Job Family Group:
Staff
Department/Office:
Vice President for Strategic Communication and Marketing (Tom Evelyn
Time Type:
Full time
Compensation:
$100,304.80-$125,381.01
Please note, starting salaries are based on factors including internal equity, relevant experience, and education.
Exemption Status:
Exempt
Job Description:
As a seasoned communications professional, the Senior Director serves as a primary spokesperson, overseeing the broad dissemination of news and information in support of advancing Trinity University’s mission and institutional goals. Leads proactive media and public relations efforts to elevate Trinity’s national profile, showcase faculty expertise, and highlight the University’s distinctive academic programs, research, and institutional priorities.
Leads the University’s efforts in pitching and placing high-impact stories, op-eds, and expert sources with national and international media. As Trinity’s chief storyteller, serves in this highly visible role as a strategic thinker and hands-on communicator developing compelling narratives, building lasting relationships with journalists, and responding nimbly in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

EDUCATION

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in journalism, public relations, or related field.

EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in media relations, journalism, or strategic communications.
• Demonstrated success securing national media coverage, particularly for complex organizations such as universities, nonprofits, or mission-drive enterprises.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Strong news judgment and understanding of the media landscape across platforms (print, broadcast, digital, social).
• Deep experience with issues and crisis communications.

Preferred:

• Experience working in or with higher education institutions.
• Existing relationships with national media contacts.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Required:

• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with a demonstrated ability to craft compelling, accurate, and strategic content across a variety of formats and platforms.
• Strong background in media relations, including experience developing story pitches, cultivating journalist relationships, and managing media inquiries and crises.
• Proven ability to mentor and coach writers and editors, fostering a collaborative environment that elevates storytelling quality and consistency.
• Strategic thinker with a keen understanding of news value, audience engagement, and alignment with institutional brand and voice.

Preferred:

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven communications environments.
• Familiarity with web editing tools to update the news site and with media monitoring platforms to assess impact and inform strategy.

JOB DUTIES

Strategic Media Relations

• Develops and executes a comprehensive media and public relations strategy aligned with the University’s brand, mission, and strategic goals.
• Cultivates strong relationships with national, regional, and local media, as well as higher education and trade outlets.
• Proactively pitches expert sources and compelling story ideas that highlight Trinity’s faculty, students, alumni, and institutional achievements.
• Assists faculty, staff, and leadership with developing and placing op-eds that highlight their expertise and thought leadership.
• Provides strategic counsel, talking points, and training to leadership and others on media engagement and crisis communications.
• Serves as a University spokesperson and primary liaison and manager of engagements with all media.

Content Leadership

• Identifies, shapes, and elevates key narratives that distinguish Trinity in the national higher education landscape.
• Partners with faculty, staff, and administrators to surface media-worthy stories and research.
• Oversees the Trinity news site as a timely and impactful tool for disseminating and tracking appropriate news and information.
• As a senior member of the SCM editorial staff, develops, researches, and writes timely stories and other content for the website, magazine, and other platforms.
• Partners with other SCM leaders to develop and manage content for admissions and development campaigns.
• Ensures accuracy, consistency, and brand alignment in all media-facing content.
• Coaches other writers and editors to develop and enhance storytelling and writing skills.

Issues and Crisis Communication

• Collaborates with the Vice President and other University leaders to direct media and public relations and messaging during crisis and emergency situations.
• Provides crisis communication and media training and support for campus leadership and other spokespeople.

Team Management and Collaboration

• Supervises a media and public relations specialist/writer (currently the Public Relations Manager) and coordinates efforts across the SCM team to ensure cohesive messaging and effective storytelling.
• Works closely with colleagues in SCM, Alumni Relations and Development, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs and other divisions to amplify Trinity news across channels.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Assists the Vice President with planning, writing, and editing executive communications.
• Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience and integrity to provide professional leadership during emergencies.
• Complies with all Trinity University policies and guidelines.
• Performs other duties as required.