Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Student Communications Manager

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: J

Under the direction of management, the Student Communications Manager oversees communications strategies, channels and methods that advance the College’s communications goals. This position serves as the point of contact for field inquiries and requests related to communicating and promoting events and happenings at the College to our student population. The Communications Manager coordinates and manages the flow of various types of communication that is targeted to students and/or partners with divisions such as Information Technology, Marketing & Communications, and others to update and improve technical aspects of communications infrastructure, tools, channels, and student email lists, and collaborate on the creation of guidelines and protocols for understanding at all levels.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Oversees all student-facing communication. Recommends, develops, implements, and continuously improves student communication plans, processes, and procedures to support the College’s communications goals for all PCC student populations.
2. In partnership with other College offices or independently, shares student related news, including emails, text message campaigns, short videos, and social media campaigns. Creates communication that is clear and accessible, using a variety of modalities to disseminate information on student services, initiatives, projects and resources.
3. Creates an inventory of all PCC student communications tools and a directory of user access. Designs protocols for how to use communications tools, to distribute broadly throughout the College for understanding.
4. Serves as a point of contact for the College to assess inquiries related to using communication tools; helps educate those inquiring about how to use these tools and who they reach. Advises on tactics to support communications needs across the College.
5. Evaluates new communication strategies, tools, and techniques and provides guidance and training regarding changes for College staff.
6. Oversees assigned information systems or components of information systems, including websites, and student-facing knowledge-based tools (e.g. Ask the Panther, future chatbot, etc.).
7. Develops evaluation tools to measure effectiveness of communications efforts and processes through data from surveys, evaluation forms, comments, focus groups, and/or other sources. Routinely measures and reports on results.
8. Leads or participates in/on a variety of meetings, committees, task forces, and/or other related groups to communicate information regarding services, programs, areas of opportunity, and/or other pertinent information as appropriate; ensures minutes are recorded; communicates meeting outcomes and action plans as appropriate, and follows up and reports on expected results.
9. Manages and/or coordinates communication resources across multiple departments.
10. Participates in the development and administration of section budget; implements and allocates resources following budget approval; approves expenditures.
11. Serves as the point of contact for field inquiries and requests related to communicating and promoting events and happenings for students.
12. Applies the lens of social justice and racial equity to student communications work, using the framework of PCC’s Strategic Plan as appropriate.
13. Develops programs and policies as needed or assigned.
14. Supports special projects as assigned by management.
15. May supervise administrative services professionals, paraprofessionals, technical support, and/or classified staff and perform both direct and indirect supervision through subordinates.
16. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work is required. Travel to multiple PCC locations is expected. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in English, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Education, Public Affairs, Public Administration, Project Management, or related area. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional experience in strategic communications, including two years (2) of lead or supervisory experience. Successful completion of PCC LEAD Academy or a comparable external leadership training may substitute for up to 6 months of lead or supervisory experience.

OR Bachelor’s Degree in any field AND seven (7) years of progressively responsible, professional experience in strategic communications, including two years (2) of lead or supervisory experience. Successful completion of PCC LEAD Academy or a comparable external leadership training may substitute for up to 6 months of lead or supervisory experience.

OR nine (9) years of progressively responsible, professional experience in strategic communications, including two years (2) of lead or supervisory experience. Successful completion of PCC LEAD Academy or a comparable external leadership training may substitute for up to 6 months of lead or supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Communications and writing for accessibility with a general audience;
• Principles and practices of integrated, strategic communications in large organizations;
• Public relations, public administration and public affairs principles;
• Marketing principles;
• Project management and higher education principles and practices;
• Program development, budgeting, and management;
• Multiple modalities of distributing information, including webpages, emails, and notices;
• Applicable local, state and federal laws, codes, rules, and regulations.

Skills in:

• Writing for a general audience in an accessible style;
• Developing and managing projects;
• Preparing a variety of communications materials that can be strategically tailored for a multitude of channels and platforms;
• Planning, implementing, improving, and evaluating operations, programs, policies, procedures, financials;
• Evaluating research to identify potential solutions, resolve problems, and provide information;
• Utilizing data and assessment outcomes for communication and making continuous improvements for programs and services;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with internal constituents and clients;
• Navigating complex situations with multiple agendas;
• Facilitation of group communications processes.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with all levels of management, staff and internal constituents and stakeholders;
• Work effectively with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college staff;
• Apply analysis and action for racial/social justice grounded processes and outcomes;
• Actively support development of competencies related to principles of intercultural communication and culturally responsive practices;
• Be collaborative and supportive as part of a larger team while also being self-directed.

New: 2/2023

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.