Communication and Public Relations Manager

The manager leads and is proactive in identifying compelling stories and messages for a variety of college constituencies. The manager takes projects from inception to completion and is one of the primary “storytellers” for the college. Duties include collaborating with others across campus on communications with internal and external constituents, serving as the college’s primary media liaison, and assists the president and senior leadership with messaging for public speaking engagements, media interviews, as needed.

The manager of college communications is a steward of the Alma brand, working to maintain Alma’s graphic standards and the style guide to ensure consistency and clarity, and serves as the editor and primary content creator for the college’s magazine, The Tartan.

This position reports to the Senior Director of Marketing.

• Lead projects from ideation to completion with a sense of urgency, working primarily independently and also collaboratively to execute strategic communication initiatives
• This role partners with the Senior Director of Marketing to:
• plan and implement communication goals and action plans aligned with the college’s strategic objectives
• define key messages that articulate the value of an Alma education
• collaborate with the marketing team to disseminate communications across the appropriate media mix to increase brand awareness and visibility
• Maintain media contact lists and positive relations with media, handle all media inquiries, serve as the college's primary spokesperson, monitor news coverage, and expand media placements to benefit Alma College
• Lead creation of multimedia content — including press releases, blogs, audio/video, social media, and email about faculty, students, staff, alumni, donors, and programs, developing story topics, gathering information, interviewing sources, and ensuring accuracy for publications and the college website
• Work collaboratively with senior leadership and the Advancement Office to develop themes, identify subjects, create content, and ensure timely publication of The Tartan, serving as the editor of the college magazine
• Communicate effectively with campus clients, external vendors, and departmental colleagues to determine goals, audience, content, and timelines, fostering positive relationships and maintaining high standards
• Lead collaborative projects, ensuring completion within established timelines and budgets, and oversees the online “Newsroom” and story sharing across the college website
• Advance the scope, quality, and dissemination of college communications by monitoring industry best practices and developing new initiatives and serving as a consultative resource for faculty and staff
• Manage crisis communication and serve as a primary administrator for the college’s crisis alert system
• Develop and refine executive communications, including speeches, remarks, talking points, and messaging for institutional initiatives and public-facing engagements
• Lead and coordinate internal messaging efforts, including campus Town Halls, institutional email communications, and management of the college events calendar, to support campus awareness and organizational transparency
  - Copy, edit, and proofread communications
• Help maintain the website for accessibility and optimized content performance
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree in communication, media studies or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to take the lead, strategize, and execute communication initiatives independently and collaboratively
• Excellent written communication skills, with experience in storytelling and writing through a marketing lens
• Experience in building and maintaining…