Associate Vice President of Communications and Community Relations

Associate Vice President of Communications and Community Relations Laurel Ridge Community College seeks an experienced leader to serve as Associate Vice President (AVP) of Communications and Community Relations. The AVP provides strategic leadership for integrated marketing and communications, supports enrollment, philanthropy, recruitment, outreach, and institutional priorities, and acts as Public Information Officer during crisis management. Responsibilities Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, community leaders, and local government to advance the college’s funding priorities. Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to enhance the college’s brand and visibility, supporting enrollment, philanthropy, recruitment, and outreach. Lead strategic communication and advocacy initiatives for the college’s legislative agenda and funding priorities. Provide crisis communications planning and response, collaborating with college leadership. Serve on the college’s Emergency Management Team. Oversee creation of campus-wide events and outreach plan in support of enrollment and marketing goals. Manage a high‑functioning marketing and communications team and budget oversight of the unit. Department’s Areas of Responsibility Public Relations and Communications Primary media contact for the college; liaison with news media, radio, and television. Oversee content and development of college publications. Ensure regular development of news stories, articles, and social media posts. Handle urgent communications needs. Lead crisis communications planning and response in collaboration with college leadership. Serve on the college’s Emergency Management Team. Coordinate and develop campus and community messaging that effectively communicates the college’s value proposition. Oversee communication strategy with internal audiences via the college Intranet and other tools. Integrate the value and impact of philanthropy into institutional messaging across all platforms. Marketing and Brand Management Ensure consistency of the college’s brand identity across platforms and materials. Enforce college policies regarding brand and style guidelines. Provide strategic direction for innovative marketing campaigns supporting enrollment goals. Responsible for photography, video, social/digital media, website design and content. Develop an annual marketing plan aligned with strategic enrollment and college strategic plan goals. College Outreach and Events Oversee the college outreach plan to support the strategic enrollment and marketing plan. Collaborate with academic and workforce units to develop and plan outreach strategies and events. Oversee college‑wide events. Community and Government Relations Develop legislative and local government strategies to advance funding priorities. Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, local government leaders, and community leaders. Oversee creation of communication and advocacy pieces as needed. College Leadership Provide public relations counsel and recommendations to senior leadership team. Collaborate with senior leaders on communications‑related strategies and initiatives. Foster positive collaborative relationships with campus and community constituents. Represent the college at community events as needed. Manage a team of high‑functioning marketing and communications professionals. Responsible for unit budget oversight. Work Schedule and Location Typical schedule: Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm. On‑call as needed for occasional evenings and weekends. The selected candidate will work at all college locations.Compensation and Benefits Hiring range: $110,895 – $162,531 per year, commensurate with education and experience. Eligible for the Commonwealth of Virginia benefits package offered to state agencies and the Virginia Community College System. Telework Telework may be an option for eligible positions, determined by job requirements and agency policy. Virginia state employees will return to the workplace as of July 5, 2022. Minimum Qualifications Master’s degree or equivalent education and experience. Significant, progressive experience in marketing and/or communications. Progressive leadership role with direct supervision of a department or unit. Demonstrated understanding of the higher education landscape. Media relations, including press relationship building and acting as spokesperson. Digital communications, with strong understanding of social media strategy, SEO, and digital engagement. Content strategy, including storytelling, videos, photography, and web content to further institutional priorities. Data and analytics, using data and metrics to inform and strengthen communication strategies. Additional Considerations Experience working in higher education marketing or communications. Experience providing leadership to support enrollment goals and philanthropic initiatives. Demonstrated experience with community or government relations. Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution. Applicants are encouraged from a diverse background, including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants in the ADA process. For further information, email . #J-18808-Ljbffr