Senior Director, Communication and Public Relations

Job Profile Summary

Broward College, located in sunny South Florida, is one of the largest state colleges in the country. With an enrollment of approximately 55,000 students supported by 4,000 employees, the College was rated as a best-in-state employer by Forbes and a top 10 community college by the Aspen Institute.

Broward College is executing a strategic transformation to elevate its institutional reputation, strengthen community and economic development partnerships, and position the College as the premier destination for academic and workforce excellence.

Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Communication and Marketing, the Senior Director of Communications & Public Relations serves as a core strategic communications leader for the institution. This role drives earned news media relations, College website news, executive positioning, crisis communications, and key institutional narrative initiatives. The Senior Director leads news media strategies across local, state, and national journalists and press outlets, serves as a primary Public Information Officer (PIO), and collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to amplify the College's impact, achievements, and thought leadership.

Minimum Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Strategic Communications, Journalism, Communications, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive, high-level experience in public relations, news media relations, or institutional communications, with a proven background in managerial leadership. (An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.)
• Higher Education Requirement: Direct experience working within higher education communications or an extensive journalism/news media background specifically covering higher education, public policy, or academic sectors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Regional Media Networks: Established relationships with South Florida, regional, and state education journalists, news editors, press outlets, and community leaders.
• System & Governance Familiarity: Familiarity with or direct experience navigating the Florida College System (FCS), state higher education governance, public records practices, and Florida educational policy.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Integrated Strategy & Stakeholder Engagement: Cultivates strong relationships across the broader institution-including executive leadership, Deans, faculty, Student Affairs, Admissions/Enrollment, xAdvancement, and external community partners. Mines stories campus-wide and collaborates across the Marketing & Communications team to maximize content value-evaluating channel mix by distinguishing earned news media pitching (PR/Comms) from paid performance marketing campaigns, social media, and enrollment drivers to support multi-departmental goals.
• Strategic Narrative & PR Execution: Serves as a proactive self-starter, designing and executing integrated public relations and external communication strategies that elevate Broward College's brand reputation and communicate its value proposition across South Florida and nationally.
• Executive Communications & Thought Leadership: Crafts executive-level communications for the Office of the President and senior administration, including speeches, op-eds, policy briefs, talking points, and legislative communication. Manages the College's Subject Matter Expert (SME) program to position faculty and leadership in earned news media.
• Crisis Communications & Emergency Management: Serves as a primary Public Information Officer (PIO) and key member of the rapid-response crisis team. Maintains the Crisis Communications Plan, participates in BC ALERT exercises, and leads clear, rapid external press communications during incidents or high-stakes cycles.
• News Media Relations & Story Mining: Actively pitches stories to local, state, and national news media outlets (print, broadcast, digital journalists), highlighting workforce initiatives, academic achievements, student success, and institutional milestones. Responds to press inquiries and facilitates journalist interviews.
• Team Leadership & Operational Management: Directly manages, mentors, and empowers communications professionals and direct reports. Oversees departmental project workflows, news media tracking analytics, PR vendor contracts, and communications operational budgets.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proactive Relationship Building: Strong self-starter orientation with exceptional interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to relationship-building across multi-layered institutional organizations.
• Integrated Channel Thinking: Ability to think holistically across an integrated marketing and communications matrix, recognizing how narrative assets transition between earned news media, owned content channels, and paid media investments.
• Communication Mastery: Mastery of writing, editing, story-mining, and speechwriting for diverse internal and external audiences.
• Sector Knowledge: Working knowledge of higher education operational models, academic governance, and the nuances of the Florida education system.
• Crisis & High-Pressure Composure: Proven ability to operate calmly under pressure, managing crisis situations with sound judgment, speed, and discretion.
• Team Leadership: Demonstrated supervisory expertise with the ability to motivate, develop, and hold team members accountable.

Our Culture

At Broward College, our leaders embody a culture of competence, care, character, composure, and courage. We prioritize serving each other and our students through high-quality guidance, mutual respect, resilience, and fair, thoughtful decision-making, all while upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and honesty.

Broward College offers an exceptional benefits package, including, but not limited to:

• Affordable High-Quality Healthcare Insurance (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Options - Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan or the FRS Investment Plan
• Wellness Program
• Vacation/Paid Time Off
• Winter and Spring Break Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement are available to employees and family members

Job Title

Senior Director, Communication and Public Relations

Position Number

P0063622

Job Status

Full time Regular

Department

Strategic Communication and Marketing

Location

Willis Holcombe Center

Pay Grade

212

Salary

$85,500 - $105,500 (Salary commensurate with education and experience)

Work Shift

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday/Weekends/Varies

Hours Per Week

37.5

Posting End Date

Open Until Filled

Comments

To be considered for this position, a completed online employment application along with a cover letter, resume and unofficial transcript(s) are required.

Designated Essential Personnel

Yes

FLSA Status

Exempt

Position Classification

Administrators

Special Instructions to Applicant:

For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire. An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process and must be attached to the online application. If unable to attach the documentation, please email document to jobs@broward.edu or fax to 954-201-7612, stating clearly the position name(s) and position number(s) the transcript is to be attached to.

Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline. All required documentation must be received on or before the job posting end date.

Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the "Resume/CV/Transcript/License/Certification" section of the application

Please refer to link with the instructions on how to submit an application with multiple documents. https://www.broward.edu/jobs/_docs/tutorial_external_applicant_broward_college.pdf.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of the required background screening process.

Broward College uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 Form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.

Broward College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from eligible veterans and spouses of veterans, underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. The College does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or any other legally protected classification. For inquiries regarding Title IX and the college's non-discrimination policies, contact the Vice President for Talent and Culture at 954-201-7449, Broward College, 6400 NW 6th Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. Applicants needing a reasonable accommodation with the application process, please contact the Talent and Culture Department at nanders1@broward.edu.

Disclaimer

The intent of this description is to illustrate the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and should not be interpreted of describe all the specific duties and responsibilities that may be required in any particular position. Directly related education/experience beyond the minimum stated may be substituted where appropriate at the discretion of the Appointing Authority. Broward College reserves the right to revise or change job duties, job hours, and responsibilities.