Summary
Description
The Communications Manager oversees a small team of internal content and communications specialists. This is a hands-on strategic role requiring 3-5 years of experience in communications and 1-2 years managing people. This person will continue to develop and optimize the internal and external communications strategy for RMCAD. They will drive strategy and execution to increase engagement across all our communications channels, including social, email, website, community platforms, etc. They will be responsible for implementing best practices and constantly improving our communications, including but not limited to, content marketing, earned media, social media, email, speech writing, and crisis and reputation management. This individual will collaborate across the institution and with our marketing agency to ensure all content is current, accurate, search engine optimized (SEO), and campaign creative is consistent. They will also act as project manager for communications to ensure that deadlines are met and critical updates are made. Exemplary organizational skills are essential.
Results
When this job is performed well, the following results will be created:
- Continued growth in student engagement and content volume by via social channels, blog, and our .edu website
- Increased number of website visitors
- Solidify stronger internal and external brand awareness through collaborations with alumni, current students, program chairs, local community art members, and any other relevant external organizations measurable by engagement metrics, surveys, etc.
- Increased prospective student, current student, and alumni engagement by publishing evergreen content in collaboration with other relevant RMCAD departments.
- High employee engagement scores
- Strong relationships with stakeholders across the institution
- The marketing team will meet deadlines and stay organized with the many deliverables they have.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage a content team of 2-3 people. Drive their professional development and a strong engagement rate through supportive leadership.
- Develop strong interpersonal relationships within the institution through collaboration, humility, and a commitment to fostering a culture of recognizing excellence.
- Manage multiple projects ensuring timely execution, progress, and delivery through visual, video, and written content.
- Act as project manager and executor for front end content updates for RMCAD.edu.
- Coordinate with Admissions, Academics and Marketing/Communications team members to enhance and develop new online content and engaging stories through relationship building and engagement.
- Ensure all online content is aligned with short-term and long-term strategies for the institution.
- Continuously implement front-end website changes based on relevant information and content.
- Regularly report on performance of KPI’s including suggesting enhancements, and recommendations that further drive departmental efficiencies.
- Develop and implement blog and social media strategies to increase online presence and improve marketing efforts.
- Perform industry research and stay abreast of trends in higher education enrollment marketing
Brand Management
- Ensure creative assets and messaging content across the institution are consistently refreshed and on brand
- Gather + promote content to ensure content and its presentation is consistent with RMCAD institutional and web/online content style guidelines, including institutional tone and voice, and is optimized for online viewing, usability and search engine optimization
Social Media & Strategic Communications
- Social Media Oversight: Provide high-level creative direction and strategic goals for the Social Media Coordinator to ensure brand consistency across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and other channels.
- Executive & Internal Comms: Draft high-stakes communications, including institutional announcements, leadership messaging, and internal newsletters for students and faculty.
- Event Coverage: Attend RMCAD events and work with the content team to gather compelling imagery, video, and content for all digital assets
- Comms Oversight and Editing: Edit communications written by stakeholders and manage a deployment calendar to ensure there is a proper cadence across segments.
- Content Strategy: Oversee a multi-channel content calendar that balances student-led content with official academic and enrollment-driven updates.
- Performance Analytics: Audit social media KPIs and engagement metrics to refine messaging strategies and report on the effectiveness of digital PR efforts.
- Student Advocacy: Work with student ambassadors to amplify RMCAD’s authentic campus culture.
- Trend Adaptation: Ensure RMCAD social media remains agile, quickly adapting to emerging platforms and creative trends within the art and design space.
- Crisis Monitoring: Lead the response strategy for social media escalations, maintaining a professional and proactive brand voice during sensitive situations.
- Drive continuous discovery and visibility around student work/highlights, faculty exhibitions, and events
Public Relations & Communications Priorities
- Thought Leadership: Elevate RMCAD’s profile by positioning faculty and visiting artists as industry experts for local and national media commentary.
- Success Storytelling: Develop compelling narratives around alumni career outcomes and student achievements to demonstrate the ROI of a RMCAD education.
- Media Relations: Build and maintain strategic relationships with journalists, influencers, and editors to secure consistent coverage in arts, education, and business outlets.
- Content Development: Provide newsworthy content, story and visibility to RMCAD programs, accomplishments, and community involvement.
- Community Integration: Act as the primary liaison for the 40 West Arts District and Lakewood/Denver partners to strengthen the college’s regional presence and impact.
- Brand Advocacy: Manage the college’s reputation by ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms, emphasizing RMCAD’s unique hybrid learning model and accreditation.
- Crisis & Reputation Management: Proactively monitor digital sentiment and provide strategic communication support for sensitive institutional issues or campus announcements.
- Strategic Promotion: Execute PR campaigns for high-profile events, including the VASD Program, student exhibitions, and the Annual Research Symposium.
Qualifications
- BA/BS Degree
- Minimum 3-5 years experience in communications, social, web copy, editing and public relations
- Minimum 2+ years experience managing a communications or content team
- Self-motivated with experience in social media, blogging, copy editing, content writing, making front end website updates
- Highly organized and flexible, ensuring precision in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Excellent networking and collaboration skills
- Exemplary organization and project management skills
- Demonstrated effectiveness in working with people, including effective interpersonal communication, persuasion skills, and management
- Adept at both independent project ownership and cross-functional teamwork
- Familiarity working within project management, web content management systems and social platforms like Asana, WordPress, Hootsuite, and Facebook Business Manager
- Significant experience writing for online audiences
- Strong understanding of search engine optimization standards and best practices
- Must be extremely detail oriented, confidential, impartial, and objective
- Leverages data analysis to inform strategy and implement effective solutions
- Must be able to effectively communicate across departments to ensure timeliness of multiple
- projects/tasks and shifts within a team environment
Preferred Qualifications
- BA/BS Degree in communications, marketing, or related area
- Existing strategic relationships with journalists, influencers, and editors and a history of securing consistent coverage in arts, education, and business outlets.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
The work environment is a typical office environment which may include moderate noise, some evening or weekend hours, confined workspaces, fast work pace with unscheduled interruptions, and extensive time sitting and working with computers. Able to lift and carry up to twenty-five (25) pounds.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Management retains the right to add or change the duties of the position at any time.
Pay Range
This is a salaried position that will fall in the $70-80k range. The top end of this range is reserved for candidates who exceed all minimum requirements and possess specialized PR and local communications and/or leadership expertise.
