Director of Communications & Media Relations

Recent Jobs; Providence (RI); On-site; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson & Wales University in Providence, RI seeks a Director of Communications to develop and execute strategic communications plans that promote the university’s initiatives and reputation. The role oversees marketing campaigns, media relations, and external events, serving as a spokesperson and coordinating crisis communications as needed.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree and extensive experience in public relations, with a proven ability to secure press coverage and lead a

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
• Significant experience in communications, media relations or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes an integrated media relations strategy with measurable outcomes.
• Shapes talking points and written communications to reinforce the university’s priorities.
• Creates media outreach opportunities and earns coverage in regional, national and trade media.
• Serves as university spokesperson and prepares designated spokespeople.
• Provides media training for leadership and faculty.
• Represents the university at professional associations and conferences.
• Manages and develops department staff and performance.

Skills

Media relations

Public relations

Crisis communications

Team leadership

Spokesperson

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

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

Benefits

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