Lake Erie College, a small, co-educational, four-year, independent liberal arts college located in Painesville, OH, 30 miles east of Cleveland, invites applications for the full-time position of Public Affairs and Communications Strategist. This position will lead efforts to develop strategic communications, including media, public affairs and engagement, and dynamic storytelling. This is a full-time, exempt position reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement. Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategy & Coordination
  • Works with campus partners to set communication priorities and develop strategies that advance the College’s goals.
  • Conceptualizes and implements comprehensive and creative communication strategies.
  • Serves as a community liaison and works to identify new local, national and international partners that help advance the College’s objectives.
  • Develops strategy documents and timelines, manages budgets, and tracks metrics to determine effectiveness, ensure accountability, and inform future strategy.
• Media Relations
  • Works with traditional and new media to ensure coverage of Lake Erie College’s work in target print, television, radio, and online media; maintains knowledge of and relationships with reporters covering key issues; and coordinates press events and other earned media opportunities.
  • Creates and implements paid media strategies on key priorities.
  • Makes recommendations to Lake Erie College leadership about media strategies; conducts spokesperson prep for media interviews; writes talking points as needed.
• Content Creation and Branding
  • Drives storytelling projects and consistently seeks out new and compelling ways to tell and amplify these stories.
  • Drafts content for Lake Erie College website and print materials.
  • Develops internal message guidance for colleagues, as needed.
  • Reviews, edits, and approves content and materials to ensure it adheres to brand standards and furthers strategic communications goals for the organization.
  • Manages the process for identifying qualified photographers and videographers for campus needs; serves as photographer and videographer, as needed.
• Administrative
  • Manages project budgets and contractor invoices.
  • Reports on analytics
• Other duties will be assigned by Vice President for Advancement

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• 2 years of experience in communications, including setting strategy, managing campaigns, writing, and producing content, and conducting media outreach.
• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree a plus.
• Excellent strategic sense and an ability to set goals and priorities, managing limited resources for maximum impact.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated experience in public speaking.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work as part of a team, manage vendors, and coordinate projects with internal and external partners.
• Outstanding organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to plan and coordinate a variety of detailed projects, sometimes under a very tight deadline.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Willingness to travel locally, as needed, for community events.
• Growth and “doer” mindset and institutional teamwork ethic.

• Creative, strategic, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor.