Senior Director, Media Relations

Adtalem

At Adtalem Global Education, we seek to empower students and members to achieve their goals, find success and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Adtalem is a leading healthcare educator that partners with organizations to proactively address future workforce needs and empowers career development with access to world-class academic curriculums, certifications and training programs across the medical and healthcare industries.

Adtalem institutions and companies include: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Chamberlain University, Ross University School of Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and Walden University. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) For more information, please visit adtalem.com.

 

Opportunity at a Glance
The Sr. Director, Media Relations is responsible for the development and implementation of Adtalem Global Education's external communications strategy, leading all external stakeholder communications, reputation management and key public affairs initiatives with a focus on alignment with Adtalem's brand narrative, strategic messaging and reputation management. The Sr. Director, Media Relations is a strategic leader with deep experience in media relations, reputation management, and public affairs. In this role, they will manage a team of brand communications professionals, as well as outside agencies and other resources to drive the enterprise external communications strategy and enhance and protect the company brand. Additionally, this person will be responsible for developing a strategic external platform for our CEO and key executives.

Responsibilities

Communications Strategy and Leadership

• Develops and oversees execution of an integrated external communications plan, directly managing proactive communications strategy and activities that advance Adtalem Global Education’s reputation and brand narrative among key external stakeholders. 
• Creates a public relations strategy that will allow Adtalem Global Education to cultivate meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including media and key influencers.  
• Provides strategic external communications counsel and leadership to Adtalem Global Education’s CEO, executive leadership team and institution leaders positively positioning the organization and its institutions.  
• Develops strategy and activates CEO and key executive/board member external platforms as an extension of the brand narrative for Adtalem.  
• Identifies challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization; works with Vice President, Global Communications and teams across Adtalem Global Education institutions to recognize and deliver solutions to reputational risks and opportunities.  
• Serves as an ambassador for the organization, building constructive relationships with external stakeholders.  
• Works closely with Government Relations, Compliance, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications teams to ensure positive and consistent messages to all stakeholders.  
• Promotes a culture of high performance and continuous improvement; supports and demonstrates Adtalem Global Education’s values.

Communications Operations

• Oversees the development of all Adtalem Global Education and institution external communications.  
• Directs the activities and oversees ROI of all external communications consultants/vendor relations. 
• Exercises judgment in prioritizing media strategy and opportunities, directing and preparing talking points and key messages, speeches, executive-level presentations. 
• Serves as spokesperson and lead point person on media interactions that help promote or impact the organization.  
• Leads the Adtalem Global Education brand communications team, with responsibility for Adtalem Global Education and its institutions’ press, media management, newsrooms, etc.  
• Directs external communications strategy for all institutions within the company, ensuring a leading position in share of voice among all competitors.  
• Directs the day-to-day activities of the brand communications function including budgeting, planning and colleague development. 
• Establishes and monitors team performance and development goals, assigns accountabilities and objectives, establishes priorities, conducts annual performance appraisals and compensation reviews. 
• Completes other duties as assigned.  
• Complies with all policies and standards

• Bachelor's Degree in journalism, communications required or related field
• an advance degree Preferred
• 15 years experience in the communications business, with special emphasis on media relations, digital/social and crisis/issues management. 
• Experience in Higher Education is preferred
• Experience in strategic communications leadership, including the development and implementation of comprehensive communications programs and reputation management. 
• Experience leading and developing successful teams, reporting directly and indirectly (on a centralized and decentralized basis). 
• Experience working with all levels of management, including senior executives. 
• Demonstrated skill and comfort in proactively building relationships with top-tier media, and in successfully positioning subject matter experts with the media to achieve high-impact results.
• Self-reliant, good problem solver, results oriented.
• Energetic, collaborative and proactive; a team leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical initiatives.
• Extensive writing and editing experience; strong writing, critical thinking, creative and organizational skills.
• Ability to operate as an effective tactical professional as well as a strategic thinker and leader.

In support of the pay transparency laws enacted across the country, the expected salary range for this position is between $133,832 and $241,871. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; geographic location; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Our Talent Acquisition Team will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and we look forward to learning more about your salary requirements. The position qualifies for the below benefits.

Adtalem offers a robust suite of benefits including:

• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• 401k Retirement Program + 6% employer match
• Participation in Adtalem’s Flexible Time Off (FTO) Policy
• 12 Paid Holidays

For more information related to our benefits please visit: https://careers.adtalem.com/benefits

You are also eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. At Adtalem, we welcome everyone and have a strong commitment towards diversity and inclusion. We encourage our Colleagues to be their true authentic selves and support laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business. We also maintain a drug-free workplace.