Senior Director of Public Relations

12 Month Salaried FT

SCAD seeks an experienced, senior director of public relations to be responsible for managing the reputation of SCAD Atlanta on the local, national, and international stage.

In this full-time position, you will be responsible for the promotion of students, alumni, faculty, administration, and signature events from select schools. Promotion entails the announcements of awards, recognition, partnerships, events, and conferences, as well as the development of trending stories and special initiatives that will bring recognition to the university and actively advance the university's mission. You will write press materials, pull media lists, assemble press clippings, and create media plans for specific SCAD signature events. You will oversee and manage interviews and small press events, including creating detailed talking points and material preparation; maintain coverage reports for stand-alone events and media placements, and send out hometown news releases regarding student and alumni success.

As a senior director of public relations, you will coordinate with the university's larger communications branch (e.g., visual media, photography, interactive, social, project managers), other directors of PR, and physical resources to manage interviews and stories and prepare spaces for all interviews, photography, and videography. You will assist with the maintenance of the award application database for departments across SCAD, train identified spokespeople to handle media relations, and pitch SCAD profiles/events to the media. Among other duties, you will also liaise with the directors of PR at other SCAD locations to ensure comprehensive and consistent messaging and strategies, and develop new initiatives that strengthen relationships between SCAD and the publications the university targets for placement.

The successful candidate displays proficiency in public relations, crisis communications, and knowledge of how PR combines with other strategies to form an integrated marketing approach. The candidate should also have a strong network of professional relationships with local, regional, and national media contacts.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited, four-year university
  • Minimum seven years of public relations experience, preferably business and tech
  • Ability to travel

Certificates, licenses and registrations: Valid driver's license

Work Hours:The university work week is Sunday through Saturday. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. In order to accommodate business needs, employees may be assigned to other work days and/or hours, including weekends and evenings.

ADA Tag: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed 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.