Potomac Flacks

JOB OF THE WEEK: American University, Communications Director

Formal title of "Special Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications." The Director of Communications has primary responsibility for three main functions:

1. Communication oversight for Campus Life’s 15 departments, including guiding content, branding, and tone for website, news and social media communication, as well as crisis communication response on issues concerning students.

2. Special projects and initiatives within and outside of Campus Life that have student impact.

3. Campus Life professional and staff development, including presenting workshops, planning retreats, and onboarding new Campus Life staff.

The Director of Communications assists the Vice President of Campus Life on a range of management duties and special projects that require knowledge of communication, student affairs, and staff engagement and an ability to work with a substantial level of independence, sound judgment, excellent written and spoken communication skills, and discretion in handling confidential information and materials.

This is a fast-paced office environment where the ability to address critical and delicate matters in a thoughtful and expedient manner is imperative. The incumbent must be able to effectively work with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences including university leaders, front-line employees, and students. The incumbent will collaborate across Campus Life and other American University departments on joint projects.

The Office of Campus Life (OCL) is made up of 15 student-focused departments. Our goal is to support AU students on their journey to explore, connect, and grow into global citizens. We strive to create an inclusive campus community that fosters student learning, development, and success. For more information regarding the Office of Campus Life, including previously distributed memos to the community, please visit https://www.american.edu/ocl/

 

Work Environment

• Directly supervises one full-time staff member: (Web Communications Coordinator)
• Oversees the Professional Development Coordinating Committee
• Frequent evenings and occasional weekends

 

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• 35-Exempt
• Project Leader/Advisor A

 

Salary Range

• Commensurate with experience

 

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years professional experience
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and problem-solving capabilities
• Ability to work with sensitive and confidential matters
• 2-4 years designing websites and developing online content
• Experience using content management systems and other digital communication, including but not limited to blogs, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube)
• Knowledge of ADA principles as they related to print and digital communication
• Understanding of design principles and video production

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master's degree
• Experience in higher education and working with students
• Experience producing videos
• Experience with graphic design tools

 Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check

 TO APPLY: Click here. (PF tipster)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Communications Manager, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business

The Communications Manager, reporting to the Director of Online Marketing and Communications, develops and implements online marketing and communications tools to raise the visibility of Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

 

• Primary duties include reporting on and creating social media content, coordinating social media and digital production calendars, monitoring social media accounts, analyzing our competitors’ digital efforts, and creating and analyzing metrics reports from various tracking sources.
• Secondary duties include updating web pages, creating html emails, creating landing pages, writing copy & preparing online advertisements, shooting and editing videos for social media, being an advocate for social news dissemination, and teaching and training staff about social media.

Responsibilities & Qualifications:

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree - preference for business, marketing, communications, or journalism.
• Some experience in journalism and reporting. 
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills. 
• At least five years, though preferably more, of exposure to digital communications and updating websites.
• Excellent management organizational skills.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team environment. 
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Technical expertiseinApple OS, Windows, HTML 5, CSS 3, Drupal  7, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, HootSuite, basic Photoshop, Dreamweaver, WordPress, Google Analytic – as well as basic videography and editing, Finalcut Pro, IMovie, or Adobe Premier.

TO APPLY: Click here. (PF tipster)

Elleithee Leaves DNC to Start Institute of Politics and Public Service at Georgetown

Roll Call reported that Democratic National Committee (DNC) Communications Director Mo Elleithee has left the DNC to serve as the first Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service at the McCourt School of Public Service.

He was a founding partner of political consulting firms Hilltop Public Solutions and Three Point Media, from which he’s been on leave while at the DNC. He’s also advised countless Senate and gubernatorial candidates, working extensively with Virginia Democrats

In 2012, he was a media adviser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s independent expenditure campaign. Six years earlier, he ran the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s independent expenditure effort against then-U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-VA).

He’s worked on four presidential campaigns, most recently as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 spokesman.

Georgetown feels like home for Elleithee. A proud and vocal Hoya fan, he graduated from the School of Foreign Service in 1994. Since 2011, he’s been an adjunct professor at McCourt, where he teaches a class on campaigns.

Elleithee is a native of Tucson, AZ.  (Roll Call)

JOB OF THE WEEK: Duke University, Director of Strategic Communications (Durham, NC)

Duke University's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative is seeking a Director of Strategic Communications with a minimum of eight years experience and a salary of no more than $85,000.

The Director of Strategic Communications is accountable for developing and implementing a vision and strategic marketing, communication and public relations plan reflective of the priorities of the Initiative that enhances marketing, fundraising and public relations initiatives, and promotes ongoing communication with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stake-holders. Reporting to the Director, your portfolio will encompass branding, digital and social media communications development, public relations, marketing and communications policy development and stakeholder outreach. Your digital communications and marketing experience will ensure that all of the Initiative’s messages work together to seamlessly address the Initiative’s ambitious goals.

In addition to generating content, you will join the leadership team and provide strategic communications counsel relevant to a continually and rapidly shifting media landscape. Your deliverables will include the design, development and maintenance of print and web-based communication programs for diverse audiences and constituencies.

Responsibilities:

1. Develop and implement PR and marketing strategies and tactics, including community relations, to build and maintain a positive reputation among key constituencies and to develop a consistent brand for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

2. Develop and execute a comprehensive PR and promotional plan for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative at Duke, while collaborating with Duke Communications to create an integrated program consistent with Duke’s overall vision and objectives.

3. Identify and partner with key internal and external stakeholders (Deans of Schools, legal, government affairs, alumni affairs, etc.) to ensure communication support for potential issues, such as advocacy, compliance, student affairs, alumni engagement, etc.

