Assistant Director, Communications

Company Overview  

For more than 160 years, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (UHSP) has provided a world-class education for health care leaders and innovators. Since its founding, the campus has been a place where future professionals and practitioners come together to learn, grow, challenge each other, and find new ways to tackle society's most pressing health care problems. 

Employees are treated to a rich benefits package, a great campus in the heart of St. Louis’ biggest health care community, and an exciting college community where they can really make a difference for our students, colleagues and the health care of our region. 

Position Overview  

The University has a long-standing record of excellence as a pharmacy college and recently grew into a University, expanding its undergraduate and graduate offerings. The Assistant Director of Communications will support all departments in an effort to raise University awareness. They are responsible for developing a strong public relations strategy and promoting a positive University image.  

Roles & Responsibilities  

Media relations responsibilities include:   

• Develop publicity/earned media strategies for the University. 

• Create and implement a PR plan, including pitches, budgets, timelines, etc. 

• Pitch the University, its stakeholders, outcomes, etc. to key media audiences throughout the year. 

• With other University stakeholders, lead, maintain and implement our crisis communication strategy, when needed. Be responsible for all writing for crisis communications. 

• Identify, develop and serve as a point of contact for all media contacts. 

• Provide counsel and media training to University leadership, staff, faculty and students for events, press conferences and other media opportunities. 

• Serve on the Emergency Management Operations Group and contribute to the functions related to the Public Information Officer role as outlined in the National Incident Management System (NIMS). 

• Analyze all media coverage for the organization and provide reports as needed to the President’s Staff, University Leadership, Board of Trustees, etc.   

Content responsibilities include:  

• Collaborate with and develop official communications for the Office of the President (email, speeches, talking points, etc.). 

• Develop communications for internal University audiences. 

• Support the creative team in developing content and stories for various communications, as needed. 

• Review written communications for effectiveness and AP style compliance, as needed. 

• Ensure tone and voice consistency across University communications (website, social, video, etc.). 

• Alongside Marketing team members, support the management of social media commentary. 

• Determine opportunities to leverage and reuse existing content across channels. 

• Conduct interviews and research for earned media opportunities and supplemental content.  

• Stay current with content trends and consumer behavior. 

To succeed in this role, you will need:  

• A bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications or similar field of study  

• 6+ years of experience leading communications or public relations projects and implementing strategies 

• Extensive experience dealing with media contacts and community partners 

• Experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to manage and communicate during crisis incidents 

• The ability to understand information systems across University functions and departments and to use those systems effectively in a strategic and integrated capacity 

• Strategic and tactical thinking, data-driven decision making, and short and long-term planning skills are required 

• The ability to perform work with various computer applications  

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks  

• Ability to work under deadline pressure but maintain attentio