Director of Strategic Communications

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Director of Strategic Communications

Salary $85,000.00 Annually Location Cheyney, PA Job Type Full-Time Job Number 20241 Division University Advancement Department Marketing & Branding Opening Date 12/04/2025 Bargaining Unit Non-Represented

DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

Proudly standing as the nation's oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania has been a stalwart and highly respected institution of higher education since our founding in 1837. For over 185 years our alumni have emerged as leaders and left their mark on the social, economic, and political history of Philadelphia, the surrounding region, the nation, and the world. Building on this legacy, the vision for Cheyney University is to become the premier model for academic excellence, character development, and social responsibility. Here at Cheyney, we value scholarship, diversity, integrity, respect, and service. We are committed to maintaining a vibrant educational community that is dedicated to promoting scholarship and lifelong learning for its students, offering wide student access to resources to ensure an opportunity for all to acquire an education, encouraging freedom of thought and freedom from discrimination by ensuring a respectful environment, and provide outreach and service to external and constituent communities, demonstrating their understanding of the importance and value of service. We're looking for exceptional individuals who share our values, embrace our mission, recognize our potential, and covet the opportunity to continue to move our historic University forward. CU proudly offers a positive and purposeful work environment; comprehensive employee benefits including health, vision, and dental insurance along with many wellness programs; generous retirement plans; a commitment to work-life balance including generous paid vacation, paid sick time, military leave and paid time off for most major holidays; and a University mission to support employee personal and professional growth including a tuition waiver for self and family members, training and development, and advancement opportunities. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is seeking to hire a Director of Strategic Communications. This is a hands-on role that is responsible for the development of a comprehensive internal communications service to deliver the University's strategic messages and provide all staff with regular, meaningful, and consistent information about activity across the University. This is a key role working with the Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications and the senior leadership team of the University in communicating a sense of purpose across the University as well as managing change effectively. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership on further development of the University's external/internal communications strategy.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy that aligns with the university's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Monitor emerging trends and technologies in the field of communication and adapt strategies accordingly.
• Ensure consistency and alignment of messaging and branding across all university communications.
• Keep up to date with emerging communications trends and serve as lead for communication technologies including the Cheyney Hub, Campus ESP Parent Portal, Mongoose texting software, etc.
• Support the production of internally focused publications and collateral by collating and developing copy, sourcing and commissioning images, video, graphics etc.
• Lead the creation of high-quality written, visual, and digital content for various communication channels, including press releases, websites, social media, newsletters, and more.
• Liaise regularly with Student Activities, Student Groups, and Student Government and its Executive Officers to deliver coordinated student communications activities.
• Liaise regularly with faculty, staff, and other campus partners to deliver coordinated student, staff and campus partner communications activities.
• Ensure web and social media presence for Cheyney functions - may include evenings and weekends.
• Supervise and coordinate student workers.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, such as media outlets, government agencies, community organizations, and partners.
• Update the content calendar to ensure that the planning and delivery of internal communications opportunities are coordinated across Marketing and Advancement and other relevant sections.
• Support the Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications on executing annual communication plans for the university.
• Attend all Title III meetings and submit Time and Effort and Quarterly Reports timely, as required.
Performs additional duties as assigned.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Handle sensitive issues and information with confidentiality and discretion. Requirements

Education, Training, and/or Experience: Completion of a bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Communications, or a relevant field with two years of closely related experience working with communications, media, social media, public relations or content management systems is required. Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills and a wide degree of creativity. Demonstrated capacity to multitask, set priorities, develop a plan with metrics and see it through - and do what it takes to meet deadlines. Knowledge & Skills, Abilities:

• Motivated self-starter
• High level of interactive customer service
• Superior written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Familiarity with Windows operative systems and Microsoft Office
• Be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced, high-demand, deadline-driven setting.
• Effectively cross-manage multiple projects simultaneously with a great deal of accuracy.
• Keen attention to detail
• Aware of emerging trends within education, as well as communications technology
• Must work well with students, faculty and staff at all levels within a diverse, multi-cultural, collaborative and creative environment.

Instructions for Applying

A complete online application will include the following attachments. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

• Cover Letter
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae

MAILED, EMAILED or FAXED application materials will not be considered. All offers of employment are subject and contingent upon satisfactory completion of all pre-employment criminal background checks. Diversity Statement

Cheyney University an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Agency Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Address

1837 University Circle P.O. Box 200 Cheyney, Pennsylvania, 19319

Phone 610-399-2000