Associate Director, External Communications in Wellesley, Massachusetts at Babson College

The Associate Director, External Communications reports directly to the AVP of Communications and Marketing Strategy and is a key member of the College Marketing team. This position will work across the College to advance storytelling and brand awareness efforts by supporting the planning and implementation of strategic external communications to enhance the College’s reputation locally, nationally, and internationally. This position is responsible for developing PR plans, media strategies, and integrated communications campaigns for Babson College with the goal of positively impacting, as well as protecting, Babson’s brand reputation. This position plays a leading role in advancing and communicating key College priorities and strategic initiatives through proactive, strategic communications, with a primary focus on engagement with traditional and emerging media outlets. The role also supports the AVP with issues management and crisis communications and provides strategic counsel on communications responses to internal and external matters affecting the Babson College community.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

In cooperation with the AVP, develops and implements a multi-year media relations plan that sets priorities for seeking coverage that is reflective of the College’s strategy.

Develop and sustain strong working relationships with key national, regional, local, and trade news media; lead proactive pitching and story development to advance College priorities. Provide strategic counsel to faculty and senior leaders, including message development, interview preparation, and media coaching.

Stay attuned to external news events and trends related to business education, higher education, research, and innovation/entrepreneurship, leveraging information for media outreach and other visibility opportunities.

Draft and oversee development of external communications materials (e.g., press releases, op-eds, media advisories, scripts, web content, newsletters, and other promotional assets), ensuring accuracy, brand alignment, and audience-appropriate voice.

Responsible for ensuring the College’s strategic initiatives are prioritized in media outreach and pitch efforts.

Establish and maintain media relations standards, processes, and messaging guidance to ensure consistent, high-quality external communications across College Marketing and key campus partners. Manage promotion to the media of appropriate College-sponsored events; attend events as needed.

Proactively develop, strengthen, and sustain trusted relationships with Babson faculty and leaders across campus (as well as students, administrators, alumni, College neighbors, and other community members) to surface and shape media-worthy stories and advance College priorities.

Provide strategic counsel and writing support for executive and institutional communications (e.g., internal messages, public statements, remarks, talking points, FAQs, briefings, press releases, and news/blog posts), ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and brand voice.

Ensure College spokespeople (faculty and leaders) are properly informed and briefed for media interactions and follow up is done on their behalf.

Work with external agency partners supporting reputation and awareness efforts, including defining objectives, providing direction and feedback, and tracking deliverables and outcomes against plan.

Coordinate press activity, including interviews, campus visits, media tours, press conferences, and outreach/management of media during crises or incidents on campus.

Identify and advance opportunities to elevate Babson’s reputation through key academic associations and conferences (e.g., AOM, AACSB, USASBE), including thought-leadership placements and strategic partnerships that expand visibility.

Partner with College Marketing colleagues and Academic leadership to build and maintain visibility for faculty thought leadership including staying current on research, identifying story angles, and connecting experts with journalists. Steward and continuously improve Babson’s Faculty Expert database and related processes.

Provide crisis support related to media management and messaging; help implement crisis communication strategies in the Babson community, and to the media and external community.

Define and track key earned media performance indicators; analyze impact on brand and institutional priorities; and provide regular insights and recommendations to senior leaders through dashboards and reporting.

Partner with College Marketing colleagues to execute a direct engagement strategy as part of earned media efforts, specifically targeting speaking roles, panel opportunities, and other efforts at academic and business conferences globally.

Collaborate with College Marketing colleagues to share and extend media coverage across social media platforms and other channels, amplifying the visibility and impact of earned media.

Represent College Marketing at various meetings at the request of the AVP, Communications and Marketing Strategy and the Chief Marketing Officer.

Assumes additional responsibilities as required.

YOUR TEAM WILL INCLUDE

N/A

WHAT EDUCATION AND SKILLS YOU WILL NEED

Bachelor’s Degree.

A minimum of 12-15 years of progressively responsible experience in public relations/media relations required, including demonstrated success managing complex media strategies.

Experienced media professional and strategic thinker with a demonstrated capacity for skillful management and multi-tasking, with good political judgment, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven crisis management abilities, an understanding of complex organizations.

Must have the ability to innovate, think strategically, creatively, and conceptually, listen carefully as well as to influence and persuade others. Must possess an extremely high level of professionalism, sound and mature judgment, and collegiality.

Creative approach to storytelling and media management; proven media management and messaging in complex environment.

Organized, self-directed, and self-disciplined; keen attention to detail.

Must have superb analytical, verbal, and written communication skills. Strong writing and editing skills and proficient in many writing styles, including promotional writing, which demonstrates attention to audience, tone, nuance, and detail.

High level of diplomacy, discretion, and a track record of making sound decisions that demonstrate problem solving ability, adaptability, and responsiveness to change.

Proven success in developing and maintaining collaborative relationships across diverse constituencies. Ability to establish credibility and confidence with internal and external stakeholders (faculty, staff, students, alums), vendors, and constituents; demonstrated experience working with external partners.

Adept at multitasking and managing multiple projects in an agile, fast-paced environment. Able to consistently meet deadlines and deliver high quality results under pressure.

Experience in analyzing and reporting on earned media impact.

Ability to operate calmly, proactively, and effectively in stressful and emergency situations; ability to work independently and as a collaborative, team player.

Envisions and proposes new methods to perform tasks that support ET&A; takes thoughtful risks; and accepts new and ongoing initiatives, objectives, and solutions to gain sought-after results.

Anticipates and embraces change; demonstrates willingness to achieve, acquire, and utilize new skills and challenging tasks; and is flexible in changing conditions.

HOW AND WHERE YOU WILL WORK

This role is in person, on site five days a week.

Must be accessible via cell phone (provided) during nights/weekends to support off hours crises.

Ability to travel on and off campus.

Will be required to work some evenings and weekends as needed.

Must have had a valid unrestricted U.S. Driver’s License for one year, and maintain throughout employment an insurable (as determined by the College’s insurer’s criteria) or a satisfactory driving record; must successfully complete and pass the College’s vehicle training program within the first 60 days of employment; annual or more frequent review of employee’s driving record based on the College insurer’s criteria; and safety training as required by management.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS YOU MAY HAVE

Master’s degree a plus.

Experience working in an Agile organization preferred.

Experience in higher education and/or similarly complex, mission-driven organizations preferred.

Agency and/or journalism experience preferred.

This is an exempt position with the following pay range: $124,070-$137,855; the role is also eligible for bonuses based on performance and budget.

Babson College offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees working at least 28 hours per week.

• Insurance Coverage: Medical, dental, vision, group life and long-term disability insurance, business travel accident insurance, and mental health benefits.
• Time Off: Starting at 3 weeks of vacation annually, 2 weeks of sick time, 1 week of paid family illness time, 6 weeks of paid parental leave, and 12 paid holidays per year. President’s holidays are determined each year.
• Retirement: Participation in a 403(b) retirement plan with mandatory employee contributions and a 4:1 employer match.
• Additional Benefits: Wellbeing programs, virtual fitness platform, and employee assistance program.

All questions or concerns about this posting should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at hr@babson.edu.

About Us

Babson College is a world-class business school, empowering entrepreneurial leaders to create great economic and social value - everywhere. Here you’ll find a collaborative, collegial team environment designed to include and motivate every individual. It’s a rewarding and invigorating workplace – an exciting launch pad for anyone who wants to make a real impact in higher education. We provide everything you need to achieve your goals, including learning and development opportunities, outstanding benefits, rich rewards, wellness programs, and a genuine dedication to creating a diverse, multicultural and inclusive community.