External Communications Coordinator

Summary of Responsibilities The External Communications Coordinator must partner closely with Highlands College (HC) Teammates, external partners and audiences, and leadership to coordinate, streamline, and organize the College's external communications for brand positioning and to advance the HC mission. Specific Duties and Responsibilities: Project Management Coordinate Communication Projects: Lead and manage external communication projects from planning through execution, ensuring they align with the College's strategic goals. Develop Timelines: Create and maintain detailed project timelines, track milestones, and ensure timely completion. Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams (i.e., Advancement, Enrollment). Content Creation and Management Write and Edit Materials: Draft and edit a variety of external communications, including, but not limited to, newsletters, website content, email campaigns, and marketing materials. Ensure Consistency: Ensure all content adheres to the College's brand guidelines and messaging standards. Content Strategy: Assist in developing content strategies that enhance the College's reputation and reach among external audiences. Community and Public Engagement Community Outreach: Assist with planning and coordinating events that engage the local community, alumni, and other stakeholders, promoting the College's mission and activities. Partnership Development: Develop and maintain partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders to enhance the College's presence and impact in the community. Event Support: Assist in organizing and promoting College events open to the public, ensuring they are well-attended and effectively communicated. Marketing Support Campaigns: Assist in the planning and executing of marketing campaigns aimed at external audiences, including prospective students, donors, and community members. Promotional Materials: Develop and distribute promotional materials, ensuring they align with overall communication strategies. Communication Materials: Coordinate with HC Media and Design to produce communication and promotional materials. Reporting and Analysis Measure Impact: Track and report on the effectiveness of external communication efforts using metrics and analytics to assess performance. Feedback and Improvement: Gather input from external audiences and stakeholders to improve communication strategies and tactics continuously. Regular Reporting: Prepare reports on communication outcomes and project progress for the Executive Director of External Communications and key stakeholders. Administrative Tasks Documentation: Maintain records of communication activities, including project timelines and content calendars. Vendor Coordination: Coordinate with external vendors, such as printers or graphic designers, for communication materials. Resource Management Assist in managing budgets for external communications projects, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to financial constraints. Support College Leadership Executive Communication: Assist in drafting talking points, speeches, statements, and communication materials for College leadership, particularly for public appearances and video needs. Advisory Role: Provide advice and insights to the Executive Director of External Communications on communication strategies and best practices for engaging external audiences. Compliance and Ethical Standards Adhere to Guidelines: Ensure all communications comply with relevant legal, ethical, and institutional guidelines. Protect Confidentiality: Handle sensitive information with discretion. Other Duties Participate in ministry at Church of the Highlands and Highlands College by leading small groups. Affirm and uphold the Statement of Faith and the Core Values and DNA of the College, exemplifying all by word and lifestyle. Exceptional time management, organizational, and prioritization skills with a particular emphasis on accuracy, follow-through, and attention to detail. Qualifications Personal Characteristics Ability to remain resilient under pressure and effectively adapt to multiple demands, ambiguity, and rapid change. Acts with integrity and honesty. Authentic. Demonstrates a genuine spirit of collaboration with an interest in supporting others, coaching, and training to improve performance. Demonstrates a positive attitude and outlook. Dependable. Highly focused, self-starter with a keen ability to take initiative. Seeks and appreciates open and honest feedback for development and personal growth. Trustworthy. Essential Traits Action-oriented. Communicator. Decisive. Detail-oriented. Initiative. Organized. Problem-solving. Professionalism. Strategist. Abilities and Skills Must exemplify excellent problem-solving and project-management skills. Ability to think and act independently with a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality. Capability to handle multiple projects and exercise decision-making authority effectively. Must be computer-literate (Apple products preferred) and understand basic technology for essential job responsibilities. Must be a strong communicator with excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, which help build and maintain relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including community leaders, prospective audiences, and College Team. Ability to self-motivate. Must be able to make clear, well-guided decisions on behalf of the Executive Director of External Communications. High level of accuracy in editing and proofreading content, with a keen eye for detail. Must demonstrate excellent strategic thinking skills and take initiative through proactive planning and follow-through. Knowledge Have a high-level understanding of English grammar and how to structure complete sentences. Know how to format a letter properly - both physical and electronic. Have a basic knowledge of a college's external audiences and stakeholders. Education Bachelor of Arts degree preferred but not required. Preferred Fields: Communications. Marketing. Journalism. English. Business Administration (with a focus on communications or marketing). Experience Minimum of 1 years of closely related professional experience. Extensive experience and high proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Customer Relationship Systems (CRM), and email campaign platforms (Mailchimp, Reach, etc.). Proficiency in digital tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and analytics tools (i.e., Google Analytics). Experience in leading and managing communication projects from start to finish, including creating timelines, coordinating with teams, and delivering projects on time. Writing and editing skills, with a portfolio that demonstrates the ability to craft clear, concise, and engaging content for different audiences and platforms. Extent of Public Contact Medium. Physical Demands Moderate exposure to physical risk. J-18808-Ljbffr