ISEP
Director of Strategic Communications
ISEP, Arlington, Virginia, United States, 22201
POSITION TITLE
Director of Strategic Communications
DEPARTMENT
President's Office
REPORTS TO
President and CEO
FLSA STATUS
(Exempt or Non-exempt)
Exempt
LOCATION
Arlington, Virginia or Remote
DATE
October 2024ABOUT ISEP
ISEP Study Abroad is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to making study abroad accessible and affordable for all university students. Since our founding in 1979, we have grown into the largest global member community for study, intern, and volunteer abroad programs with more than 300 member and affiliate universities in 50 countries. Through ISEP, students participate in immersive and life-changing programs where they gain cross-cultural understanding and respect for others and develop highly desirable skills for life and future employment.Position Summary
The Director of Strategic Communications, President's Office, plays an important role in developing and implementing a strategic communications plan to support the President and CEO's outreach activities and position ISEP effectively within the international higher education industry. The incumbent plays a key role in externally promoting our organization by creating informative content, press releases, and media opportunities and by serving as lead for the Annual Impact Report. This position works collaboratively with Marketing Communications, Member Relations, and the President's Office team.
Working under the leadership of the President and CEO, the incumbent designs and executes an organization-wide, integrated communications and events plan that shapes and stimulates ISEP's strategic positioning within the international higher education industry, our global university membership, our alumni association, and our internal staff.
The Director of Strategic Communication will help ISEP's President increase brand awareness via external events, media relations, social media, and other channels. The incumbent will also help the President design and prepare messaging for the Board of Directors and Council of Advisors such as reports, presentations, videos, etc.
This is an excellent opportunity for a creative, motivated communications professional affording opportunities to interact with senior members of the education abroad profession and ISEP Study Abroad leadership. Opportunity for participation in some conferences and industry events and additional travel is possible.PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS
External: Education and Exchange media including the Chronicle, The PIE News, Inside Higher Ed. and others; international education industry leaders; presidents, provosts, deans and senior international officers of ISEP member institutions; professional International Education Associations (NAFSA, AIEA, APAIE, EAIE, Forum on Education Abroad, etc.); ISEP Board of Directors and Council of Advisors; ISEP strategic partners.
Internal: President and CEO; Special Assistant to and Executive Assistant for the President; Executive Team; Marketing Communications; Alumni Engagement and Student Success, Member RelationsPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
President's Office Communications
Develop and refresh 3-Year Communications Plan for the President's Office, with quarterly Key Performance Indicators tied to the strategic plan
Curate and maintain media contacts list, including names (publication and people), email, fax, webpages, etc.; determine best way to manage this list
Prepare and disseminate announcements about ISEP's initiatives and successes
Recommend appropriate publications for the President and CEO to submit an article, thought piece, etc.
Lead ISEP's Annual Impact Report efforts
President's Social Media Presence (in collaboration with Marketing Communications)
Develop and refresh the President's Office's 3-year Social Media Plan, with quarterly Key Performance Indicators
Collaborate with the Executive Assistant on the President's blogposts, with the goal of monthly posts
Prepare LinkedIn posts for President and CEO that highlight ISEP's presence at industry conferences, President's blogposts, etc.
External Relations
Develop and refresh 3-year Media Strategy, with quarterly Key Performance Indicators
Collaborate with Marketing Communications on content from the President's Office for external communications to the ISEP Community; regularly attend Marketing Communications team meetings
Maintain list of industry conferences and session proposal submission deadlines; regularly share with the ISEP Team and encourage submissions to present at global international education conferences
Proactively identify new media opportunities or industry events that align with ISEP's mission
Other Duties
Create and coordinate the messaging plan for the ISEP Student Scholarships Annual Fund, including stretch goals to be set each year with the President and CEO.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: B.A./B.S. required; M.A./M.S. preferred
Experience:
5+ years progressive experience with media relations, public affairs, communications or related field, including 2 years providing high-level administrative support
2+ years' experience working within the higher education industry, international education, exchange or non-profit sectors desirable.
Other Skills:
Excellent written and verbal and communications skills, with a proven ability to communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders while maintaining confidentiality
Strong knowledge of MS Word, MS Outlook, and MS Teams; familiarity with MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, and other MS Office Suite software, Zoom, and board portal software
Proven success with LinkedIn posts
Seamlessly manage multiple tasks and projects under tight deadlines
Successfully evaluate and troubleshoot competing priorities
Motivated, pro-active self-starter with discretion, excellent customer service skills and an eye for detail
Strong intercultural communication skills and ability to work with diverse and multicultural teams
ADDITIONAL DESIRED SKILLS
Lived, worked or studied in another country or domestic intercultural work
Other languages a plus, but not required
HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION
Submit a resume, a writing sample (i.e. a one page blog or LinkedIn post) and a cover letter outlining your interest in ISEP and your qualifications for this position along with salary requirements via our on-line employment application at https://www.isepstudyabroad.org/careers.
Application deadline: September 6, 2024.
