Assistant Director of Communications in Chester

Widener University is currently seeking an Assistant Director of Communications in the Office of University Relations. Reporting to the Executive Director of Communications, this role serves as a primary liaison between the University Relations Department and academic/administrative departments for the purpose of developing strategic public relations initiatives and helping the University Relations Department raise the profile of the university. This is done through internal and external channels including the regional and national news media, university magazines and newsletters, digital entities (website, social media and blogs), and special events.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

• Working with deans, faculty, staff, and students in academic/administrative departments to develop strategic communications initiatives that involve media relations, special events, and content development for social media, website and other digital storytelling platforms.
• Developing and disseminating press releases, media advisories, op-ed pieces, student-written columns, and story pitches to local, regional and national news media that support and advance the university brand.
• Identifying and training deans and faculty in academic/administrative departments for media relations work including interviewing skills, op-ed writing, and the importance of developing a digital presence including social media.
• Working with the Executive Director of Communications to develop digital communication strategies via university websites and social media channels.
• Creating and sharing content that supports those strategies, the university brand and strategic university priorities.
• Working with academic/administrative departments to develop new, and strengthen existing, special events to maximize their potential to attract prospective students and news media as part of strategic communications initiatives.
• Writing for and/or editing university publications including Widener Insider and the Daily News Briefing.
• Working with the Office of Development & Alumni Engagement and University Relations, manage all editorial, production and distribution processes of the Widener alumni magazine.
• Developing statistical reports on university news media coverage.

Secondary responsibilities:

• Shooting and editing video content for social media and other digital publications and platforms.
• Supporting university events by attending, gathering information, taking photographs and generating news content which positions them as part of a vibrant university community.
• Updating website content on a regular basis.
• Serving on university committees as requested.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned or directed to support departmental needs and align with the mission of University Relations and Widener University.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Problem Solving: The ability to recognize emerging issues and address them before they become problems.
• Communication: Superior written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills. Superior storytelling and editing skills.
• Complexity of Tasks: The ability to take scientific or technical research and explain it in simple terms. The ability to develop strategic initiatives that correspond to the academic/administrative departmental goals and the university’s strategic priorities.
• Leadership Skills: The ability to build trust and develop a team-member mentality with academic/administrative departments.
• Initiative/Creativity: Ability to work independently, think on the fly and be flexible. The ability to develop creative ways to tell stories and attract the attention of prospective students and the news media.
• Supervision: Occasional supervision of work/study students or interns.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

• Required: Bachelor’s degree and one to three years of Public Relations, Communications or Journalism experience. An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered. Excellent writing and copy-editing skills, and oral communication skills. Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks on deadline. A creative approach to storytelling. The ability to shoot and edit digital photography.
• Preferred: Previous website content maintenance experience. Experience using Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for on-brand strategic messaging. The ability to shoot and edit video. Higher education experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL HOURS: Position requires some evening and weekend assignments. Moderate amount of standing, walking, climbing stairs, bending and kneeling. Occasional travel between university campuses required. Must have a valid driver’s license and a vehicle.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran. Some positions may be eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement that may include a partially or fully remote work location, consistent with Widener’s Flexible Work policy.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.