Director – Public Relations & MARCOM

### The Director – Public Relations & MARCOM

The Director – Public Relations & MARCOM is responsible for managing the Company’s public relations (PR) program/resources and marketing/communication campaigns in alignment with American Campus Communities’ (ACC) mission, values, and goals that enhance and strengthen the brand narrative and its presence among customers, partners, and team members. This position plays a key role in establishing best-in-class communications and processes that will effectively connect with target audiences and drive efficiencies in how American Campus operates.

#### Critical Duties:

**Brand Management:** Enhance and drive the evolution and governance of the Company’s brand identity maintaining consistent and compelling messaging across all communication channels in alignment with the company’s values and goals while ensuring relevance to target audiences, quality of final products, adherence to guidelines, and leadership in campaign ideation, etc.

**Crisis Management:** Develop and implement crisis and issues communication plans, strategies, and workflows to effectively manage and mitigate potential reputation risks. Serve as communications stakeholder in the evolution of the company’s crisis response program coordinating with PR Agencies, Legal, Customer Service, Operations, and other departments.

**Agency and Vendor Management:** Manage external PR agency and marketing agency/vendor workload and projects including productivity, budget, deadlines, execution, and effectiveness of agency resource, while collaborating with departmental marketing and communication liaisons across the company to drive initiatives.

**Communication Plans:** Develop and implement communication plans, templates, and workflow processes to support property operations initiatives, press inquiries, business development needs as well as internal social and culture impact programs, etc.

**Content Creation:** Create and manage the execution of internal and external content across all channels and audiences including the company’s media site, email, social media, press releases, articles, award submissions, blog posts, as well as coordinating interviews and training, photo shoots, video and other written and visual content etc. that showcases the company’s expertise and thought leadership in the student housing industry.

#### Essential Duties: (Other duties may be assigned)

**Thought leadership:** Develop and support internal and external communications such as press releases, interviews, panels, speaking engagements, and announcements. Support cross-functional communications and marketing strategies in partnership with identified departmental leadership and internal stakeholders to foster a values driven and engaging Company culture.

**Relationships and Events:** Establish and maintain relationships with local, national, industry and higher education media including strategic planning and coordination of company participation in industry conferences and events. Manage relationships with development team marketing associations for project announcements, media appearances, grand openings, and groundbreaking events etc.

**Measurement and Analysis:** Track and drive key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of PR and communication efforts. Regularly analyze data and work with stakeholders to adapt strategies as needed.

**Trends:** Maintain and leverage strong working knowledge of current and emerging industry trends, consumer trends, existing business environment, etc. to protect and/or address the Company brand and communications.

#### Supervisory Responsibilities:

May support supervision of other team members as assigned at American Campus Communities, including, but not limited to: hiring, training, work product review and/or guidance, and project management.

#### American Campus Communities Culture Commitments

Our people are devoted to a culture of inclusion, diversity, and equality in the workplace and our communities. We are committed to intentionally executing an evolving set of goals specific to inclusion, diversity, and accountability, driven by empathetic leadership and embraced by all.

The core of American Campus culture involves everyone being fully invested in everything that we do down to picking up the smallest piece of trash in the office and around our communities. No matter their position or duration at the organization, everyone picks up trash.

Serve as an American Campus representative and liaison in all interactions.

Certain activities involved in this position may be photographed and/or video and audio recorded for quality control and/or training purposes. Compliance with the Photo, Video and Voice Recording Policy is a condition of employment.

#### Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

**Qualifications**

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the minimum knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

**Education/Experience:**
– 5-7 years’ experience in public relations, corporate communications, crisis management, marketing, branding; or equivalent combination of education & experience.
– Bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications preferred and/or equivalent experience.

**Certificates/Licenses:**
– N/A

**Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:**

**Knowledge of:**
– Corporate communications and crisis management best practices.
– Public and media relations best practices.
– Governance of, and adherence to brand guidelines.
– Traditional and digital marketing campaign development and content strategy.
– Social media and digital platforms and current best practices strategies.
– Website CMS management.
– Event planning.
– Media monitoring platforms.

**Skill in:**
– Developing and driving large-scale and targeted marketing campaigns.
– Effective written and verbal communication with both internal and external resources.
– Proofreading copy for spelling, grammar, and layout.
– Presenting information and responding to questions from internal and external stakeholders, customers, media, etc.
– Analytical thinking and solving problems strategically.
– Attention to detail.
– Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced skills in Outlook, Work, Excel, and PowerPoint.

**Ability to:**
– Build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
– Be autonomous in your approach but collaborative and hands on in execution.
– Multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
– Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
– Meet deadlines and deliverables.

#### Benefits

– Dental
– Vision
– 401(k)
– Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
– Life Insurance
– Sick Leave
– Paid Time Off
– Paid Maternity Leave
– Health Insurance
– Short Term & Long Term Disability

#### About American Campus Communities

American Campus Communities is the nation’s largest developer, owner and manager of high-quality student housing communities.

Whether we’re creating a new development, upgrading an acquired community, or partnering with a university to develop or manage on-campus housing, our goal is the same: deliver the best possible experience for students – at every price point.

And it’s not just about great living spaces and great amenities. It’s about giving students the resources and environment they need to succeed, both academically and personally.

Our Mission keeps us focused:
Our values help us get there.

Delivering the best possible student experience doesn’t just happen. It takes an unrelenting commitment to students, parents and educational institutions. It also takes a corporate culture built on shared values, a higher purpose, and a team of people who truly love what they do.

American Campus Communities is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse, inclusive workforce and provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local laws.

Learn more here