Director of Media Relations/Deputy Spokesperson job with James Madison University

James Madison University

Mission

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated
and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful
lives.

Vision

To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with
ideas and the world.

Who We Are

Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the
city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington,
D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000,
Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the
Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution
with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that
lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for
students, faculty and staff. The student body includes
approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students,
with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and
technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate,
master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to
expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting
superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national
recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on
maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative
faculty research.

JMU is accepting applications for Senior Associate Director of
University Communications and Deputy Spokesperson, which falls
within the University Advancement Division. This role will support
communication efforts across campus to uphold the mission and
vision of JMU.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a strategic plan for campus media
relations.
• Identify key performance indicators and produce reports detailing
the effectiveness of earned media efforts.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with faculty,
staff and administrators across campus to identify story ideas and
provide counsel. Develop media training curriculum and initiate
training as needed.
• Pitch stories to media via news releases, editorials, opinion
pieces, advisories, experts’ lists, video stories, social media and
other tactics that advance university priorities.
• Respond to requests from media for information and access to
administrators. Manage media requests that require on-campus
interaction and presence.
• Speak on behalf of the university on a number of topics, in
counsel and partnership with division and senior leadership.
• Lead strategy for the university’s media monitoring and press
release distribution software.
• Collaborate with marketing colleagues and other campus partners
to use video and photos to package and pitch stories in new and
interesting ways.
• Stay up-to-date on new PR systems, best practices, applications
and technologies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Serve as a member of the Crisis Communications Team.
• Duties can include giving guidance, writing statements, serving
as a resource for journalists and/or managing messages during
emergencies and reputational crises. Also responsible for
implementing inclement weather and emergency notifications.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters
• Excellent writing, editing and oral communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with members across campus and
others inside/outside of the organization
• Proficiency with communications tools and analytics and ability
to work under deadlines
• Success with pitching content across multiple channels for earned
media

To apply go to https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/16150
or visit JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number F2368. Pay
Rate: Commensurate with Experience
James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed
to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and
educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination.
This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on
the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression,
genetic information, national origin, parental status, political
affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran
status.

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