Student Agency Director - Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Title: Student Agency Director - Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication - 100090

Position Number:100090

Unit/Department: Dean's Office Journalism

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Drake University is a forward-thinking community of scholars with a focus on active, collaborative learning and applied scholarship. Drake is in Des Moines, Iowa—a vibrant city that is nationally recognized for its quality of life and a wealth of opportunities for professional, social and civic engagement. A Drake education couples hands‑on training in professional skills with a strong liberal arts education.

We strive to create a community of scholars that represents the complexity of the human experience in regards to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, gender identification, religion, age and physical abilities. We are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all our faculty, staff, students and visitors. We develop and offer innovative programming serving a variety of audiences, including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as community members, industry professionals, and retirees.

The successful applicant will join a collegial, welcoming, energetic and supportive community.

To learn more about the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, visit: https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./sjmc

Funded by generous support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the Agency Director is a full‑time professional staff member who provides consistent leadership, mentorship, and business acumen in Drake’s new student-powered Agency. This person ensures the Agency operates at a professional standard, builds a sustainable pipeline of client work, and supports students as they develop into career‑ready professionals.

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, advertising, journalism, marketing, communications, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public relations, advertising, marketing, or strategic communications.
• Demonstrated experience managing client relationships, campaigns, or projects from proposal through execution and evaluation.
• Strong writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets and/or financial records.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, or supervise early‑career professionals, interns, or students.
• Working knowledge of core communications disciplines, including media relations, content creation, social media, and campaign strategy and evaluation.
• Commitment to ethical practice consistent with the PRSA and AAF Codes of Ethics and the AMA Statement of Ethics.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, clients, and community stakeholders, including small businesses and nonprofits led by individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
• Proficiency with standard office, project management, and communications and social media tools.

• Prior experience working in a professional communications, advertising, or public relations agency, in an account service, strategy, or leadership capacity.
• Experience with new‑business development, including client prospecting, pitching, proposal writing, and contract negotiation.
• Experience working within or advising a student‑run or start‑up agency, lab, or similar experiential learning program.
• Master's degree in public relations, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• Professional certification such as Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
• Active membership and/or leadership involvement in PRSA, AAF, AMA, or a comparable professional association.
• Experience preparing award submissions and/or accreditation/affiliation…