Associate Director, External Communications

About the role

The Associate Director, External Communications reports directly to the AVP of Communications and Marketing Strategy and is a key member of the College Marketing team. This position will work across the College to advance storytelling and brand awareness efforts by supporting the planning and implementation of strategic external communications to enhance the College's reputation locally, nationally, and internationally. This position is responsible for developing PR plans, media strategies, and integrated communications campaigns for Babson College with the goal of positively impacting, as well as protecting, Babson's brand reputation. This position plays a leading role in advancing and communicating key College priorities and strategic initiatives through proactive, strategic communications, with a primary focus on engagement with traditional and emerging media outlets. The role also supports the AVP with issues management and crisis communications and provides strategic counsel on communications responses to internal and external matters affecting the Babson College community. WHAT YOU WILL DO In cooperation with the AVP, develops and implements a multi-year media relations plan that sets priorities for seeking coverage that is reflective of the College's strategy. Develop and sustain strong working relationships with key national, regional, local, and trade news media; lead proactive pitching and story development to advance College priorities. Provide strategic counsel to faculty and senior leaders, including message development, interview preparation, and media coaching. Stay attuned to external news events and trends related to business education, higher education, research, and innovation/entrepreneurship, leveraging information for media outreach and other visibility opportunities. Draft and oversee development of external communications materials (e.g., press releases, op-eds, media advisories, scripts, web content, newsletters, and other promotional assets), ensuring accuracy, brand alignment, and audience-appropriate voice. Responsible for ensuring the College's strategic initiatives are prioritized in media outreach and pitch efforts. Establish and maintain media relations standards, processes, and messaging guidance to ensure consistent, high-quality external communications across College Marketing and key campus partners. Manage promotion to the media of appropriate College-sponsored events; attend events as needed. Proactively develop, strengthen, and sustain trusted relationships with Babson faculty and leaders across campus (as well as students, administrators, alumni, College neighbors, and other community members) to surface and shape media-worthy stories and advance College priorities. Provide strategic counsel and writing support for executive and institutional communications (e.g., internal messages, public statements, remarks, talking points, FAQs, briefings, press releases, and news/blog posts), ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and brand voice. Ensure College spokespeople (faculty and leaders) are properly informed and briefed for media interactions and follow up is done on their behalf. Work with external agency partners supporting reputation and awareness efforts, including defining objectives, providing direction and feedback, and tracking deliverables and outcomes against plan. Coordinate press activity, including interviews, campus visits, media tours, press conferences, and outreach/management of media during crises or incidents on campus. Identify and advance opportunities to elevate Babson's reputation through key academic associations and conferences (e.g., AOM, AACSB, USASBE), including thought-leadership placements and strategic partnerships that expand visibility. Partner with College Marketing colleagues and Academic leadership to build and maintain visibility for faculty thought leadership including staying current on research, identifying story angles, and connecting experts with journalists. Steward and continuously improve Babson's Faculty Expert database and related processes. Provide crisis support related to media management and messaging; help implement crisis communication strategies in the Babson community, and to the media and external community. Define and track key earned media performance indicators; analyze impact on brand and institutional priorities; and provide regular insights and recommendations to senior leaders through dashboards and reporting. Partner with College Marketing colleagues to execute a direct engagement strategy as part of earned media efforts, specifically targeting speaking roles, panel opportunities, and other efforts at academic and business conferences globally. Collaborate with College Marketing colleagues to share and extend media coverage across social media platforms and other channels, amplifying the visibility and impact of earned media. Represent College Marketing at various meetings at the

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