Associate Director

The Associate Director of Communications and Public Relations supports Pepperdine’s integrated communications initiatives aimed at strengthening Pepperdine’s brand and national reputation through communications and public relations that advance brand awareness, thought leadership, enrollment, fundraising, and student and alumni engagement objectives.

Integrated Marketing Communications is directly tasked with supporting the University’s mission and strategic plan by building brand equity, elevating the University’s national reputation, providing strong and consistent institutional message leadership, and implementing effective integrated marketing and communications strategies.

Duties

• Public Relations -
  • Lead the public relations team.
  • Initiate, create, oversee, and execute public relations campaigns that advance the University's strategic goals.
  • Build strong and productive relationships with journalists, producers, and editors who are aligned with the University's values and mission.
  • Manage editorial and pitching calendars to achieve strategic results.
  • Maintain steady and positive University presence in media through pitching, distribution of news releases, regular one-on-one meetings and interviews, responsiveness to media requests, and other forms of engagement.
  • Define, improve, and report ROI that quantifies and qualifies public relations effectiveness.
  • Evaluate, advise, manage, and employ public relations management and analytical tools.
  • Closely monitor PR trends, research, and best practices, particularly in higher education.
• Crisis Communications -
  • Protect the best interests of the University by maintaining readiness and managing incident and crisis communications responsibilities.
  • Advise University leaders on controversial or sensitive issues while exercising the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.
  • Develop and maintain emergency protocols and policy, including communication structure, documentation, and analytics.
  • Serve as University spokesperson.
• Communication Strategy -
  • Provide oversight and conduct research, planning, implementation, and evaluation of communication campaigns.
  • Inform, align, and synchronize messaging to ensure organizational consistency and effectiveness across internal and external channels and audiences.
  • Create messaging, guidance, and communication plans that support the goals of the University, schools, centers, institutes, and departments.
• Digital and Social Media -
  • Oversee and manage the University's Press Room webpage, including its published subject matter experts, select IMC podcast activities, official social media engagement plans and activities as they relate to news media engagement, coverage, and publicity.
• Training and Development -
  • Train leaders, spokespeople, and subject matter experts, and prepare messaging guidance and talking points for University leaders, spokespeople, and key academic experts.
  • Develop, implement, and maintain University standards for press materials and best practices across schools.
  • Evaluate public affairs broadcast and podcast studio models and promote broadcast opportunities.
• Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships -
  • Identify and cultivate relationships on behalf of the University to advance the University's reputation, recruitment, and fundraising.
  • Advise on the creation and promotion of corporate and community partnerships.
  • Recommend and execute advertising campaigns.
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Uphold University Mission through Work Performed

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, communications, journalism, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in an integrated communications, media with on-camera experience, or public relations environment.
• Experience managing, implementing, and measuring proactive public relations and crisis communications programs across print, web, broadcast, and social platforms.
• Superior written and verbal communications skills; demonstrated relationships with journalists and members of the media; strong project management skills, demonstrated experience in successfully working with peers, demonstrated success at working under tight deadlines, professional appearance
• Strong proficiency in Google Workspace, Social Media Analytic Software, Media Analytic Software

Preferred:

• 7+ years of experience in higher education and/or media relations.
• Experience in leading and supervising cross-functional teams.
• Experience in training leaders and subject matter experts in media engagement.
• Experience in Social media strategy and measurement.
• Proficiency using Workfront, Raiser’s Edge, Adobe Creative Cloud, Meltwater and/or Cision, Sprout Social, ChatGPT, Gemini or other generative artificial intelligence applications

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $90,000 - $105,000 per year

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.