Job Title
Director, Communications
Agency
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Department
Institutional Advancement
Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate
Job Location
Corpus Christi, Texas
Job Type
Staff
Job Description
TAMU-CC is a dynamic university designated as both a
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Minority-Serving Institution
(MSI) with approximately 11,000 students from 47 states and 54
foreign nations. We employ over 1,400 full-time and 2,000 part-time
Islanders (including students/GAs). The University attracts highly
talented faculty and staff and offers an array of undergraduate and
graduate degrees, including doctoral programs. As a member of the
Texas A&M University System, TAMU-CC benefits from a range of
resources, increased visibility and influence, and opportunities to
collaborate in mutually beneficial ways with peers across member
institutions and associated agencies.
TAMU-CC's beautiful campus is located on a 240-acre island on
Corpus Christi Bay and was ranked #1 College by the Sea by Best
College Reviews. Our natural setting is enhanced by its modern,
attractive, and state-of-the-art classroom buildings and support
facilities.
PURPOSE
The Director of Communications provides strategic leadership for
university communications, media relations, executive
communications, crisis communications, and reputation management.
Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and
Communications, the Director develops and executes communications
strategies that advance institutional priorities and strengthen the
university's reputation among internal and external
audiences.
The Director serves as a senior communications advisor to
university leadership, leads the university's media relations and
crisis communications efforts, and oversees the development of
compelling institutional content and messaging. The position
oversees a team of communication professionals and works
collaboratively across the university to ensure communications are
timely, coordinated, accurate, and aligned with institutional
priorities, brand standards, and university values.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Functional Area 1: Strategic & Institutional
Communications
Percent Effort: 35%
- Develop and execute comprehensive communications strategies
that advance university priorities, including enrollment, student
success, research, advancement, community engagement, and
institutional reputation.
Establish and maintain a cohesive institutional voice and
messaging framework across communications channels.
Provide strategic communications counsel to university
leadership on institutional initiatives, announcements, sensitive
issues, and emerging opportunities.
Develop executive communications, including speeches, talking
points, presentations, statements, correspondence, and other
leadership messaging.
Oversee institutional communications and major publications,
ensuring content is accurate, compelling, audience-focused, and
aligned with university priorities.
Collaborate with colleges, divisions, and university leadership
to identify communications opportunities and coordinate messaging
across the institution.
Develop an overarching strategic communication plan and toolkit
to support major university initiatives, announcements, events, and
milestones.
Provide communications guidance and standards to campus
communicators to strengthen consistency and coordination across the
university.
Functional Area 2: Media Relations & Reputation
Management
Percent Effort: 25%
- Serve as the university's primary media relations contact and
spokesperson, as appropriate.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with local, regional,
national, and industry-specific media.
- Lead proactive media outreach and story development
highlighting faculty expertise, research, student success,
institutional accomplishments, community impact, and university
priorities.
- Oversee press releases, media advisories, statements, feature
stories, media pitches, and other external communications.
- Coordinate media interviews, press conferences, and media
opportunities involving university leadership, faculty, staff, and
subject-matter experts.
- Prepare university representatives for media interviews through
messaging, talking points, briefing materials, and media
preparation.
- Monitor media coverage, emerging issues, public sentiment, and
reputational trends; provide analysis and recommendations to
university leadership.
- Identify emerging reputational opportunities and risks and
recommend proactive communications strategies.
Functional Area 3: Crisis & Issues Communications
Percent Effort: 20%
- Lead the university's crisis and issues communications strategy
in coordination with university leadership and appropriate campus
partners.
- Develop, maintain, and regularly evaluate the university's
crisis communications plan, protocols, templates, and response
procedures.
- Serve as the communications lead within the university's
Incident Command structure during emergencies and significant
incidents.
- Develop and coordinate timely, accurate communications for
internal and external audiences across email, web, social media,
media relations, emergency notification systems, and other
channels.
- Advise university leadership on communications strategy during
emergencies, sensitive situations, and reputational issues.
- Coordinate messaging with university police, university
leadership, legal counsel, the Texas A&M University System, and
other appropriate partners.
- Monitor media, social media, and public conversation during
emerging issues and crises and recommend appropriate
responses.
- Conduct post-incident communications reviews and incorporate
lessons learned into future crisis planning.
- Maintain appropriate after-hours availability for
time-sensitive emergencies and reputational matters.
Functional Area 4: Content Strategy & Editorial
Leadership
Percent Effort: 10%
- Provide strategic direction for university news, institutional
storytelling, executive communications, and other communications
content.
- Oversee the development of written content for digital, social,
video, audio, print, and other communications channels.
