Assistant Director of Public Relations

Position Title:

Assistant Director of Public Relations

Job Description:

All Hinds Community College employees must commit to the Caring Campus approach to student engagement and daily apply these general behavioral objectives: listen to student questions and concerns with a positive attitude and make meaningful connections with students.

The Assistant Director of Public Relations must be skilled in multiple types of writing, including storytelling, news, features, marketing and web content for internal and external audiences, including staff, students and the news media. The Assistant Director of Public Relations will work to keep college employees and the public informed through written communications about the policies, activities, projects, plans and events of Hinds Community College. The Assistant Director of Public Relations will attend college events, gather data, research material, conduct interviews and write for internal publications, including college foundation newsletters, staff newsletters, an annual report and an annual student archive publication. The candidate also must be experienced in writing and editing news releases and advisories, and writing cutlines, feature articles, people profiles and public service announcements.

The ability to manage a variety of projects, multi-task, meet deadlines and work with various stakeholders to source and create content are essential. This person must be a detail-oriented team player, flexible, creative, forward-thinking and work easily with team members, including coordinating with photographers, videographers, graphic designers and social media specialists on assignments. Strong knowledge of Associated Press style is required. Any other skills such as graphic design are a plus but not essential to the functions of the role.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

MANDATORY: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in public relations, journalism, communications, new media or a directly related field, and two-three years of directly related experience; proficiency in utilizing social media platforms.

DESIRED: A master’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in public relations, journalism, communications, new media or a directly related field and a minimum of one (1) year of directly related experience; OR at least 18 graduate hours in journalism-related. Proficiency in photography, video or graphic design experience utilizing Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign and Photoshop.

         

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, include the following.

Other duties may be assigned.

•        Maintain knowledge of diversity-related issues, legislation, and best practices.

•        Conducts research and takes detailed notes to retain ideas, develop actual information, and maintain authenticity.

•        Using current Associated Press journalism writing style, write, rewrite and edit news releases, feature articles, public service announcements, publications, website content, blogs or any other material for the media or in-house.

•        Help coordinate photo assignments for online and print publications

•        Responsible for management of the college’s employee email notification service, Hinds Insider Update. Staff receive email notifications on emergency weather situations, college closings, HR policies and events, and more. This task requires a detail-oriented person, putting together well-written messages in clear language and distributing messages to staff on multiple campuses in a timely manner, sometimes under pressure.

•        Take the lead role in creation of content for the college’s online employee newsletter, On Campus, including working with various college departments to assemble a list of proposed stories and photographs, reporting and writing stories, coordinating photography and video to supplement story packages and ensuring all stories are audience-ready, including proofing and aligning to AP Style.

•        In conjunction with the Alumni Coordinator, assemble a list of proposed content of stories and photographs for Hindsight (Hinds Foundation) alumni magazine, take the lead to source and write articles, ensure