Head of Corporate Communications

Responsibilities:

Communication:

• Design, develop and deploy a strategic, goal-based, data-driven Public Relations/Communications/ Master plan /Strategy in alignment with the University's vision, mission, and goals
• Lead the process of annual Public Relations agenda setting and PR stakeholder engagement
• Provide leadership to the Communications (Public Relations) unit to formulate and administer policies to ensure the integrity of the University’s communications and shape public perception
• Provide visionary and operational leadership in communication strategy for student recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and new student transition through initiatives that are contemporary, on-brand message, relevant, and serve to provide greater visibility of the university to prospective students
• Ensure quality communication across the University that is in alignment with the University Communication strategy
• Provide advice to the leadership team on the development of communication policies and public relations
• Responds to questions and requests from media, the public, and the community, including for critical and sensitive matters
• Offers counsel and guidelines to colleagues for dealing with the media, and provides coaching in public speaking as necessary
• Create all internal and external communications strategies to maintain Wigwe as a future-thinking institution among staff
• Participates in the design of major milestone events and reunions to engage noteworthy alumni, donors, and prospects; works with events- and programs staff to operationalize and produce appropriate materials
• Initiates positive and proactive relationships with both internal and external constituents of the University as well as people in government. 
• Collaborates with the CMO on developing and implementing engagement strategy; serves as a final approver on editorial content and creative work produced by the team for the University

Students/Community:

• Ensure the effective use of digital and other approaches to disseminating information and advice that is timely and relevant to the Wigwe University community
• Provide advice and guidance to managers, staff, students, and visitors
• Deliver presentations to communicate information across the Faculty and the University
• Building a sustainable culture of excellence
• Attend meetings to report on information/data
• Produce reports, process documentation, and publicity
• Collaborate with colleagues within the Faculty, Students’ Union, central student support services, and other areas of the University to promote good practice in the provision of effective communication support services
• Ensures dissemination of information in the right format to the right people at the right time, builds relationships and contacts to facilitate future exchange of information
• Keep up-to-date with external developments and practices relating to enhancing the student experience and draw on student feedback in order to inform the future development of this area of work
  

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in related field desired (Bachelor’s degree required)
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible higher education communications/ public relations experience in an enrolment management environment or related experience
• Demonstrated ability to oversee the management of multiple complex projects and deliver them on time and on budget. This includes working with program budgets
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills and experience writing for multiple mediums
• Depth of experience in multi-platform message development, data analysis, and strategic public relations and communications development.
• Experience in leveraging new technologies to maximize student engagement
• Proven commitment to diversity and success in working with diverse constituencies (preferably both domestic and international) to support an equitable and inclusive campus environment
• Experience supervising and leading a team of part- and full-time employees
• Sound editorial experience, including writing for the web.