- Establish editorial priorities that support institutional goals
and strengthen the university's reputation.
- Serve as final editorial authority for designated
university-level communications, ensuring accuracy, consistency, AP
style compliance, and alignment with institutional messaging.
- Partner with Marketing, Creative Services, Web, Enrollment,
Advancement, academic units, and other university teams to
coordinate integrated storytelling and communications.
- Identify opportunities to elevate faculty expertise and
university thought leadership in regional, national, and industry
conversations.
Functional Area 5: Communications Measurement &
Strategy
Percent Effort: 5%
- Establish annual communications goals, key performance
indicators, and measures of success aligned with the university's
strategic priorities.
- Monitor and evaluate media coverage, audience engagement,
digital performance, sentiment, and other relevant communications
metrics.
- Use data and audience insights to evaluate communications
effectiveness and refine strategies.
- Provide regular communications and reputation reports,
insights, and recommendations to university leadership.
Functional Area 6: Leadership & Administration
Percent Effort: 5%
- Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop professional
communications staff.
- Establish team priorities, workflows, performance expectations,
and professional development goals.
- Foster a collaborative, responsive, high-performing culture
focused on quality, service, innovation, and continuous
improvement.
- Manage assigned communications budgets and resources.
- Develop and maintain communications policies, procedures,
editorial standards, and standard operating procedures.
- Serve on university committees, task forces, emergency response
teams, and working groups as assigned.
- Represent the university at professional, community, and
industry events as appropriate.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations,
journalism, marketing, or a closely related field.
- Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional
experience in communications, public relations, media relations,
journalism, or a related field, including at least three (3) years
of supervisory or leadership experience.
- Additional education/experience may be considered as a
substitute for the minimum requirements:
- Master's degree in communications, public relations,
journalism, marketing, or a closely related field with eight (8)
years of progressively responsible professional experience in
communications, public relations, media relations, journalism, or a
related field, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or
leadership experience
- Doctoral degree in communications, public relations,
journalism, marketing, or a closely related field with six (6)
years of progressively responsible professional experience in
communications, public relations, media relations, journalism, or a
related field, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or
leadership experience
- Exceptional written, verbal, editing, and interpersonal
communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing strategic
communications plans for complex organizations.
- Demonstrated experience working with media and developing
successful media relations strategies.
- Experience managing sensitive, high-profile, or crisis
communications.
- Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to advise leaders on
complex communications matters.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions
in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability to use communications data and analytics
to inform strategy and evaluate effectiveness.
- Ability to maintain the security and integrity of critical
infrastructure, which may include communications systems, computer
networks and systems, cybersecurity systems, electrical grid,
hazardous waste treatment system or water treatment system.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master's degree in communications, public relations,
journalism, marketing, higher education administration, or a
related field.
- Communications or public relations experience within higher
education or another large, complex organization.
- Experience leading crisis and issues communications.
- Experience providing communications counsel to executive
leadership.
- Experience developing regional or national media relationships
and successfully pitching stories.
- Knowledge of emerging communications trends, media monitoring,
digital communications, and reputation management.
SALARY: $85,000 - $100,000/annually, approximately
- $7,083.34 - $8,333.34/monthly
NOTE: Employment may be impacted by the Presidential
proclamation issued on September 19, 2025 and the moratorium issued
by Texas Governor Abbott on January 27, 2026.
BENEFITS (rules, policies, eligibility apply)
From our generous
benefits package and
professional development opportunities, to our retirement programs
and our commitment to service excellence, the Island University is
an engaging and rewarding place to work.
Insurance
- Medical
- $0 - $30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university
contribution ($920 value).
- Up to 83% of premium covered by the university:
- Employee and Spouse
- Employee and Children
- Employee and Family coverage
- Dental & Vision
- Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability,
Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account
On-campus wellness
opportunities
Work Life
Solutions:
- Counseling, Work Life Assistance, Financial Resources, and
Legal Resources
Tuition
Benefits:
- Public Loan Forgiveness
- Book scholarships
- 100% tuition coverage for up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year
(other rules may apply).
Retirement
- Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) or Optional Retirement
Plan (ORP)
- Voluntary Tax Deferred Account/Deferred Compensation Plan
Time Off:
- 8+ hours of vacation paid time off every month.
- 8 hours of sick leave time off every month.
- 8 hours of paid time off for Birthday leave.
- 12-15 paid holidays each year.
All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a
criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon
the institution's verification of credentials and/or other
information required by the institution's procedures, including the
completion of the criminal history check.
Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.
To apply, visit https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMUCC_External/job/Corpus-Christi-TX/Director--Communications_R-096345-1
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