External Communications Director

Department: Communications and Marketing

Classification: Public Relations & Mktg Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of University Branding (OUB) at George Mason University is responsible for telling the Mason story. Relying on a team of highly skilled communicators and marketing professionals, the department builds awareness and support for the university, develops and protects the brand and shares important and timely information with the Mason community and its external partners.

About the Position:

The External Communications Director is a self-motivated and talented communications professional, with a strong media relations background. The position promotes and protects the university’s brand by developing external messaging and web sites that tell the full story of Mason, including its leadership, mission and vision, initiatives and priorities; manages external communications campaigns and major announcements; and plays a key role in crisis communications planning and response.

Responsibilities:

• Manages the department’s external communications activities such as media relations, reputation management, crisis communications, and campaigns related to key initiatives that engage university stakeholders and build Mason’s brand recognition;
• Reporting to the Executive Director of News, proactively designs and manages issue campaigns, including messaging and story creation, around the university’s high-level projects and announcements such as Mason’s Virginia Promise, Green Mason, and Workforce/Talent initiatives;
• Serves as the lead editor for Mason’s main informational webpages that will serve as a digital press kit to external audiences (“About Mason”). Responsible for identifying appropriate information for the webpage and works across the university and OUB to ensure that the content is current and relevant, and updated on other sources such as social platforms and collateral materials;
• Responsible for ensuring the consistent communication of talking points, facts, issues, and background materials across all Office of University Branding platforms. Collaborating with the Presidential communications team, produces content for senior leadership, including the annual President’s Report, talking points, email communications, op-eds, fact sheets, backgrounders, FAQs, and other executive communications;
• Oversees national/local/industry media relations for the Office of University Branding, working with a Media Relations Manager and external communications council as needed, building relationships with media, pitching stories, responding to incoming requests, establishing process for media management, and establishing news procedures with Mason’s colleges, schools, and institutes to better align the work; and
• Works directly with the Deputy Vice President for the Office of University Branding and Manager of Internal Communications on updating and maintaining the crisis communications plan, as well as working with offices across Mason when responding to crisis and other reputational issues.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Substantial experience in corporate communications or communications and information management;
• Demonstrated skills in writing, editing, and producing for multiple platforms, and translating complex stories for multiple audiences;
• Strong knowledge of communication practices and techniques;
• Demonstrated skill in media relations;
• Excellent presentation and organizational skills;
• Ability to multitask and work well under pressure;
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines; and
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including being a team player capable of working collaboratively with colleagues and leadership.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience in corporate communications or communications and information management.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for External Communications Director at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume. Additionally, please submit samples of press releases/media advisories, talking points, fact sheets or executive communications, as well as a media pitch that produced a successful outcome (upload as writing sample/portfolio).

Posting Open Date: March 8, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: March 24, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes