University Press Secretary

University Press Secretary

Job ID

27101

Location

Central Office

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

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POSITION DETAILS

CUNY’s Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM) works in partnership with its academic and administrative offices and 25 colleges to promote the University’s unique mission and transformative role as an engine of social mobility. The office includes seven divisions working collaboratively to manage among others, all aspects of press, public relations, editorial content, art design, social media, and advertisement, to tell the story of the premier urban public university in the United States.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor of OCM, the University Press Secretary will be part of the Media Relations division with a focus on external media relations such as responding to requests for information and comment, releasing University news, and disseminating information among CUNY administration, colleges, and institutes for internal and external audiences. The incumbent will be responsible for executing the Communications Director’s messaging and strategic plans to the press.

They will be responsible for ensuring that all media inquiries are responded to in a timely and effective manner, as well as gathering details to share with University officials guiding them on how to best respond. While CUNY’s 25 campuses have their own communications office, the incumbent will liaise with and advise campus staff regarding inquiries, exchanging information on media questions and concerns, and sharing ideas for effective strategies.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serves as the University’s primary external media representative and spokesperson by responding to inquiries from all sources and maintaining regular contact with reporters; disseminates the University’s mission and core message.
• Oversees the Chancellor’s and CUNY’s day-to-day media coverage and communication of daily email clips.
• Plans media events, schedules interviews, prepares interview briefs, coaches interviewees, and prepares the Chancellor for media appearances.
• Grows CUNY’s media presence by cultivating and enhancing meaningful relationships with external sources; builds interest, covers, develops, and pitches compelling stories; engages with City, State agencies and external parties on joint announcements, press releases, and requests for quotes.
• Develops and executes story ideas for positive CUNY coverage, drafts and manages press releases; identifies and leverages media opportunities to promote CUNY’s faculty and students.
• Ensures media advisories of the Chancellors’ public events are drafted and submitted timely.
• Monitors coverage of CUNY and higher education trends to advise the Communications Director and Media Relations team about opportunities or potential problems.
• Collaborates with the Communications Director when potential problems with press inquiries arise, such as managing crisis communications for the system and advising CUNY’s communication offices at the 25 campuses in said situations as needed.
• Maintains a system to track CUNY’s media responses; develops and maintains standard talking points for recurrent topics, emerging matters and controversial issues.
• Manages the Media Relations team and collaborates with the Editorial team.

NOTE:

Until further notice, this position is eligible to work remotely and work on-site in the office.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree and eight years' relevant experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in communications, journalism, international relations, public administration, or related field and 10 years of related work experience
• Demonstrated experience in journalism, higher education, public relations agency, or government agency
• Proactive media pitcher, creative thinker, exceptional writer/editor, and energetic self-starter
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams, use strategic and tactical judgment to make decisions, and handle diverse situations
• Solid track record of media placements in top-tier media outlets, including in print, TV, radio, online, and national media
• Ability to communicate, work effectively, and collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent research, oral communication, organizational and interpersonal skills; adept at developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships within a team dynamic
• Extremely well organized and self-directed
• Knowledge of higher education procedures, systems and operations
• Computer proficiency using financial and administrative systems and databases and remote/virtual meeting and collaboration tools (Office 365, MS Teams, Zoom); advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Multilingual speaker, Spanish preferred

CUNY TITLE

University Assistant Administrator

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range is $140,000 - $155,000 ; commensurate with qualifications, experience, and education.

CUNY's benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well-being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

HOW TO APPLY

For full consideration, submit a cover letter and resume online via CUNY's web-based job system, addressing how your experience and credentials fulfill the responsibilities and qualifications outlined.

The direct link to the job opening from external sources is:

https://hrsa.cunyfirst.cuny.edu/psc/erecruit/EMPLOYEE/HRMSCG/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=27101&PostingSeq=1

Current CUNY employees must apply through CUNYfirst Employee Self Service using your login credentials. After logging in to CUNYfirst, navigate to job openings by following the path from the Main Menu: Employee Self Service –>Careers.

CLOSING DATE

July 26, 2023.

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.