Communications Director

Location : 1200 N Dupont Highway, Dover

Job Type: Professional

Job Number: 2024-00150

Division: CAST

Opening Date: 08/09/2024

General Description of the Position

The Communications Director is a Delaware State University (DSU) professional administrative position within the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology (CAST). The Communications Director promotes the college by participating in the coordination and facilitation of community projects and initiatives and facilitating ongoing communication. The position reports directly to the Dean of the CAST.
Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential Functions
The following are the functions essential to performing this job:

1. Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that align with the college's strategic goals and objectives.
2. Provide leadership and support for all Extension and research publications as well as event marketing.
3. Work closely with Associate Deans for both research and Extension writing program impacts.
4. Provide timely and accurate information to internal and external stakeholders during crises, demonstrating empathy, transparency, and professionalism while exhibiting etiquette appropriate to the college and its mission.
5. Conduct post-crisis debriefs and assessments to identify lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement in crisis communication preparedness.
6. Develop brand guidelines, messaging frameworks, and visual identity standards to maintain a cohesive and recognizable brand presence across print and digital platforms.
7. Publish news releases and other information. Design and update information for website placement.
8. Monitor and address brand perception issues through proactive reputation management strategies and stakeholder engagement efforts.
9. Monitor and analyze data related to audience engagement, media coverage, website traffic, social media metrics, and other relevant indicators.
10. Foster partnerships and collaborations with other academic departments, research institutions, industry organizations, government agencies, and community stakeholders.
11. Represent the college at conferences, professional associations, and indust1Y events to network with peers, showcase expertise, and identify collaboration opportunities.
12. Leverage external relationships to amplify the colleges visibility, influence, and impact within the broader agricultural, science and technology community.
13. Coordinate activities between the college and local media organizations as needed.
14. Provide communications training programs upon request.
15. Other related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation using some other combination of skills and abilities:

1. Ability to understand and effectively respond to general campus, program, and student services questions.
2. Ability to communicate the value of higher education, specifically at Delaware State University.
3. Proficiency in digital communication tools and platforms, including content management systems (CMS), social media management tools, email marketing software, and analytics dashboards.
4. Knowledge of agricultural science and technology concepts, trends, and issues is highly desirable, along with a passion for advancing education, research, and innovation in the field.
5. Knowledge of planning, directing, and coordinating a public relations program.
6. Strong organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills with the ability to multitask competing priorities.
7. Ability to use web and multi-media technologies for communication and tracking (Microsoft Office Suite applications, Internet, Teams, WebEx, etc.).
8. Proven ability to be flexible in dealing with unforeseen circumstances and commitment to work weekends or evenings when needed.
9. Capable of establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
10. Skilled in staff supervision.
11. Skilled in resolving controversial and explosive issues.

Qualification Standards

• Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of experience in public relations or media relations to establish and promote a positive image and inform or influence specific audiences using internal and external communications such as public forums, print or electronic media, speech writing, writing/editing, marketing, advertising, or special events.
• Three years of experience in gathering, organizing, formatting, translating, or interpreting information into forms more easily understood by the media or public and disseminating the information using print, broadcast, or electronic media.
• Three years of public speaking experience, including gathering, preparing, and presenting information to the public or media groups.
• Three years of experience developing policies, procedures, or programs for disseminating information to the public or media groups.
• Three years of experience determining and evaluating alternative courses of action to resolve or mitigate controversial issues.
• Six months of experience managing public and media relations through subordinate staff.
• Six months of experience in staff supervision, including planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating the work of others.
• Three years of full-time, paid professional administrative support experience, coordinating and monitoring activities about community development.
• Successful experience working in the higher education field.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively in a diverse environment.
• Experience working within a fast-paced, diverse, and challenging environment preferred.
• Excellent judgment in high-profile and high-pressure environments.
• Excellent written, listening, and oral communication skills.

Performance Standards & EEO Statement

The criteria for an evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Demonstrates knowledge of the Delaware State University Fundamentals.
2. Provides evidence of assisting the University in reaching its annual goals.
3. Demonstrates, through evaluations and feedback mechanisms, that they have created a favorable impression of the University through communication and work on special projects.

EEO Statement

Delaware State University is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic global community. The University is dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruitment and employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The University is committed to achieving a diverse faculty and staff and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply.

Equal opportunity employer/program'' and "auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

To learn more details, visit the and the