| DUTIES: Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Communications and Marketing, the Director of Media and Public Relations will be responsible for leading and executing a comprehensive media and public relations and public affairs strategy for the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and all of its public/private functions in the region at the local and national level. In addition to strategy setting, the Director will support the Associate Vice President of Communications and Marketing by developing an end-to-end executive visibility program, leading and implementing reputation management/crisis communications plans; integrating and overseeing the University's public affairs platforms in conjunction with the Director of Government relations; directly managing public relations and public affairs activities that promote, enhance and protect the University's overall brand and value proposition; coordinate with the University's public and private partners to ensure consistency in public relations efforts at the state and national level; and manage both an internal PR team as well as multiple PR agencies. Furthermore, this role will work in concert with the Government Affairs, and Marketing teams to prominently and strategically position the SUNY Downstate Institution, its program, and its executives. Key Attributes: The ideal candidate will have significant experience with: - Building differentiated earned media platforms. - Reputation and issues management. - Serving as a spokesperson and high-level/trade media handler. - Navigating complex industries, large organizations, and government institutions. - Serving as strategic counsel to senior leadership. - Managing executive communications platforms. - Building and retaining strong relationships with high-level, specialized media. - Comprehensive communications planning, messaging and execution. - Managing a team, recruiting and retaining talent, managing PR agencies. - Excellent writing, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Deep knowledge of higher education, government and political industries preferred. Responsibilities: - Build and implement local and national strategic public relations/public affairs plans to advance and promote SUNY Downstate to stakeholder and audience/demographic segments. - Develop strategic communications programs/campaigns that drive brand affinity and visibility at the state and national level. Lead and execute crisis and executive communications strategies. - Work with SUNY partners, as well as its public and private partners, to execute cohesive public relations and public affairs strategies across all platforms, channels, and across wide range of stakeholders and audiences. - Lead and execute quarterly, bi-annual, annual and ad hoc reporting of success to senior executives. - Manage PR team and its supporting agencies. (DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE ABOVE POSITION DESCRIPTION) QUALIFICATIONS: Required: - A minimum of 10-12 years of experience in public relations, public/government affairs, and corporate communications with proven career growth and increased responsibilities. - Proven ability to create, manage and execute media relations strategies to support executive media platforms, programs, and new initiatives, among other newsworthy items. - Deep knowledge of and relationship with top tier media with some or all having a higher education, health/medical, political and corporate responsibility-focus. - Proven ability in the area of crisis communications must have experience advising and managing major crises on behalf of corporate executives and government institutions and agencies. - Proven ability to stay one-step ahead of anticipated news and industry trends via proactive communications, in addition to timely reactive communications. - Excellent writing skills exhibited via extensive and successful organizational content development, executive speech writing skills, pitched and placed op-eds, and short/long-form copy used cross-functionally across all owned and paid channels/platforms. - Must have public affairs/PR agency experience and at least 7-years of experience managing PR agencies from an external, in-house position. - Strong background in political communications, as well as targeted-demographic communications is a must. Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into tangible action plans. - Executive presence and confidence to gain the credibility and respect of high-performing leaders and media professionals. - Ability to make decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs. Education: - Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, or Communications is a must. - Advanced degree in Strategic or Global Communications or related field is preferred. Additional Info: SUNY DMC will not cover or reimburse any relocation incurred expenses for this position. Applications without a Cover Letter will NOT be considered. Please DO NOT contact the department directly.Closing Date: Open Until Filled STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER |
