Director of Communications – Worcester State University Position Available In Worcester, Massachusetts

Director of Communications – Worcester State University Worcester State University – 4.0 Worcester, MA Job Details Full-time $92,000 – $100,000 a year 1 day ago Benefits 401(a) Paid holidays Disability insurance Health insurance Dental insurance Life insurance Qualifications Public Relations WordPress Social media management 5 years Writing skills Journalism Master’s degree Project management Team management Organizational skills Interviewing Senior level Leadership Communication skills

Marketing Editing Full Job Description Location:

Worcester, MA Category:

Administrators Posted On:

Thu Jun 12 2025

Job Description:

OFFICIAL TITLE

Director of Communications

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Assistant Director of Communications, Marketing & Project Management General Statement of Duties:

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing and supervising the Assistant Director of Communications, Marketing and Project Management, the Director of Communications is key leader in the university’s internal and external communications efforts and serves in the essential role of secondary Public Information Officer (PIO) for the university. The Communications Director works closely with University Advancement to help guide communications strategy, draft content, and collaborate on engagement efforts regarding fundraising, alumni, volunteerism and affinity building. The Director serves as the university’s chief storyteller, and develops and maintains strong relationships across divisions to continually source engaging and compelling student, faculty, research and alumni stories. The Director oversees the university’s news gathering and publishing activities and serves as editor for the university’s alumni magazine, donor magazine, and alumni newsletter. In addition, the Director works with the AVP of Communications and Marketing to support internal communications, draft communications policy, set university communications strategy, and support PR efforts, including drafting press releases and pitching stories to the media. The Director is a regular writing contributor to all university publications and is responsible for generating news content, announcements, talking points and messaging and other materials as directed by the AVP. The Director ensures that all content produced by the communications and Advancement teams adheres to university editorial style guidelines. As the university’s secondary PIO, the Director will serve as PIO for the university in the absence of the AVP, serving as the media contact and spokesperson. In emergencies, the Director will be available to support the AVP as the secondary PIO in all activities related to crisis communications. The Director is responsible for completing all emergency management training required for the PIO’s role and participating in all university emergency management training exercises. The Director will continually create a fresh, compelling continuity among Advancement print and digital publications, serve as an advisor to Advancement leadership and provide support for Advancement web content, social media, and other divisional editorial needs. In addition, the Director works closely with divisional senior management and staff, and collaboratively with numerous units across campus in developing communications materials. The Director will provide editorial/content supervision to the University’s staff writer(s), student employee, student interns and graduate assistants, and will support the continued professional development of writers in the department. Editorial supervision includes news stories, major publications, alumni publications and newsletters, and any additional/ancillary forms of communications, digital or print. The Director will provide strategic communication support to the goals and objectives of the Office of Communications and Marketing (MARCOM) and delegate assignments and projects to the Assistant Director of Communications, Marketing and Project Management.

Responsibilities:

(E) = Essential (E) Supervise the university’s news site, alumni magazine, donor magazine, alumni newsletter and other Advancement and university publications to include creating production plans, story assignments, research, writing stories, editing stories, proofreading, assigning photos, collaborating on design and printing, ensuring the accuracy of all content and overseeing related vendor deliverables (E) Serve as secondary PIO for the university, including acting as spokesperson and media contact. Is available to support the AVP and PIO with crisis communication management if there is an emergency. (E) Support the AVP of Communications and Marketing with public relations, to include drafting press releases and announcements, pitching stories, and responding to media inquiries as needed E) Support the AVP of Communications and Marketing with internal communications, including collaborating in the development and maintenance of a robust internal communications program that supports transparency and the exchange of timely, actionable and accurate information for staff, faculty and students (E) Participates in university working groups to plan, coordinate and execute original communications products and publications related to special events and programs. (E) Supports the work of the Assistant Vice President of Communications and Marketing and the Vice President of Advancement as directed. (E) Collaborates with University Advancement to maintain a robust social media presence for alumni, community and donor engagement, works with others to ensure platforms are updated, and consistent with the University’s social media practices and procedures. (E) Supports University Advancement website to ensure it is updated with fresh, compelling content on a regular basis and works with others to create content, as needed. (E) Supervision of assistant director, staff writers, interns, student employees, photographers and freelance writers/vendors, to include tracking and accountability for related budgets (E) Regularly assess communication to key constituents for opportunities to refine and strengthen content and strategy, and to deliver on the University’s overall goals/objectives. Act as an essential employee during emergency and weather-related events as a member of the Emergency Response Team, to ensure timely and accurate communication to campus constituents. (E) Collaborating with units from across campus including, but not limited to, President’s Office, Advancement, MARCOM, schools, institutes, and auxiliary services to ensure message, branding, production and delivery is appropriate, timely, error free and in service to the University, the division, and the targeted constituencies. (E) Other responsibilities in support of the Office of Communications and Marketing division and University, as directed. (E) Demonstrates civility and professional, customer-service oriented behavior, worthy of emulation by other staff and students. (E) Responsible for contributing to the WSU Strategic Plan. (E) Responsible for contributing to Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action objectives. Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

A minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in communications. Excellent skills in writing and editing, including news stories, announcements, press releases, feature articles, talking points, op-eds, video scripts and a variety of marketing collateral. Experience in producing print publications/magazines, to include development of production and editorial calendars, design and layout, writing and editing, and printing processes Strong project management and organizational skills to run a busy department and ensure all deadlines are met and all projects are delivered on time, on budget and on scope Excellent interviewing, communication and relational skills for working collaboratively with faculty, students, alumni, donors, university leaders, community partners, and other external stakeholders Demonstrated ability to define marketing and strategic communications goals and objectives for multiple target audiences, and to develop and implement strategic communications plans to accomplish goals. Working knowledge of industry-accepted communications technology to include web content management systems, design programs, social media platforms, and enewsletter systems to reach a broad base of constituents. Ability to manage a team effectively in a complex environment of multiple deadlines Must be a strategic and creative thinker, a persuasive communicator, and an excellent team player eager to work collaboratively with administrative, academic and governing leadership across the University.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism or related field. Experience working at a four-year institution of higher education, public or private. Proficiency with Google products, WordPress and the Encompass Imodules platform.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, benefited, exempt, professional APA position. The firm annual salary range for this position is $92,000- $100,000, commensurate with relevant professional experience and education. Here at Worcester State University, it is strongly recommended that all employees be vaccinated against

COVID-19

before they begin employment. Worcester State University offers a competitive benefits package that includes: a choice of 8 different pre-taxed, health insurance plan options a choice of pension or 401(a), and supplemental plan retirement options life insurance up to 8x the annual salary long-term disability coverage dental insurance 20 vacation days accrued per year 15 sick days accrued per year 5 personal days per year paid holidays tuition remission for self, spouse, and dependent children and more… We are an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. M/F/D/V. Members of traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.