Director of Communications and Projects in Free Expression (Finance)

Special Instructions to Applicants : All interested applicants must attach one document in a PDF format and labeled by last name, and first name. Please note that the applicant tracking system does not convert attachments in Word format successfully.

Candidates must submit one PDF in this order:

• a cover letter (maximum one page)
• a resume or curriculum vitae
• names with emails and phone numbers for the three most recent direct supervisors to serve as references
• Applicants are required to submit four content samples, preferably a variety that includes straight news reporting, feature writing, criticism, social media/multimedia content, public relations writing and video content. Links may also be submitted.

About Us

Located in an urban environment on a 300-acre tree-lined campus, Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university situated in the heart of the dynamic Museum District in Houston, TX, the most diverse city in the country and home to vibrant Latinx, Asian-American, Black, LGBTQ+, and international communities. Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the metro area is characterized by a robust civil society with top elected positions in the region held by a diverse group of officials-left, right, and center, and including Asian-American, Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ leaders. Rice offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 4,500 undergraduate and 3,900 graduate students. The university's undergraduate population has no racial majority. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.

We welcome the fullness of diversity to Rice. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Also, in our candidate pools, we seek to attract greater representation ofwomen,scholars of color, people with disabilities,veterans, and others whohave historically beenunderrepresented in communication and journalistic fields. We aim to attract applicants from a wide range backgrounds; to accelerateprogress in buildinga staff varied in thought and experience;and to maintain an environment that fosters interaction and understanding withinourcommunity.

Position Summary:

The director of communications combines expertise in multimedia journalism with public and media relations strategies, and event and project execution focused on freedom of expression; access and inclusion; and institutional excellence. The director is also responsible for advising students to develop, produce, and share their own stories across multimedia platforms.

The director has the capacity to communicate and synthesize complex materials and package highly technical information in an easily understandable manner through writing, social media, photography, and video. They assemble and promote communications, news stories, media , and multimedia content, sharing the university's scholarship, creative works, teaching innovations, and programs on free expression.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in journalism or media relations, a strong track record of producing multimedia content, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment. They should excel at managing tight deadlines, mentoring others, overseeing events, and effectively communicating complex topics, particularly those lying at the intersection of freedom of expression; access and inclusion; and institutional excellence.

Workplace Requirements:

• This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person on-campus. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.
• Office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm with an hour's lunch
• Frequent evening and weekend work to cover events and after-hour calls and emails to help meet media needs and deadlines.
• This is an exempt position and is not eligible for overtime for overtime pay. During some weeks, employees will be required to work more hours to meet their job responsibilities.

Salary: $90,000

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in journalism, public relations, English, liberal arts, communications or related field.
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted.
• Three-plus years of related professional experience in journalism, multimedia, or public relations.
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• Skills:
  • Excellent verbal and written communication, reporting, conceptual editing, copy editing, and substantive editing skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Strong social media skills.
  • Strong videography, video editing and photography skills.
  • Able to work in a deadline-driven, results-oriented environment with public relations professionals and with a wide variety of clients, including Rice faculty, administrators, staff, and students.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal communications groups across campus
  • Able to write concisely and accurately explain complex subjects in a way that makes them interesting and informative to media personnel and understandable to laypersons.
  • Able to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision, adhering to priorities and meeting deadlines.
  • Knowledge of Associated Press style.
  • Strong computer skills.

Preferences:

• Five years of related professional experience in journalism or public relations.
• Experience advising students
• Experience pitching and overseeing programs and projects
• Knowledge of and experience covering debates over and principles related to freedom of expression
• Distinct delivery in voiceover, strong projection, the ability to convey different tones depending on the message, clear, articulate speech, and clear pronunciation.

Essential Functions:

• Provides media and public relations support for internal/external audiences
• Plans and executes activities to support public relations objectives
• Develops, executes, and oversees written communications of moderate complexity, including presentations, speeches, news stories, web content, talking points, correspondence, and social media posts
• Builds and maintains relationships with internal/external partners
• Participates in developing strategies and tactics for facilitating effective communications of key researchers with media relations needs on a regular basis
• Identifies and maintains professional relationships with key press, policy influencers, and community leaders
• Prepares content for internal/external newsletters
• Understands email and digital content distribution
• Assists in developing strategies for brand, issues, and reputation management of moderate complexity
• Assists with the design and implementation of effective constituent communications programs and social media strategies
• Serves as a project leader for public relations activities of small to moderate complexity
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Ability to mentor others, in particular advising students in 1-1 setting
• Pitches and oversees programs, events, and projects
• Focus on Freedom of Expression content
• Conveys complex subject matter in an engaging and easy-to-understand style by writing news releases, media advisories, expert alerts, and stories for printed and digital communication, as well as posting stories, photos, and videos online.
• Cultivates faculty, staff, students, and other sources for stories and expert commentary.
• Proactively pitches stories, research, expertise, and news tips about Rice to reporters, editors, and producers.
• Respond to media requests.
• Uses social media to promote external media efforts.
• Tracks and reports media placements.
• Assists with editing as necessary.
• Maintains website
• Ability to foster relationships with donors, foundations, and the art/media community to strengthen fundraising efforts

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.

About Us

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.