Job Profile Summary
Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Communication and Marketing, the Senior Director of Communications & Public Relations serves as a core strategic communications leader for the institution. This role drives earned news media relations, College website news, executive positioning, crisis communications, and key institutional narrative initiatives. The Senior Director leads news media strategies across local, state, and national journalists and press outlets, serves as a primary Public Information Officer (PIO), and collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to amplify the College’s impact, achievements, and thought leadership.
Minimum Education & Experience
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Strategic Communications, Journalism, Communications, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
- Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive, high-level experience in public relations, news media relations, or institutional communications, with a proven background in managerial leadership. (An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.)
- Higher Education Requirement: Direct experience working within higher education communications or an extensive journalism/news media background specifically covering higher education, public policy, or academic sectors.
Preferred Qualifications
- Regional Media Networks: Established relationships with South Florida, regional, and state education journalists, news editors, press outlets, and community leaders.
- System & Governance Familiarity: Familiarity with or direct experience navigating the Florida College System (FCS), state higher education governance, public records practices, and Florida educational policy.
Essential Functions & Responsibilities
- Integrated Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivates strong relationships across the broader institution—including executive leadership, Deans, faculty, Student Affairs, Admissions/Enrollment, xAdvancement, and external community partners. Mines stories campus-wide and collaborates across the Marketing & Communications team to maximize content value—evaluating channel mix by distinguishing earned news media pitching (PR/Comms) from paid performance marketing campaigns, social media, and enrollment drivers to support multi-departmental goals.
- Strategic Narrative & PR Execution: Serves as a proactive self-starter, designing and executing integrated public relations and external communication strategies that elevate Broward College's brand reputation and communicate its value proposition across South Florida and nationally.
- Executive Communications & Thought Leadership: Crafts executive-level communications for the Office of the President and senior administration, including speeches, op-eds, policy briefs, talking points, and legislative communication. Manages the College’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) program to position faculty and leadership in earned news media.
- Crisis Communications & Emergency Management: Serves as a primary Public Information Officer (PIO) and key member of the rapid-response crisis team. Maintains the Crisis Communications Plan, participates in BC ALERT exercises, and leads clear, rapid external press communications during incidents or high-stakes cycles.
- News Media Relations & Story Mining: Actively pitches stories to local, state, and national news media outlets (print, broadcast, digital journalists), highlighting workforce initiatives, academic achievements, student success, and institutional milestones. Responds to press inquiries and facilitates journalist interviews.
- Team Leadership & Operational Management: Directly manages, mentors, and empowers communications professionals and direct reports. Oversees departmental project workflows, news media tracking analytics, PR vendor contracts, and communications operational budgets.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Proactive Relationship Building: Strong self-starter orientation with exceptional interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to relationship-building across multi-layered institutional organizations.
- Integrated Channel Thinking: Ability to think holistically across an integrated marketing and communications matrix, recognizing how narrative assets transition between earned news media, owned content channels, and paid media investments.
- Communication Mastery: Mastery of writing, editing, story-mining, and speechwriting for diverse internal and external audiences.
- Sector Knowledge: Working knowledge of higher education operational models, academic governance, and the nuances of the Florida education system.
- Crisis & High-Pressure Composure: Proven ability to operate calmly under pressure, managing crisis situations with sound judgment, speed, and discretion.
- Team Leadership: Demonstrated supervisory expertise with the ability to motivate, develop, and hold team members accountable.
Broward College offers an exceptional benefits package, including, but not limited to:
- Affordable High-Quality Healthcare Insurance (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Options – Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan or the FRS Investment Plan
- Wellness Program
- Vacation/Paid Time Off
- Winter and Spring Break Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- Tuition Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement are available to employees and family members
Job Title
Senior Director, Communication and Public Relations
Position Number
P0063622
Job Status
Full time Regular
Department
Strategic Communication and Marketing
Location
Willis Holcombe Center
Pay Grade
212
Salary
$85,500 - $105,500 (Salary commensurate with education and experience)
Work Shift
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday/Weekends/Varies
Hours Per Week
37.5
Posting End Date
Open Until Filled
Comments
To be considered for this position, a completed online employment application along with a cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript(s) are required.
Designated Essential Personnel
Yes
FLSA Status
Exempt
Position Classification
Administrators
Special Instructions to Applicant:
For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire. An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process and must be attached to the online application. If unable to attach the documentation, please email document to jobs@broward.edu or fax to 954-201-7612, stating clearly the position name(s) and position number(s) the transcript is to be attached to.
Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline. All required documentation must be received on or before the job posting end date.
**Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the “Resume/CV/Transcript/License/Certification” section of the application**
Please refer to link with the instructions on how to submit an application with multiple documents. https://www.broward.edu/jobs/_docs/tutorial_external_applicant_broward_college.pdf.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of the required background screening process.
Disclaimer
The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted of describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related education/experience beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Broward College reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.
