Director of Communications & Media Relations

Johnson & Wales University; Providence (RI); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability insurance

Paid holidays

Sick time

Vacation time

401(k) retirement plan

Health care and dependent care FSAs

Educational assistance benefits

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Johnson & Wales University seeks a Director of Communications & Media Relations to lead the university’s media presence and strategic communications. You will develop integrated media plans, craft talking points, and coordinate outreach to national, regional, and trade media, including crisis response and leadership positioning.

The role requires substantial communications experience, a bachelor’s degree, and a proven ability to secure press coverage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Significant experience in communications/media relations/public relations.
• Proven track record of securing press coverage preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops an integrated media relations strategy to drive coverage, name recognition, and institutional reputation.
• Shapes talking points and written communications to reinforce the university’s mission and priorities.
• Creates media outreach opportunities and earned media coverage across national, regional, local, and trade media.

Skills

Media relations

Public relations

Crisis communications

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Director of Communications & Media Relations

Job no: 11300
Work type: Full Time
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Categories: Staff/Administration, Calendar Year (12-Month), Marketing & Communications, Hybrid

Summary

Develops and executes strategic communications plans to promote the university’s key initiatives and advance the university’s reputation among targeted external and internal audiences. The Director oversees the creation and implementation of marketing campaigns across all communication channels with a particular focus on external media through the creation and/or sponsorship of events and earned media placements in regional and national news and trade publications

Essential Job Functions

• Develops and executes an integrated media relations strategy that drives measurable outcomes, media coverage, name recognition, brand awareness and institutional reputation
• Develops, executes and shapes key talking points and written communications in order to reinforce the university’s mission, values, and strategic priorities
• Creates and implements media outreach opportunities to promote the university by generating earned media coverage by national, regional, local and trade media, especially outlets that cover higher education and the industries related to academic areas
• Manages and responds to media relations inquiries to leverage internal expertise and manage institutional reputation
• Serves as a university spokesperson and prepares designated spokespeople as subject matter experts or within crisis situations
• Creates thought leadership opportunities to leverage academic and other leaders as experts and university spokespeople
• Provides ongoing media training for leadership and faculty
• Develops strategies for reaching alternative and non-traditional media outlets
• Facilitates industry speaking engagements or panelist opportunities for the university’s senior leadership team
• Creates and produces regular reports tied to goals and outcomes
• Represents the university on various professional association committees and at professional conferences, as needed
• Supervises and develops the department staff, facilitating professional opportunities to improve individual capability and managing performance against job accountabilities, department goals and established university, campus and department policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree
• Significant amount of experience working in communications, media relations, public relations or other related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of securing press coverage

Compensation: $105,000 - $110,000/annualized

This full-time position offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes the following:

• health insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• life insurance
• long-term disability insurance
• paid holidays
• sick time
• vacation time
• a 401(k) retirement savings plan
• health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• educational assistance benefits
• an employee assistance program

Participation in any benefit is subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

The university reserves the right to modify, amend or terminate any benefit or benefit programs as they apply to any participants, including but not limited to current and former employees.

This is only a summary; the full details, which control, are in the applicable plan documents.

Please Note:

Qualified candidates must live or relocate to live within a daily commuting distance of the Providence Campus location upon hire.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until job posting is closed.

Johnson & Wales University is an equal opportunity employer.

The university does not illegally discriminate on the basis of any protected class.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnic and national origin, familial status, gender or gender identity, genetic information, military service, national origin, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Advertised: 25 Sep 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled