Chancellor's Office Statement
Join our team at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, and make a difference in providing access to higher education. We are currently seeking experienced candidates for the position of Senior Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs. The CSU Chancellor's Office, located on the waterfront adjacent to the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach, is the headquarters for the nation's largest and most diverse system of higher education. The CSU Chancellor's Office offers a premium benefit package that includes outstanding vacation, health, and dental plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year.
Salary
The anticipated salary hiring range is up to $14,167 per month, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The salary range for this classification is $9,625 to $30,896 per month.
Classification
Administrator IV
Position Information
The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking a Senior Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs to be the chief spokesperson for the California State University Chancellor’s Office and leads a team of professionals responsible for strategic communications driven through media relations; developing, implementing, and assessing content strategy; crisis and issues management; and proactive public relations to advance the university’s reputation and priorities. The position also provides strategic and tactical guidance on local, regional, and national issues to executive leadership and serves as an advisor and mentor to campus-based peers and colleagues.
Responsibilities
Under the general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Communications and Brand Marketing, the Senior Director, Media Relations and Public Affairs will:
-Build and maintain positive, constructive relationships with key contacts across the Chancellor’s Office and the CSU to aid in fulfilling media inquiries.
-Build and maintain positive, constructive relationships with news media contacts.
-Develop high-value story ideas and pitch to appropriate news outlets; proactively seek out media opportunities to position the CSU as a thought leader on key issues or emerging topics.
-Draft or review news releases and supervise news release distribution process.
-Field inquiries from the news media and act as a spokesperson when necessary.
-Identify appropriate subject-matter experts for media interviews and connect them with reporters.
-Draft talking points and counsel or coach interviewees in advance of interviews.
-Provide strategic communications counsel, particularly as it relates to media relations, to the Chancellor, vice chancellors, trustees, and, as requested, to campus leadership teams.
-Implement an issue management strategy that is proactive and identifies issues that could potentially impact the CSU, stakeholders or its constituents.
-Create communications plans, associated materials and responses.
-Provide updates, summaries, and post-event analysis and recommendations.
-Receive, fact-check, and research sensitive issues emerging from or confronting the institution.
-Collaborate with the Associate Vice Chancellor and others in crafting and implementing appropriate response plans.
-Draft issue-specific talking points and statements.
-Develop, implement, and assess a yearly strategic content plan with the goal of building understanding, trust and, ultimately, support for the university in alignment with the university’s goals and priorities.
-Monitors and analyzes key metrics to determine the reach and effectiveness of the university’s media relations efforts and devises strategies for improvement.
-Provide leadership and mentoring to the Media Relations and Public Affairs team, and to campus-based media and public affairs personnel.
-Work with campus-based public information personnel to integrate university messaging into campus communications.
-In partnership with the Associate Vice Chancellor, create and implement strategic communications plans in collaboration with colleagues in External Relations and Communications, and throughout the Chancellor’s Office.
-Integrate messaging with internal communications, owned media, marketing and brand management.
Qualifications
This position requires:
-A bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, or a closely related discipline is required. A master’s degree in a related area is preferred. A minimum of 8-to-10 years of progressively responsible experience in public affairs, journalism, communications or marketing positions, with at least 3 years of management experience is required.
-Thorough knowledge of best practices for public affairs/media relations, earned and owned media and associated activities in order to maximize the CSU’s presence in national, regional and trade media outlets.
-Significant experience in effective issues and crisis management.
-Proven track record of successfully pitching content for earned media coverage, with outstanding news judgement.
-Skill in building strong rapport and working relationships with media outlets/reports (local, regional, national) as well as faculty, staff and students.
-Ability to work with executive leadership, legislators, influencers, writers, editors, graphic designers, photographers, and members of the media.
-Exceptional writing and communications skills.
-Discretion in managing confidential and sensitive matters.
-Supervisory experience in leading a team.
Preferred Qualifications
-Experience in higher education is preferred.
-Comfortable with speaking in public and on camera.
-Familiarity with higher education/academia, and with California state public policy.
Application Period
Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by May 15, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the job posting is removed.
How To Apply
Please click "Apply Now" to complete the California State University, Chancellor's Office online employment application.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting the Senior Human Resources Manager at (562) 951-4070.
Title IX
Please view the Notice of Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator at: https://www2.calstate.edu/titleix
E-Verify
This position requires new hire employment verification to be processed through the E-Verify program administered by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHSUSCIS)' in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
If hired, you will be required to furnish proof that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. The CSU Chancellor’s Office is not a sponsoring agency for staff and Management positions (i.e., H1-B VISAS).
COVID19 Vaccination Policy
Per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, it is strongly recommended that all Chancellor’s Office employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.
Mandated Reporter Per CANRA
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Conflict of Interest
The duties of this position will include participation in decisions that may have a material financial benefit to the incumbent. Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to file Conflict of Interest Form 700: Statement of Economic Interest when they first occupy the position, and on an annual basis, complete ethics training within 6 months of appointment, and attend this training every other year thereafter.
CSU Out of State Employment Policy
California State University, Office of the Chancellor, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees upon date of hire to reside in the State of California. As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.
Background
The Chancellor's Office policy requires that the selected candidate successfully complete a full background check (including a criminal records check) prior to assuming this position.