ISEP is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We strongly support diversity in the workforce.
Director of Strategic Communications
DEPARTMENT
President's Office
REPORTS TO
President and CEO
FLSA STATUS
(Exempt or Non-exempt)
Exempt
LOCATION
Arlington, Virginia or Remote
DATE
October 2024ABOUT ISEP
ISEP Study Abroad is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to making study abroad accessible and affordable for all university students. Since our founding in 1979, we have grown into the largest global member community for study, intern, and volunteer abroad programs with more than 300 member and affiliate universities in 50 countries. Through ISEP, students participate in immersive and life-changing programs where they gain cross-cultural understanding and respect for others and develop highly desirable skills for life and future employment.Position Summary
The Director of Strategic Communications, President's Office, plays an important role in developing and implementing a strategic communications plan to support the President and CEO's outreach activities and position ISEP effectively within the international higher education industry. The incumbent plays a key role in externally promoting our organization by creating informative content, press releases, and media opportunities and by serving as lead for the Annual Impact Report. This position works collaboratively with Marketing Communications, Member Relations, and the President's Office team.
Working under the leadership of the President and CEO, the incumbent designs and executes an organization-wide, integrated communications and events plan that shapes and stimulates ISEP's strategic positioning within the international higher education industry, our global university membership, our alumni association, and our internal staff.
The Director of Strategic Communication will help ISEP's President increase brand awareness via external events, media relations, social media, and other channels. The incumbent will also help the President design and prepare messaging for the Board of Directors and Council of Advisors such as reports, presentations, videos, etc.
This is an excellent opportunity for a creative, motivated communications professional affording opportunities to interact with senior members of the education abroad profession and ISEP Study Abroad leadership. Opportunity for participation in some conferences and industry events and additional travel is possible.PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS
External: Education and Exchange media including the Chronicle, The PIE News, Inside Higher Ed. and others; international education industry leaders; presidents, provosts, deans and senior international officers of ISEP member institutions; professional International Education Associations (NAFSA, AIEA, APAIE, EAIE, Forum on Education Abroad, etc.); ISEP Board of Directors and Council of Advisors; ISEP strategic partners.
Internal: President and CEO; Special Assistant to and Executive Assistant for the President; Executive Team; Marketing Communications; Alumni Engagement and Student Success, Member RelationsPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
President's Office Communications
Develop and refresh 3-Year Communications Plan for the President's Office, with quarterly Key Performance Indicators tied to the strategic plan
Curate and maintain media contacts list, including names (publication and people), email, fax, webpages, etc.; determine best way to manage this list
Prepare and disseminate announcements about ISEP's initiatives and successes
Recommend appropriate publications for the President and CEO to submit an article, thought piece, etc.
Lead ISEP's Annual Impact Report efforts
President's Social Media Presence (in collaboration with Marketing Communications)
Develop and refresh the President's Office's 3-year Social Media Plan, with quarterly Key Performance Indicators
Collaborate with the Executive Assistant on the President's blogposts, with the goal of monthly posts
Prepare LinkedIn posts for President and CEO that highlight ISEP's presence at industry conferences, President's blogposts, etc.
External Relations
Develop and refresh 3-year Media Strategy, with quarterly Key Performance Indicators
Collaborate with Marketing Communications on content from the President's Office for external communications to the ISEP Community; regularly attend Marketing Communications team meetings
Maintain list of industry conferences and session proposal submission deadlines; regularly share with the ISEP Team and encourage submissions to present at global international education conferences
Proactively identify new media opportunities or industry events that align with ISEP's mission
Other Duties
Create and coordinate the messaging plan for the ISEP Student Scholarships Annual Fund, including stretch goals to be set each year with the President and CEO.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: B.A./B.S. required; M.A./M.S. preferred
Experience:
5+ years progressive experience with media relations, public affairs, communications or related field, including 2 years providing high-level administrative support
2+ years' experience working within the higher education industry, international education, exchange or non-profit sectors desirable.
Other Skills:
Excellent written and verbal and communications skills, with a proven ability to communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders while maintaining confidentiality
Strong knowledge of MS Word, MS Outlook, and MS Teams; familiarity with MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, and other MS Office Suite software, Zoom, and board portal software
Proven success with LinkedIn posts
Seamlessly manage multiple tasks and projects under tight deadlines
Successfully evaluate and troubleshoot competing priorities
Motivated, pro-active self-starter with discretion, excellent customer service skills and an eye for detail
Strong intercultural communication skills and ability to work with diverse and multicultural teams
ADDITIONAL DESIRED SKILLS
Lived, worked or studied in another country or domestic intercultural work
Other languages a plus, but not required
HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION
Submit a resume, a writing sample (i.e. a one page blog or LinkedIn post) and a cover letter outlining your interest in ISEP and your qualifications for this position along with salary requirements via our on-line employment application at https://www.isepstudyabroad.org/careers.
Application deadline: September 6, 2024.
ISEP is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We strongly support diversity in the workforce.