4. Working with the Duke faculty and the leadership team of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, initiate a strategy and develop content that clearly positions Duke as a national thought leader in Innovation and Entrepreneurship

5. Manage process through which Initiative-developed thought leadership content is disseminated across a range of outlets, to further engage our different constituencies/communities.

6. Assume responsibility for writing, design and timely production and distribution of all PR materials, including feature articles on university programs, profiles of successful faculty/students/alumni, press kits, press releases, newsletters and video/audio scripts. It is anticipated that the candidate will both take an active role in the preparation of these materials, as well as make use of other on- and off-campus resources.

7. Review and edit materials prior to distribution to ensure clarity and appropriateness for each audience.

8. Broadly deliver the Initiative’s vision and success through a variety of vehicles, including the internet (including initiative’s website and social media accounts), blogs, newsletters, trade, business and consumer PR, advertising, executive messaging and related materials.

9. Select and direct external agencies to support PR activities, as needed.

10. Develop and manage a set of key performance metrics and analytics to allow for continuous improvement in the areas of communications and marketing.

Competencies:

1. Results orientation/sense of urgency

2. Problem solving and decision making

3. Ability to react and respond to changing priorities and manage a complex and diverse workload in a dynamic, fast-paced culture.

4. Excellent organizational skills and outstanding ability to establish and meet deadlines.

5. Thorough knowledge of the news media and experience in working effectively with reporters and editors. 

6. Understanding of university culture.

7. Experience with media relations, marketing, stakeholder relations, communication relations, government relations, alumni relations and institutional advertising.

8. Ability to communicate effectively with visual arts experts, as well as general-interest print and electronic media. 

9. Excellent verbal communication and writing/editing skills.

10. Proven ability to function effectively in a team environment, as well as work independently. 

11. Demonstrated experience with social technology (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, Flickr, blogs, wikis, RSS, social bookmarking, discussion forums and community software). 

12. Experience with online monitoring and measurement platforms including but not limited to Omniture, Facebook Insights, YouTube Insights, Google Analytics, HootSuite, TweetDeck, and Social Mention.

The mission of the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (Duke I&E) is to create a robust culture across the entire university in which we inspire and prepare students and faculty for innovative leadership and actively support and celebrate the translation of knowledge into the service of society.

Administratively housed within the Office of the Provost, Duke I&E acts as a centralized organizer for "all things I&E" on campus and in our community. We connect students, faculty and alumni to the infrastructure and resources - programs, funds, educational opportunities, and advisors - to increase their ability to realize solutions with impact. Moreover, we exist to bring visibility to Duke's history of successes in innovation and entrepreneurship and showcase our ongoing programs.

TO APPLY: Click here.  (PF tipster)

Doug Wilson New GW Fellow

Douglas Wilson, former assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, will join the George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs as a distinguished fellow for the 2012-2013 academic year. He will be lecturing and participating in major events for GW students and the general public. 

He served as the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defense for public affairs from February 2010 until his retirement from government in March 2012.  As the Pentagon’s senior spokesman and communications advisor, Wilson was responsible for the development and implementation of communication strategies on issues including Afghanistan, Iraq, the “Arab Spring,” the DADT repeal, Wikileaks and counterterrorism.  He coordinated Pentagon communications following the death of Osama bin Laden. Wilson served in senior Pentagon communications positions twice previously under President Clinton and has three times been awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Pentagon’s highest civilian honor. 

Prior to his appointment as assistant secretary, he was the executive vice president of the Howard Gilman Foundation, overseeing the foundation’s domestic and international policy programs at White Oak. Wilson has also served as national political director of the Democratic Leadership Council; director of congressional and intergovernmental affairs for the U.S. Information Agency; foreign policy advisor to U.S. Sen. Gary Hart; and director of the 1996 Clinton-Gore re-election effort in his home state of Arizona. (PF Tipster)

Former State Department Spokesman Crowley to Teach at Penn State Law School Next Year

P.J. Crowley, who resigned as last month as the top spokesman at the U.S. Department of State after criticizing U.S. handling of Pfc. Bradley Manning, the suspected leaker of classified documents to Wikileaks, has received a one-year appointment at Penn State University beginning August 1.

Crowley will be the Omar Bradley Chair of Strategic Leadership at Penn State University’s Dickinson Law School, a joint post with Dickinson College and the U.S. Army War College (located in Carlisle, PA).

According to Penn State Law School, Crowley’s teaching and research will focus on national security, public diplomacy and the media’s effect on policy and politics.  (PF tipster)

ABC, NBC Vet Kamlet Named Dean of Communications at Quinnipiac University

First reported by TV Newser, Lee Kamlet, a 35-year broadcast journalism professional and veteran of NBC News and ABC News, has been named Dean of Communications at Quinnipiac University. 

Kamlet was a producer for “Dateline NBC” until 2008 when he left to become Head Writer for the ABC World News with Charlie Gibson, which he continued with anchor Diane Sawyer. 

Previously, Kamlet worked for ABC News “Primetime Live” and other ABC News specials.

While a producer at “Dateline NBC”, Kamlet won three Emmy Awards for stories on Elizabeth Smaert, Flight 93 and the shooting at Columbine High School.  In 2010 Kamlet won a Writers Guild of America Award for television news scripts. 

Kamlet, a native of Pelham, NY, will begin his new position on April 4.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in political science from Colorado State University. 

Quinnipiac is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution located 90 minutes north of New York City, which enrolls 5,900 full-time undergraduate and more than 2,000 graduate students.  (Mediabistro’s TV Newser)