Director, Strategic Communications

Title: Manager, Communications

Employee Classification: Professional 52 Wks Non-Unit

Department: Marketing and Communications

Salary Range: $ 93,145

Who we are:

We are not-for-profit: St. Louis Community college (STLCC) is a non-profit institution dedicated to empowering students, expanding minds, and changing lives. Employees are committed to strengthening the St. Louis community with inclusive and transformative education.

We are a respected employer: For 60 years, STLCC has served the St. Louis community, expanding to 4 main campuses, 2 education centers, 2 workforce training centers, and 5 centers of excellence. More than one-half of the households in St. Louis have at least one member who has taken classes at STLCC.

We make an impact in the community: Through credit courses, continuing education, and workforce development programs, STLCC annually serves nearly 69,000 students. More than 80% of career and technical graduates employed in their fields or continue their education at four-year institutions within six months of graduation. STLCC sends more transfer students to Missouri's four-year colleges/universities than anyone else.

What you get:

Benefits package [for full-time employees]: STLCC offers one of the best benefit packages in the St. Louis area. As a STLCC employee you will have access to a 100% match on your contribution to retirement, two health insurance plans options - including an HSA option, low-cost life insurance with a 3x salary benefit, and other low-cost benefits including dental, vision, AD&D, Short-term & Long-term disability insurance.

Opportunity to grow: Over half of our employees have served the college for more than 12 years, exploring different career paths and advancing to higher level positions.

Education & training opportunities: STLCC offers tuition waivers for employees [full-time and part-time] + their dependents. Full-time employees can take advantage of tuition reimbursement for other institutions after just 6 months of service, and an annual professional development allotment.

Work/life balance: Full-time STLCC employees have access to a generous time off package, including holidays, vacation, personal days, medical leave, and other leave options. Our holiday schedule even includes a paid winter holiday at the end of the calendar year.

Commitment to wellness: STLCC HR boasts a dedicated health and wellness specialist who is enthusiastic about creating a culture of wellness throughout the College. With access to college wellness vendors, employees are educated, motivated, and rewarded for healthy behaviors. STLCC employees and anyone living in their household also have access to an employee assistance program (EAP) that can help them with virtually any life need.

The basics of this position:

The Director, Strategic Communications at St. Louis Community College is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communications strategies to enhance the reputation and awareness of the college and its programs.
This role oversees multiple communications functions, including writing, editing, brand messaging, communications strategy, public relations strategy, and content delivery across various channels such as web, social media, digital marketing, and employee communications. The Communications Director will partner closely with the Director of Marketing and Website Manager to ensure alignment with the College's branding and support internal and external relations goals. (The start date for this position will be effective after July 1st .)

What you'll do:

Communications Strategic Planning:

• Design and execute an integrated communications strategy, including employee communications, public relations, and media relations.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive internal communications plan that aligns with the college's strategic plan and reaches faculty and employees using multiple channels.
• Use a data-informed approach to guide communication decisions.
• Interpret and integrate market research into messaging and communications strategies.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of communication efforts.
• Develop collateral utilizing print and electronic/web media as appropriate.

Public Relations and Crisis Communications:

• Enhance the College's reputation through proactive media relations to external audiences and serve as the primary spokesperson.
• Lead crisis communications planning, including overseeing the college's crisis communications plan and response.
• Act as the primary public information officer during crisis events and lead a team of crisis communicators.
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, such as government officials, community and business leaders.

Promote and Develop Proactive Employee Communications:

• Support creating an exceptional employee experience by developing effective and engaging employee communication strategies.
• Manage internal communication vehicles, including newsletters, Town Halls, SharePoint news sites, and other employee outreach methods.
• Research strategic communications plans, identify best practices, and strengthen the college's competitive position.
• Develop initiatives to enhance employee engagement and promote a sense of belonging and pride among staff.
• Evaluate outcomes of various initiatives and determine continuation or changes in communications plans.
• Supervise email communications using a third-party provider such as Constant Contact.

Content Development:

• Oversee internal content creation, including newsletters, intranet articles, web content hub, and multimedia materials that effectively communicate college updates, achievements, and milestones.
• Ensure content is clear, compelling, and aligned with the college's values.
• Support student recruitment and engagement by overseeing content creation for the website's content hub, delivering strategic articles to promote student enrollment and persistence to graduation.

Leadership and Team Development:

• Inspire, mentor, and develop a high-performing communications team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Set clear performance goals for team members, provide regular feedback, and support professional growth through coaching and development opportunities.
• Promote an inclusive work environment where diverse perspectives are values and team members feel empowered to contribute to the college's mission.

Education, experience, and other requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing or related field and experience in media relations and employee communications.
  
• Five (5)+ years of supervisory experience demonstrating a collaborative, collegial style as a team leader.
  
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and managing strategic communication programs, including public relations, employee communications, and content creation.
  
• Proven track record of success leading high-impact communication initiatives that align with organizational goals and deliver measurable outcomes.
  
• Extensive leadership experience in overseeing teams, managing projects, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders in complex organizational settings.
  
• Skilled content developer who can write to multiple audiences across various channels, with knowledge of SEO best practices to drive website traffic.
  
• Advanced proficiency in Associated Press style.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Communications or Marketing or industry certifications such as accredited in public relations (APR), Accredited Business Communicator (IBC) is preferred.
• Skilled content developer who can write to multiple audiences across various channels, with knowledge of SEO best practices to drive website traffic is preferred.
• Prior experience in higher education is preferred.