Overview

The Director of Communications and Public Relations is the chief storyteller at Touro University Nevada (Touro). The professional is responsible for creating and directing storylines that bring to life the university’s mission, vision, and values. In partnership with key stakeholders, this position identifies, collects, produces, and distributes creative content to engage external audiences, leveraging a range of traditional, digital, and social channels.

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, this position supervises the social media specialist and leads the external contract with a public relations firm. The Director is the team backup to the Director of University Marketing and Advertising.

Located in Henderson, Nevada, approximately twenty-five minutes from the notorious Las Vegas strip, Touro University Nevada is a non-profit medical, health sciences, and education graduate university focused on positively impacting our community in healthcare and education. Our values surrounding social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity are steadfast and are clearly visible in the actions of our students, faculty, staff, and graduates.

We invite you to apply to our position for consideration to join the ranks of our diverse, talented, and professional staff and faculty. Please visit the tun.touro.edu/administration/human-resources website where you can see a comprehensive listing of optional benefits and Human Resources contact information.

Responsibilities

BROAD RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Director is charged with overall leadership of the university's media and public relations, social media, and internal communication functions, as well as leadership of Touro’s strategic communications content approach. The Director will understand deeply their role as the university’s chief storyteller and the fluid responsibilities surrounding this vital role to the institution; and lead the formation of the university’s ‘why’ through internal and external collaborations and discussions.

Broad responsibilities include proactively elevating the university's academic profile and reputation on a local, state, and national level; consistently telling the university's story through a strategic and innovative approach that maximizes both human and capital resources; developing and executing an integrated, comprehensive university-wide communications strategy; integrating the communications planning efforts of deans and academic program directors; supporting and advancing a research-based approach to using key messages and identifying target audiences; leading crisis/emergency plans; serving as principal liaison with media; and identifying and supporting innovative and best practice methods for communicating with employees and other internal groups.

Detailed Responsibilities

Serve as the lead writer and content developer for the university.
Develop a communications strategy for internal and external stakeholders, advancing the university and increasing the value of the university’s degree programs.
Produce articles, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, slideshows, short films, livestream events, and other types of content for print and digital media.
Collaborate with students, deans, faculty, staff, alumni/ae, and donors to gather and develop storytelling assets and concepts.
Provide content for, write, and direct the production of the monthly TUNews newsletter, Touro YOU donor magazine, the university’s alumni/ae magazine , social media channels, employee recruitment flyers, and other identified communication pieces. Draft other institutional communications such as nominations for prestigious awards, policy announcements, press releases, and event invites.
Create and direct messaging and campaigns across social media channels in liaison with outside PR agency, outside social media vendor, internal departments, and student workers.
Coordinate between college/school/department/program and outside graphic designer, printer, bulk mailer, and/or various outside vendors necessary for completion of projects.
Direct, manage, and maintain the TUN photos library.
Ensure that messages from senior management are properly reflected in communications to stakeholders.
In collaboration with the Director of University Marketing and Advertising, direct university video projects in liaison with internal departments and outside vendors.
Establish and track analytics for all communication platforms.
Research, write, edit, and fact-check marketing collateral for print, email, social, and web.
Given the nature of the 24/7 news and issues cycle, this role requires availability outside of traditional work hours.
Other duties as assigned and relevant to executing work within the general scope of the role.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has supervisory responsibilities. It supervises the following position(s) and external contracts:

Social Media Specialist/university-contracted social media agency.
Team of Federal Work Study students (FWS), enough to cover 20 hours each week depending on allotment from Financial Aid.
External PR Firm
External Professional Photographer

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Preference given to degrees in public relations, marketing, journalism, communications, or business.
Five years experience in communications or marketing communications roles or commensurate positions. Preference given to experience in a higher education setting.
Proven ability to write persuasively. Preference given to candidates with experience in philanthropic writing.
Proven track record of successfully executing social media campaigns and content.
Ability to execute multiple projects simultaneously and produce high-quality deliverables on tight deadlines.
Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated success developing and implementing communications strategies in a university environment.
Ability to communicate with a diverse group of individuals, internally and externally, particularly contractors, suppliers, peers, and senior management.
Self-starter, proven track record of teamwork, innovation, and results.

Preferred Qualifications

Seven or more years experience in communications or marketing communications roles. Preference given to experience in a higher education setting.
Experience in medical and health care related disciplines.

Essential Characteristics

Teammate
Collegial
Mature interpersonal and relationship-building skills
Heartfelt commitment to Touro’s cause
Storyteller
Detail-oriented
Adaptable
Resilient
Determined
Humble
Having deep integrity, honesty, and the ability to maintain confidentiality
Willing to persevere through adversity
Motivator
Researcher
Creative thinker

Institutional And Cultural Commitments

Organizational culture is the fabric of job satisfaction. The Director will have a demonstrated commitment to fostering a professional experience and team culture aligned with Touro’s values that feels fluid, calm, and harmonious through the use of soft skills such as an enduring positive attitude, communication, problem-solving, teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and empathy.

Touro’s Values

Ethics: Personal accountability and professional ethics in all things we do. Demonstrated understanding of Touro policies and guidelines. Simultaneous focus on individual development and the greater good.
Integrity: Teamwork to achieve departmental goals and fulfill the Touro mission, focused on the needs of our students. Robust communication and collaboration to include others and ensure continued learning. Contribution to a workplace environment that fosters growth, intellectual inquiry, and innovation.
Respect: Treatment of all people with dignity, respect, and inclusion. Interactions with students, employees, partners, and members of the community that always conveys an attitude of helpfulness, client service with a focus on positive outcomes, and cheerfulness. Recognition that the little things are often the big things: being on time, giving your best effort, helping others, keeping promises. Being kind.

HOURS

Mon – Thurs, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Given the nature of the 24/7 news and issues cycle, this role requires availability outside of traditional work hours. Weekend and evening work will be necessary to meet communications and media demands. The Advancement Division is cognizant, however, that work life balance is of paramount importance.

For full consideration, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references by Wednesday, July 5. Internal applicants are encouraged to apply.

Touro offers a wide range of employee benefits and perks including a flexible work schedule and a 38-hour base work week (early close on Friday at 3:00 pm, year-round). To learn more about Touro’s benefits, visit https://tun.touro.edu/administration/human-resources/benefits/ .

**SPECIAL NOTICE**

As we work to keep everyone safe and healthy, Touro will be requiring every student and employee to be fully vaccinated prior to coming on campus, starting June 1, 2021. Medical or religious exemptions can be requested through Human Resources or Student Health. A comprehensive policy regarding vaccinations will be distributed to the campus in the near future.

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