Director of Communications

Location: New York, NY Category: Professional / Administrator Job Type: Full-time Posted On: Wed Mar 25 2026 Job Description:

The Director of Communications plays a leading role in strengthening and elevating the college's reputation and contributing to the development and execution of integrated communications strategies covering key institutional initiatives, recruitment, academic programs, and other priorities.

The FIT portfolio includes the college, the FIT Foundation, The Museum at FIT, and the FIT Art and Design Gallery.

Essential Functions

Media Relations Strategy & Institutional Visibility

• Lead the successful day-to-day operations of the Media Relations unit to strengthen FIT's reputation as a global leader in creative education.
• Contribute to the proactive planning and implementation of communications strategies for key leadership, initiatives, events, and academic programs.
• Identify compelling stories for external audiences and bring them to life, in collaboration with key faculty, administrators, and industry partners.
• Initiate innovative approaches to institutional visibility via earned and owned media, moving new and existing audiences to action.
• Oversee high-profile event publicity, imagery, and logistics; play an integral role in talent relations.
• Consistently seek out opportunities to develop team talent, streamline departmental efficiencies, instill best practices, and manage and direct project timelines.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with colleagues, industry partners, and the media.
  
  

Executive & Advancement Communications

• Initiate and maintain a pitch calendar for the FIT news bureau, proactively securing thought leadership placements.
• Serve as the lead communications partner to the FIT Foundation, supporting advancement goals through events, programs, outbound communications, and other initiatives as needed.
• Collaborate closely with external partners and donors, in alignment with the Foundation and other stakeholders.
  
  

Content Strategy & Messaging

• Create distribution plans for earned and owned media.
• Develop messaging aligned with institutional goals and data, and in response to issues impacting higher education.
• Develop communications tools and resources that can be utilized by a range of internal stakeholders to enhance their work in driving external engagement.
• Leverage social media platforms, contributing to content, curation, engagement strategies, and analytics.
  
  

Analytics & Best Practices

• Develop reports to analyze and track earned and owned media results, while staying current with higher ed trends and emerging opportunities.
• Lead media cultivation efforts across the Media Relations department.
• Continuously refine and instill best practices.
  
  

Staff Management & Operations

• Provide direction to staff on daily operations and long-term strategic priorities; oversee performance, workload, and professional growth.
• Evaluate and enhance the unit's processes and procedures to maximize operational efficiencies.
  
  

Crisis & Issues Management

• Exercise high-level judgment consistently to manage reputation, provide solutions, and develop crisis communications responses as needed.
• Oversee crisis communications by monitoring media across platforms, drafting and updating institutional statements, and measuring the effectiveness of responses.
• Detect public relations issues and respond rapidly to emerging risks.
  
  

Other

• Assist with other projects as assigned.
  
  

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5-10 years of relevant experience.
• Experience leading proactive and reactive media outreach and managing social media platforms.
• Demonstrated sound and strategic judgment, with the ability to synthesize complex information, assess risk, and prioritize responsibilities in fast-paced environments.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills and strong analytical skills.
• Superior judgment and the ability to synthesize information and prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative, detail-oriented, highly organized.
• Experience collaborating with diverse teams from globally recognized brands and/or institutions.
• Demonstrated success in managing complex projects.
• Highly motivated with enthusiasm for the creative industries.
  
  

Additional Information

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

Salary: $140,000 - $145,000 per year; commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Work Schedule

Days/Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, in person; additional hours outside regular schedule are required based on the department's needs; work schedule subject to change based on department needs.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
• 4-day Summer Workweek
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
  
  

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people from a range of backgrounds. FIT is firmly committed to creating a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability. The FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether on the basis of race, color, creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, sexual and reproductive health decisions, uniformed service, height, weight, any lawful source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence or as a victim of sex offenses or stalking, whether children are, may be or would be residing with a person or conviction or arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Chief Equal Employment Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212.217.3360.

Annual Security Report

The safety and well-being of FIT's students, faculty, staff, and visitors is of paramount importance. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, FIT publishes an annual report containing crime statistics and statements of security policy, accessible here: Safety Statistics. A paper copy of the report will be provided upon request by contacting Public Safety's administrative office number at (212) 217-4999.

Physical Requirements And Work Environment

The working conditions for this position will be primarily in an office space. The physical requirement for this position will require constant sitting, occasional standing, occasional bending, occasional walking, and occasionally lifting 10 lbs. or less.