Summary
Description
Job Summary
Public and Media Relations Manager plays a vital role in advancing the college’s reputation by leading comprehensive public relations and media outreach efforts that showcase key initiatives, achievements, and leadership. Reporting directly to the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Manager develops and implements strategic media plans, cultivates relationships with journalists at local, regional, and national levels, and produces press materials that align with the college’s brand and messaging goals.
Core responsibilities include pitching story ideas, writing and distributing press releases, writing stories and scripts for different mediums, monitoring media coverage, and recommending proactive publicity approaches to enhance the college’s visibility and reputation. The Manager also supports crisis communication efforts, serving as a key media contact and stepping in as needed in the Director’s absence to ensure timely and accurate responses in sensitive situations.
In addition, the Manager develops and manages social media content for the College President, creating campaigns that amplify the President’s voice and engage the community while maintaining message consistency across platforms. This position promotes college events through targeted media outreach and coordinates public relations activities with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) to support system-wide initiatives.
The role requires close collaboration with internal departments and college leadership to align public relations efforts with overall communications strategies and maintain brand integrity across all public-facing content. The Manager is also responsible for monitoring PR budgets, tracking expenditures, and making purchasing recommendations to support effective media relations and publicity.
Work is generally performed in a standard office environment. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position may require work outside of regular office hours, including occasional evenings or weekends. It may also require working at both RRCC campuses and traveling between campuses as needed.
A successful candidate possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong media relations experience, and is at ease with the following:
- Accountability: Demonstrates ownership of responsibilities and consistently delivers high-quality work with minimal oversight, especially when handling time-sensitive or high-stakes communications.
- Influencing/Negotiating: Persuades effectively and builds consensus among internal stakeholders and external media partners to support and advance the college’s strategic objectives.
- Strategic Thinking: Anticipates communication needs, evaluates media and industry trends, and formulates proactive PR strategies that align with institutional priorities and elevate the college’s visibility.
- Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Experience working in an educational or nonprofit environment.
- Experience working with executives.
- Familiarity with the higher education landscape and understanding of the unique communication needs of academic institutions.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or relevant experience.
- Three years’ experience in public relations, media relations, journalism, or communications.
- Leadership or supervision experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in an educational or nonprofit environment.
- Experience working with executives.
- Familiarity with the higher education landscape and understanding of the unique communication needs of academic institutions.
Physical & Cognitive Demands
The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.
- Occasionally moves, positions, and transports files and office materials weighing up to 10 lbs.
- This is largely a sedentary role. This position operates in an office environment and constantly uses a computer, and routinely uses standard office equipment including phones, copiers, etc.
- The person in this position constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- Cognitive demands include comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, and interpersonal skills.
Reasonable Accommodation Statement
Red Rocks Community College provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process and/or during the course of employment, please contact Jennifer Matthews, Executive Director of Human Resources, at (303) 914-6298 or Jennifer.Matthews@rrcc.edu.
Starting Salary
Starting salary range for this position is $76,818.00-$84,500 annually, commensurate with education and experience. This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.
To Apply
All applicants must submit:
- Resume
- Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement.
Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Candidates may redact any personally identifiable information on their materials including
but are not limited to age, date of birth, and dates of attendance and date of graduation for educational institutions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Visit our Careers website to submit your application.
If you have questions regarding this position, please contact us at HR@rrcc.edu.
Benefits
At RRCC, we value and uphold a commitment to a workplace that focuses on employees. In addition to rewarding and meaningful work, we offer a comprehensive selection of benefits to support our employees, including:
- Strong, flexible retirement benefits including Colorado PERA’s Defined Benefit Plan or Defined Contribution Plan. RRCC contributes 21.61% of your salary on your behalf. Supplemental retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b) and 457 plans are also available.
- Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and flexible savings benefits.
- Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP).
- Generous paid time off benefits including up to 15 hours of annual leave and 10 hours sick leave per month, 10 paid holidays per year, and up to 18 hours for academic and volunteer activities.
- Tuition assistance for employees and their eligible dependents at any community college within the Colorado Community College System or CCCOnline.
- State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources.
- Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the Colorado Division of Human Resources website.
Notice to all Applicants
- Final candidate will be subject to successful completion of a background check, and, if applicable, a motor vehicle record review.
- Former employees of the Colorado Community College System, or one of its 13 colleges, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in their application material.
- Final candidates are required to submit unofficial transcripts for non-instructional positions and official transcripts for instructional positions to Human Resources within thirty (30) days of hire.
- Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
- Red Rocks Community College participates in E-Verify.
- Red Rocks Community College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
- All RRCC employees, except student employees, contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their earnings and do not contribute to Social Security.
- Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace.
RRCC/CCCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Red Rocks Community College and Colorado Community College System believes when all human qualities are regarded with dignity and respect and when everyone has access to the individualized support they need, all will have the opportunity to thrive. In all aspects of the employment process, decisions are made based on merit, competence, performance and business need without regard to sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, familial status, veteran or military status, pregnancy status, marital status, religion, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our Accommodations and Non-Discrimination policies, plus other helpful information, can be found publicly at https://www.rrcc.edu/about-us/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.
We also believe in going further. At RRCC we have a focus on equity and belonging. We strive to create a community in which everyone feels respected and valued for their unique talents and contributions, and where people from all backgrounds are able to achieve their goals. Red Rocks Community College acknowledges that inclusion and equity are multifaceted and complex concepts, and that our efforts in these areas will require innovation, intention, and an institutional commitment to these principles, across our entire college community.
Red Rocks Community College is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). As we move toward full HSI status, we are focused on servingness and are committed to creating a learning environment where equity is expected and our Latinx students thrive.
For information regarding Red Rocks Community College Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, please see the https://www.rrcc.edu/about-us/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.
