Executive Director of Public Relations and Institutional Communications

Macomb-Community-College; Clinton Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Macomb Community College seeks a strategic communications leader to oversee public relations, institutional communications and community relations. This senior role advises the President, executive leadership and Board of Trustees and serves as the primary spokesperson for the College.

The position leads integrated communication strategies to advance priorities, protect reputation and ensure a clear, credible institutional voice across internal and external audiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, public affairs or a related field.
• Master’s degree and professional accreditation preferred.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, including three years of leadership or supervision.
• Experience advising senior executives and serving as a spokesperson; crisis or issues communications experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for the College’s public relations, institutional communications and community-relations functions.
• Serves as a senior communications advisor to the President, executive leadership and Board of Trustees and as a primary spokesperson for the College.
• Leads integrated communication strategies that advance institutional priorities, strengthen engagement, protect reputation and ensure a consistent institutional voice.
• Leads crisis, emergency and high-risk communications with leadership and relevant departments; maintains crisis-response protocols and templates.
• Develops and leads change-management communications for major institutional initiatives and leadership decisions.
• Oversees internal and student communications to engage employees and students with priorities and developments.
• Manages community and stakeholder relations, sponsorships and public-funding communication strategies.
• Collaborates across departments to ensure messaging consistency and governance, including public records and privacy considerations.
• Leads, develops and evaluates staff, manages budgets, and uses analytics to improve communications capabilities.

Skills

Strategic Communications

Executive Communications

Media Relations

Crisis Communications

Change Management

Internal Communications

Stakeholder Relations

Governance & Compliance

Leadership & People Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, public affairs or a related field

Master’s degree and professional accreditation preferred

Job description

Provides strategic leadership for the College’s public relations, institutional communications and community-relations functions. Serves as a senior communications advisor to the President, executive leadership and Board of Trustees and as a primary spokesperson for the College. Leads integrated communication strategies that advance institutional priorities, strengthen internal and external engagement, protect the College’s reputation and ensure that Macomb Community College communicates with a clear, credible and consistent institutional voice.

• Strategic Communications Leadership.Develops and leads an integrated institutional communications strategy aligned with the College’s mission, strategic priorities and commitment to student success. Establishes College-wide communication priorities, standards, protocols and measures of effectiveness.
• Executive and Board Communications.Serves as a senior communications advisor to the President, executive leadership and Board of Trustees. Anticipates communication needs and directs the development of speeches, presentations, correspondence, statements, talking points and other high-level communications involving complex, sensitive or highly visible matters.
• Media Relations and Institutional Reputation.Serves as a primary College spokesperson and leads proactive and responsive media relations, issues monitoring and reputation management. Builds productive media relationships and prepares College leaders and subject-matter experts for interviews. Develops and leads institutional storytelling that showcases student, alumni, and employee success, demonstrates the College’s impact and strengthens its reputation in education, workforce development and community advancement.
• Crisis and Emergency Communications.Leads the communications component of crisis, emergency and high-risk institutional matters in coordination with College leadership and appropriate departments. Maintains crisis-response protocols, approval and escalation procedures, backup spokesperson coverage, and communication templates and contact lists, that support timely, accurate and coordinated responses.
• Change Management Communications. Develops and leads communication strategies supporting significant institutional initiatives, organizational changes and leadership decisions. Advises College leadership on communication approaches that explain the purpose and impact of changes, anticipate stakeholder questions and concerns, provide opportunities for feedback and support successful implementation.
• Internal and Student Communications. Leads College-wide internal communications and communications that support employee engagement, connect employees with institutional priorities and strengthen communication between leadership and the College community. Coordinates with Student Services, Marketing and other responsible departments to ensure students receive clear, timely and accessible communications about significant College developments, institutional changes and matters affecting their College experience. Provides editorial leadership and content governance for institutional channels.
• Community and Stakeholder Relations.Develops and maintains strategic relationships with community leaders, public officials, business and civic organizations and other constituencies important to the College. Oversees stakeholder relationship information, institutional sponsorships, community-facing communications and communication strategies supporting public-funding initiatives.
• College-Wide Coordination and Communications Governance.Works collaboratively with Marketing and departments across the College to ensure coordinated messaging and a consistent institutional voice. Provides guidance, training and resources to College communicators and leaders and promotes communications that are accurate, accessible, inclusive, legally appropriate and responsive to audience needs. Coordinates with Legal Counsel and responsible offices on public records, privacy, regulatory requirements and legally sensitive matters.
• Organizational Leadership and Accountability.Leads, develops and evaluates assigned staff and manages departmental budgets, consultants, agencies and vendors. Establishes goals and performance measures, uses research and analytics to assess effectiveness and continually improves the College’s communications practices and capabilities

Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, public affairs or a related field required. Master’s degree and professional accreditation preferred. An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered consistent with College policy.

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, media relations, executive communications or a related field, including at least three years of successful leadership or supervisory experience. Experience advising senior executives, serving as a spokesperson and leading crisis or issues communications is required. Experience in higher education, government, the public sector or another complex, highly visible organization is preferred.