains a roster of pre-vetted freelance and contract support (design, photography, video, translation, web development) to flex capacity during high-demand periods
• Tracks and reports communications performance metrics (media coverage, web and social analytics, email engagement) to leadership on a regular cadence to inform strategy and demonstrate impact
• Ensures all public-facing communications meet accessibility (ADA/Section 508) and plain-language standards
• Trains and equips senior leadership and program staff with basic messaging guidance so the office can maintain consistent communications when the director is unavailable
• Works collaboratively with others in a diverse and inclusive environment

Other Duties

Perform other duties as assigned in support of Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner operations and institutional goals

Qualifications

Required

Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, education, or a related field

Experience: Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in communications or implementing strategic initiatives and a minimum of three years of managing personnel.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to develop effective communications plans, strategies, objectives and tactics that resulted in achieving communications goals
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Demonstrated excellent written and oral communications skills
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated experience in public relations, advertising, marketing, web development, social media, video production, e-communications, publications and branding

Preferred

Master’s degree

Experience in government, federal, state or local, and/or experience in the education and workforce sector

Environmental conditions

The incumbent is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions. The environment is desk and computer work in a climate-controlled office. Travel between offices is required. Other travel may be required. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

This is a non-union, non-classified, full-time postion with a pay grade of 14. The starting salary range is $85,000 to $120,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The director of communications reports to the chief strategy officer and supervises communications staff and vendors. This work may involve non-standard hours as required, and may require travel. This job vacancy will remain open until filled.