Farmingdale State College, SUNY

Chief Communications Officer

Farmingdale State College, SUNY, Farmingdale, NY

Work at Farmingdale State College, SUNY

Duration: Full-Time

About Farmingdale State College:

Farmingdale State College is a recognized leader in applied learning. With nearly 10,000 students, FSC is the State University of New York's largest college of applied science and technology. Farmingdale is dedicated to student success and delivers exceptional student outcomes and opportunities through teaching, scholarship and applied research for Long Island, New York, and beyond. As one of the largest institutions in the State University of New York system, FSC's commitment to student-centered learning and inclusiveness is unparalleled, preparing graduates to be exemplary citizens equipped to excel in a competitive, diverse, and technically dynamic society. Farmingdale was the first institution of public higher education on Long Island and has long been a cornerstone of the region's economy with 96% of graduates working in New York State and 75% working on Long Island. Farmingdale prepares emerging leaders in the growing technology, engineering, business, and health care fields.

Farmingdale State College is committed to inclusivity and excellence as part of our mission and culture. The College has received the 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. We seek candidates of all backgrounds who embrace these values and the broader mission of public higher education.

Recently Farmingdale was ranked among the top ten baccalaureate colleges nationally by The Washington Monthly with particularly high scores for promoting both social mobility and service.

The College is home to the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park, which supports the development of biotech start-up companies and partners with surrounding businesses and research institutions along the growing Route 110 Business Corridor. Farmingdale's Nexus Center for Applied Learning and Career Development is a widely recognized leader in its field.

Farmingdale State College is investing more than $250 million in new construction and millions more to ensure FSC has the top-of-the-line facilities and technology for our campus community. In addition, Farmingdale State College is the co-host of the NY Off-Shore Wind Training Institute. In 2020 the College earned Carnegie Community Engagement Classification for excellence in community engagement.

The College is increasingly focused on expanding student engagement. In addition to the highly successful NCAA Division III athletics program, Esports, and an extensive array of student clubs and organizations give FSC a strong culture of civic responsibility.

Job Description:

The Chief Communications Officer (CCO) is the leading member of the College's Marketing & Communications (MarComm) team, reporting directly to the Vice President for Development & Communications, with a dotted line report to the President and a close working relationship with the greater leadership of the College. The CCO supervises and leads a team responsible for ensuring the coordinated communications and brand strategy across all levels of internal and external messaging. This individual proactively manages the development and execution of a multi-media communications strategy, ensuring key messages are delivered to and received by all relevant stakeholder audiences.

The CCO is expected to ensure brand integrity, elevate brand reputation, increase visibility and assure consistency in all communication both internal and external.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

Operational

Manage all College communications, including the College website and social media channels.

Develop and implement an annual assessment plan for the functional areas of the College to include a comprehensive marketing, communications and external relations program that will enhance the image and position within the marketplace and with the general public.

Ensure that the image and brand position of the College is communicated across all internal and external constituencies, with a focus on equity and market segmentation.

Roll out the delivery of a newly defined brand platform and communications strategy for the College and assess its effectiveness in supporting institutional priorities and objectives.

Manage the Marketing and Communication department workflow and project planning.

Plan and manage the department operating budget.

Develop the posture and tone of strategic enrollment communications.

Develop, implement and continuously improve Farmingdale's brand positioning and public profile.

Serve as publisher for the content of the College's website and oversee the web services team.

Serve as Editor-in-Chief of the College magazine, FSCNow, and its monthly electronic newsletter, FSCToday.

Lead and actively manage the College writing staff; including composing and/or editing news and feature articles, press releases, advertising and marketing copy, formal speeches, and other types of communication about the College.

Attend all high-level institutional events and key ancillary events both inside and outside of normal working hours, ensuring a strong presence and visibility for Marketing and Communication.

Leads a campus-wide communicators council consisting of constituent-based professionals from enrollment, development, athletics, student life and academic departments, and web-content contributors.

Public Relations

Direct the College's media relations activities, including good relationships and contact with media, preparation of press releases and other written communications, and providing appropriate responses to media inquiries.

Coordinate and direct all College marketing and community activities to best represent the College to a variety of audiences in an effort to maintain and/or increase student enrollment.

Direct efforts to enhance and protect the reputation, profile and visibility of the College serving as the main point of contact for all media relations activity.

Actively seek opportunities to promote faculty experts to media and op-eds featuring the President and other subject matter experts.

Ensure quality control, content accuracy and appropriateness, mission integration, and brand alignment with media inquiries, strategic marketing plans, on all communication assets (including web, print, digital, radio and television).

Participate and lead the creation and implementation of a strategic plan for the marketing and community relations functional area at the College.

Government Relations

Develop and manage distribution lists for legislative and policy issues; work with the SUNY system's Office for Government Relations and Office of Communications as appropriate.

Provide timely, accurate responses to legislative and governmental officials proposals and assure such officials are fully informed about the College's public policy and budgetary priorities.

Maintain a broad understanding of campus programs and priorities to inform advocacy with government officials.

In collaboration with the President's Office, develop briefing memos, tour agendas, issues analysis.

Collaborate with the President's Office to host an Annual Legislative Breakfast and other community engagement events.

Assist campus constituents with visits to campus by elected and governmental officials.

Crisis Management

Serve as a key member of the Emergency Response Team.

Regularly develop and update emergency response communication templates.

Proactively develop an integrated emergency communication plan including talking points, media statements, FAQs, internal updates, social media response plans, etc.

Participate in emergency management trainings and tabletop exercises with key FSC community members as needed, to ensure the communications response plan is accurate and up-to-date.

Manage the coordination and delivery of multi-media emergency messaging to the campus community.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Chief Communications Officer is classified as Management/Confidential and will perform other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position. The position requires the ability to respond promptly when needed outside normal business hours (8:30 am - 5:00 pm) and work flexible hours as the job requires, including occasional evenings and weekend hours.

The College particularly welcomes candidates with knowledge, skills and abilities that include:

Commitment to diversity and university initiatives supportive of diversity and inclusion.

Interest in participating in student-centered service activities.

Desire to apply expertise in promoting civic engagement with the College's many community partners.

Requirements:

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in related field.

Minimum of 5 years proven experience in marketing, communications, social media, crisis management and public information, as well as professional knowledge in the principles, practices and techniques of public information, public relations and community outreach programs.

Compelling storytelling and persuasive written and verbal communication skills.

Excellent organization, and project management skills.

Exceptional interpersonal skills, with proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, to work collaboratively across a broad spectrum of areas and populations to achieve institutional goals.

Positive track record of supervisory experience in a fast paced, results driven environment.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Advanced degree is preferred.

Demonstrated understanding and commitment to the mission of higher education.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time M/C position.

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Salary: Commensurate with experience

The State University of New York offers excellent fringe benefits including health insurance options and retirement plans. A benefits summary for this full-time M/C position can be found https://www.suny.edu/media/suny/content-assets/documents/benefits/benefit-summaries/MCunclassifiedbenefitsummary-December-2022.pdf.

VISA SPONSORSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION

The Consumer Information web page can be viewed at the following link

http://www.farmingdale.edu/consumer-information/index.shtml

This page describes various services, information and statistics on many different aspects of the College's operations.

Farmingdale State College's commitment to inclusive excellence is an important part of our mission of public education and our culture. At Farmingdale State College, we continue to work on building a community that supports freedom, mutual respect, and civility. We seek others who support these values of diversity and inclusiveness and candidates of all diverse backgrounds who wish to participate in our cultural aspirations are welcome and encouraged to apply.

The College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Application Instructions:

Application Instructions:

To apply visit https://apptrkr.com/3808866.