Executive Director of Public Relations and Institutional Communications

Macomb Community College; Warren (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Macomb Community College in Warren, MI, seeks a strategic communications leader to serve as senior advisor to the President and executive team. You will guide integrated public relations, internal and community communications, and serve as primary spokesperson for the College.

You will develop and execute crisis, reputation, and stakeholder engagement strategies, manage a diverse team, and coordinate messaging across campuses to advance student success and community impact.

Qualifications

• Exceptional writing, editing, interpersonal and oral communication skills.
• Ability to advise executive leadership on sensitive matters.
• Experience leading media relations, crisis and issues communications.
• Ability to develop staff and manage multiple high-profile matters.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads an integrated institutional communications strategy aligned with the College’s mission, priorities and student success.
• Serves as a senior communications advisor to the President, executive leadership and Board of Trustees.
• Leads proactive media relations, issues monitoring and reputation management.
• Leads the communications component of crisis, emergency and high-risk matters.
• Develops and leads communication strategies supporting major initiatives and leadership decisions.
• Leads internal communications to engage employees and align with institutional priorities.
• Develops stakeholder relationships with community leaders and public officials.
• Coordinates with Marketing and other departments to ensure consistent institutional voice.
• Leads staff development and manages budgets and vendors.

Job description

Job Function

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.

Job Responsibilities

• 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

Education

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.

Experience and Qualifications

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional writing, editing, interpersonal and oral communication skills, including the ability to develop nuanced executive-level messages, advise executive leadership on sensitive institutional matters, and communicate effectively before large and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated executive presence, political and organizational acuity, news judgment and ability to provide candid strategic counsel while maintaining confidentiality.
• Demonstrated success leading media relations, crisis and issues communications, internal communications and reputation management, and using audience research, digital communications and analytics to improve communication effectiveness.
• Ability to lead and develop staff, establish priorities, manage multiple high-profile matters under tight deadlines and collaborate across a complex, decentralized and unionized institution.
• Demonstrated cultural competence and ability to communicate effectively with diverse students, employees, community members, public officials and other stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of communications accessibility, privacy, public-sector transparency and responsible use of emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and remain calm and effective during emergencies or rapidly changing situations.

Working Hours and/or Working Conditions

Work is generally performed in an office environment with travel between campuses and to community locations. Evening, weekend and emergency availability is required as circumstances warrant. Participation in relevant professional associations and continuing professional development is expected. Performs other duties as assigned and as changing conditions require.

Supervision

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: General direction and supervision from the Vice President for College Advancement and Community Relations.

SUPERVISION GIVEN: Supervises assigned full-time and part-time professional and support staff and may oversee consultants, agencies, vendors and temporary personnel.