Director for Content and Public Relations

As a collaborative leader on the University Marketing and Communications team, the Director for Content and Public Relations serves as the university’s lead producer of branded content and communications initiatives to support and scale brand awareness, affinity, authenticity, and admiration for and of LeTourneau University—The Christian Polytechnic University in the marketplace and among university constituents. This individual is responsible for developing and leading all forms of brand-centric content to engage and bring value to a wide variety of target audiences. Provides key leadership on the Marketing and Communications team, leading the unit’s core team of creative content producers. Works with Enrollment, Marketing, & Communications (EMC) staff and strategic campus partners to capture, craft, and distribute compelling copy, visuals, and media that convey the LeTourneau University story in a unique, meaningful, and memorable way. Also serves as the university’s primary media contact.

The Director for Content and Public Relations:

• Is the key leading voice and contributor regarding branded content creation & advisement. Vets and speaks into all branded content ideas, assuring consistency, quality, and relevance. 
• Leads the University Marketing & Communications content team and provides creative direction and input regarding content-related initiatives flowing through the UMC office.
• Collaborates with the UMC team and campus partners to identify, create, and promote innovative content opportunities supporting the university’s strategic priorities and marketing goals.
• Incorporates journalism & publishing best practices; owns roles of strategic story organizer and brand communicator.
• Serves as the primary liaison with local, media, and national media as an extension of their content distribution and consistent engagement work. Contributes to public relations and earned media efforts in conjunction with the Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications.
• Exemplifies content-team expectations as a contributing content creator, capturing and communicating all angles of life at LeTourneau, for all programs and student populations.
• Designs a content strategy that supports stated marketing initiatives and the university’s strategic plan, determining which methods most resonate with the brand’s audiences and why.
• Serves as a bridge between key areas on campus with which coordination is critical to capture & share the institutional saga of LeTourneau University. Includes but is not limited to Academics, Student Life, & Athletics.
• Approaches constituent communications through a creative and innovative lens.
• Ensures all content is:
  • On-brand with the values, associations, and priorities ofThe Christian Polytechnic University
  • Consistent in terms of style, quality, and tone of voice
  • Optimized for search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience
  • Distributed in a timely manner on all relevant channels, including web, social, email, mobile, video, & print.

• Is the lead storyteller on and go-to for the university’s branded social media platforms. Drives social content strategy on main channels. Informs & advises other associated university account managers regarding best practices & effective promotional strategies.
• Engages in and guides creative content strategy for visual media production, working in close partnership with the in-house videography staff to brainstorm, execute, and distribute compelling video content.
• Is potentially a ‘face’ of UMC storytelling, working on both sides of the camera to personalize and provide context in video communications and content.
• Works closely with the Associate Director for Online & Data Marketing in the ongoing effort to prioritize populating letu.edu and other university-related digital platforms with perpetually fresh content that drives action & engagement.
• Oversees the development of and manages a functional content calendar to coordinate coverage and oversees the maintenance and management of content inventories, as well as distribution channels.
• Conducts ongoing engagement analysis to gauge content effectiveness & contribute to data-informed decision-making.
• Develops standards, systems, and best practices for content creation, distribution, maintenance, retrieval, and repurposing, including the UMC toolbox of helpful & relevant content development resources.
• Leverages market data to develop content themes/topics and stays abreast of current content trends.
• Establishes workflow for requesting, creating, editing, publishing, and retiring content.
• Conducts periodic competitive content audits.
• Prioritizes the coordination, creation and deployment of content development efforts to fuel enrollment-related marketing campaigns and generate inquiries from strategic market segments and enrollment pipelines.
• Develops recruitment-related communication flow content for prospective and incoming residentials students and their parents, as well as all online & graduate prospects, contributing to all associated digital and print communications. Includes annual planning and plugging in of relevant content, as well as the design, layout, and execution of digital communications in the university’s email client.
• Prioritizes data-driven tactics and establishes measurable goals and metrics. Tracks year-over-year communication flow engagement and content-driven campaign performance. Prepares campaign reports and analyses, including progress toward set goals and recommendations for improvement.
• Creatively leverages university rankings and like content to boost awareness and perception of university’s academic program offerings among strategically selected target audiences.
• Partners closely with the Associate Vice President for Marketing & Communications and design team to assure execution of the desired creative vision relating to the visual elements of content-related projects.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, writing, marketing or journalism preferred. Master’s degree and experience in higher education and/or broader marketing & communications work a plus. Knowledge and experience using multiple forms of social media is a necessity for the qualified candidate. A robust portfolio of projects and proficiency utilizing the latest software packages including the Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office products, photo editing applications, and layout tools. In addition, a solid understanding of basic marketing will also benefit the ideal candidate. Proficient skills in photography and videography required. Though not essential, an understanding of web content management systems is considered helpful.
• Demonstrated excellence in communication, writing, and a high degree of innovation through the professional portfolio; strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills; the ability to function as a part of a multidisciplinary team; the stamina to produce high-quality projects in a fast-paced work environment; the maturity and discretion to handle challenging social media public relations issues with complete professionalism while representing LeTourneau University; and the ability to quickly learn and integrate new tools and technologies to meet customer needs.
• LeTourneau University seeks a person with an enthusiastic and contagious Christian faith who is committed to Christian higher education that integrates Christian faith with learning.

Applications will be reviewed in the order received and will continue until the position is filled. In accordance with applicable provisions of federal law, applicants for employment who are in agreement with the educational mission of LeTourneau University and applicants for admission to educational programs or activities are considered without discrimination on the basis of race, age, sex, handicapping condition, national origin or genetic information. Inquiries about this policy should be directed to the Director of Human Resources, (903) 233-4170.

Applications are required and are available from www.letu.edu/jobs or from the Business Office, LeTourneau University, 2100 Mobberly Avenue, Longview, TX. Send completed application, and a current resume to:

LeTourneau University
ATTN: Human Resources
P.O. Box 7001
Longview, Texas 75607-7001
FAX (903) 233-4103
E-mail address: HumanResources@letu.edu

LeTourneau University is the premier Christian polytechnic university in the nation where educators engage students to nurture Christian virtue, develop competency and ingenuity in their professional fields, integrate faith and work, and serve the local and global community.

LETU is a Christ-centered, interdenominational institute of higher learning offering more than 85 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, aviation, business & technology, communication, computer science, criminal justice, education, engineering, nursing, psychology & counseling and theology & vocation. LETU's 2,700 students represent nearly all 50 states, more than 30 foreign countries, and around 50 different denominational groups.

LETU is consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of "America's Best Colleges," and the engineering program is ranked nationally. LeTourneau University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone 404-679-4500, at http://www.sacscoc.org) to award associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees. LeTourneau University's engineering and engineering technology programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission and the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: 410-347-7700. The Carnegie Foundation classifies LeTourneau University as a Master's (Comprehensive) University II.

The 162 acre main campus is located in Longview, Texas, a progressive hub city with an MSA of over 190,000, nestled among the beautiful pine-forested hills and lakes of East Texas. It is approximately 120 miles east of Dallas, Texas and 60 miles west of Shreveport, Louisiana.

See https://www.letu.edu for more information.