Vice President of Communications - TNBR Careers

The Vice President of Communications (VPC) is a full-time fiscal position reporting directly to the President of Southwest Tennessee Community College. As a member of the President’s senior staff, the VPC drives the strategic vision for all comm...

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a comprehensive, multicultural, public, open—access college. Southwest has 6 campuses/centers from which it offers over 100 programs and over 20 technical certificate programs.

We foster student success, transform lives, and increase the educational level of a growing community in Shelby County. Southwest is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Title: Vice President of Communications

Employee Classification: Executive/Admin & Managerial

Institution: Southwest Tennessee Community College

Department: Communications

Campus Location: STCC - Multiple Campus Locations

Job Summary

The Vice President of Communications (VPC) is a full-time fiscal position reporting directly to the President of Southwest Tennessee Community College.

As a member of the President’s senior staff, the VPC drives the strategic vision for all communications and marketing efforts to elevate the college's brand and support its mission of educational excellence. This role oversees the integrated Communications Division, managing strategic communications, marketing, and institutional advancement efforts.

Key responsibilities will include leading departments such as media relations, grants, scholarships, public relations, web services, and video production. The VPC will develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies, enhance institutional visibility, and strengthen strategic messaging. Additionally, the VPC will provide oversight for the Office of Institutional Advancement and Resource Development, fostering relationships with donors, alumni, and community partners to advance the College's development goals.

This role will also be responsible for crisis communication and stakeholder engagement to support the College’s overall strategic initiatives.

Job Duties

• Strategic Leadership and Management
  • Develop and oversee the execution of an integrated communications and marketing strategy aligned with the College’s mission and strategic priorities.
  • Lead brand management initiatives to strengthen public perception and institutional reputation.
  • Provide counsel to the President and senior staff on communication strategies and emerging trends.
  • Oversee the Office of Institutional Advancement and Resource Development and the Division of Strategic Communications and Marketing.
  • Build, develop, and manage a high-performing team of marketing and communications professionals, fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
  • Manage the communication budget, ensuring cost-effective strategies and resource allocation, and leverage data and market research to predict budget needs.
  • Supervise and provide leadership to departments including Grants, Scholarships, Public Relations, Web Services, Graphic Design and Print Services, and Video Production, ensuring alignment with the college's strategic objectives.
• Communication Strategy and Operations
  • Craft and convey strategic messages effectively to various audiences, ensuring alignment with the College's mission and objectives.
  • Develop comprehensive communication plans that support institutional goals and enhance stakeholder engagement.
  • Oversee the creation and distribution of print, digital, and multimedia content to engage internal and external audiences.
  • Leverage modern communication tools and platforms, including content management systems, analytics tools, and multimedia production, to maximize outreach and engagement.
  • Stay abreast of emerging technologies and integrate them into the College's communication strategies.
  • Establish metrics and measurement plans to monitor the effectiveness of communications.
  • Facilitate transparent, timely communication across departments, ensuring consistent messaging.
  • Lead initiatives to enhance faculty and staff engagement through robust internal communication plans.
• Public Relations, Marketing, and External Relations
  • Establish and maintain relationships with key media outlets and community stakeholders to promote institutional initiatives.
  • Manage crisis communication strategies and responses, acting as the primary point of contact during challenging situations.
  • Coordinate outreach campaigns to support student recruitment, retention, and alumni relations.
  • Drive innovative use of social media and emerging platforms to reach diverse demographics.
  • Serve as the College’s primary spokesperson for media relations and public inquiries, responding to news inquiries from media outlets and overseeing the design and production of comprehensive media elements, including platform determination, benchmarking, and audience identification, to shape the College’s image and messaging.
  • Develop, coordinate, and execute communications strategies for presidential media relations, including speech writing (research and drafting) for the President.
  • Manages content for social media accounts and oversees work performed on behalf of the President.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.
  
• At least eight (8) years of progressive experience in communications, marketing, or public relations, with a minimum of five (5) years in a senior leadership role.
  
• Proven expertise in strategic planning, brand management, and team leadership.
  
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate executive level decision making.
  
• Experience with budget planning and management, business case development, project management, and organizational change practices.
  
• A background screening will be required for the successful candidate.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least ten (10) years of experience in communications management in higher education or nonprofit sectors, particularly alongside a president and/or senior leadership.
  
• Experience in managing comprehensive branding campaigns that have measurably increased organizational visibility and engagement.
  
• Established reputation and relationships with local, regional, and national media.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Experience working in journalism, marketing, public relations, or strategic communications.
  
• Advanced judgement, analytical, and decision-making skills.
  
• Expert knowledge and understanding of communications principles, concepts, practices, and technical requirements in print and broadcast news, online media, and media relations, and the roles, processes, and protocols of each platform.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision, deftly handle time-sensitive matters, meet strict deadlines, and accomplish high profile and sometimes confidential tasks.
  
• Demonstrated experience interacting with a broad spectrum of leaders and community members, exercising diplomacy, good judgement, and discretion.
  
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a diverse team of professionals, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment
  
• Demonstrated experience with office management communication software/tools, and social media management.
  
• Exceptional ability to craft strategic messages tailored to diverse audiences across multiple platforms.
  
• Proficiency with modern communication technologies, including social media management tools, content management systems, analytics software, and multimedia production tools.
  
• Demonstrated experience in crisis communication and management, with the ability to lead the institution through complex situations while maintaining public trust and confidence.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Candidates who are called for an interview must notify Human Resources in writing at least five (5) days in advance of any reasonable accommodation needed prior to the date of the interview.

First consideration will be given to current Southwest Tennessee Community College employees who meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

In order to be considered for the position, the following items must be uploaded:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Unofficial Transcripts

A summary of our benefits can be found below: 

https://www.southwest.tn.edu/hr/benefits-overview.php

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Southwest Tennessee Community College is a TBR and AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities.