Director of Public Relations and Media Relations

Summary

Regis College seeks an experienced, strategic, and highly collaborative communications professional to serve as Director of Public Relations and Media Relations. Reporting to the vice president of marketing and communications, the director will lead the university’s earned media and public relations efforts and play an important role in crisis communications, executive communications, and external relations.

As Regis’ primary media contact, the director will develop proactive strategies that elevate the university’s academic strengths, student and alumni success, community impact, and thought leadership. The director will also support the university’s response to emerging issues and sensitive matters and contribute to communications involving government and community stakeholders.

Working closely with the president, senior leaders, faculty, and colleagues across the university, the director will help advance Regis’ mission, strategic priorities, enrollment objectives, advancement goals, and institutional visibility. The director will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution and must be a strong writer, thoughtful adviser, creative storyteller, and skilled relationship builder.

While regular on-campus presence is required, the position offers flexibility for some responsibilities to be completed remotely, consistent with departmental needs and university policies. The director must be available on campus as needed for media opportunities, university events, urgent issues, and emergencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Public Relations and Media Relations

• Develop and implement a comprehensive public relations and earned-media strategy aligned with the university’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Serve as Regis College’s primary media contact and spokesperson, responding to inquiries accurately, thoughtfully, and in a timely manner.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, higher education, and trade media.
• Identify and develop compelling stories that highlight student and alumni success, faculty expertise, academic innovation, research, community partnerships, institutional milestones, and Regis’ contributions to the public good.
• Write and edit press releases, media advisories, media statements, talking points, fact sheets, media kits, and other institutional communications.
• Maintain a network of faculty and administrative experts who can provide informed commentary on timely topics.
• Establish and maintain university standards, protocols, and best practices for responding to media inquiries.
• Prepare university representatives for media interviews and other public-facing opportunities.

Issues Management and Crisis Communications

• Coordinate communications planning and execution during institutional emergencies, sensitive situations, and reputational challenges under the direction of the vice president of marketing and communications and senior leadership.
• Monitor emerging issues, news coverage, public sentiment, social media conversations, and higher education trends to identify potential risks and opportunities.
• Provide timely and thoughtful communication recommendations to the vice president of marketing and communications and other university leaders.
• Develop and maintain crisis communications plans, response protocols, message templates, media procedures, and stakeholder contact lists.
• Draft statements, talking points, frequently asked questions, and other materials needed during urgent or rapidly evolving situations.
• Work with senior leadership, Campus Police, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, legal counsel, and other university offices to coordinate accurate and timely communications.
• Participate in crisis simulations, media training, and emergency-preparedness exercises.

Executive Communications

• Support the president and other senior leaders with communications counsel related to media engagement, public positioning, and institutional messaging.
• Write and edit speeches, talking points, presentations, messages, and other presidential and executive communications as needed.
• Ensure executive communications are accurate, authentic, audience-centered, and consistent with the university’s mission, values, priorities, and voice.

Government and External Relations

• Support the president and vice president of marketing and communications in coordinating communications with elected officials, government agencies, civic organizations, and community leaders.
• Monitor public-policy and legislative developments affecting Regis College and higher education and share relevant developments with university leadership.
• Coordinate communications related to government announcements, campus visits, advocacy priorities, and meetings with elected and appointed officials.
• Develop materials that communicate Regis’ educational, economic, workforce, healthcare, and community impact to external stakeholders.
• Help maintain productive relationships with local officials, civic organizations, community partners, and other external constituencies.

Integrated Communications and Collaboration

• Work closely with colleagues across the university to ensure public relations efforts are integrated with the Regis brand, digital, social media, enrollment, advancement, and institutional communications strategies.
• Partner with marketing and communications colleagues to extend earned-media coverage across Regis’ owned channels.
• Provide communications guidance and editorial support to colleagues across the university ensuring a consistent message is disseminated by campus partners .

Measurement and Evaluation

• Establish clear goals and performance measures for public relations and external-affairs initiatives.
• Monitor , evaluate and archive media coverage, sentiment, message placement, and other indicators of effectiveness.
• Incorporate public relations results into departmental KPIs, reports, and planning.