• Director, Communications and Public Affairs

    New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark, NJ)


    Title:

    Director, Communications and Public Affairs

    Department:

    NJTPA

    Reports To:

    Senior Director, Communications & External Affairs

    Position Type:

    Staff

    Position Summary:

    Under the direction of the Senior Director of Communications & External Affairs, the Director of Communications & Public Affairs oversees all NJTPA Board and committee meetings, working closely with trustees, county and municipal staff, and partner agencies. This position oversees the preparation and dissemination of all support materials for Board and Committee meetings (speeches, agendas, presentations, etc.) and other communications products, including videos, reports, brochures, and publications. The Director also maintains the NJTPA’s website and tracks federal legislation, policy, and grant opportunities of relevance to Board members. The ideal candidate will have management and editing experience, be highly organized, detail oriented and able to juggle multiple tasks. This is a hybrid position based in Newark, NJ with the option to work remotely part of the time.

    Essential Functions:

    -Manages the Communications & Public Affairs staff. This group supports the NJTPA Board of Trustees and its committees and disseminates information to raise awareness of the agency.

     

    -Oversees board-related activities, including preparing speeches, presentations, reviewing and distributing meeting materials and responding to Board member requests for information.

     

    -Works with the graphic designer to prepare fact sheets, posters, reports and other materials about NJTPA-funded programs and projects.

     

    -Oversees video production, including assisting with script development and story boarding.

     

    -Monitors significant developments related to the NJTPA subregions and Board members, including media coverage.

     

    -Oversees the NJTPA’s website, including managing a consultant, and works with staff to regularly update pages. This includes writing and editing blog posts and webpage content.

     

    -Monitors federal legislation and funding opportunities of interest to the NJTPA and its subregions, and drafts letters of support for grant applications.

     

    -Compiles Annual Report and provides editorial support to staff throughout the agency including reviewing publications, reports, letters and documents prior to public release.

     

    -Works with staff in other divisions on the development of the Long Range Transportation Plan and policy papers.

     

    -Serves as a member of the NJTPA’s Leadership Team, meeting regularly with other supervisors to coordinate and collaborate on agency initiatives, including development of the annual work program and the budget for Communications & Public Affairs Division activities, which includes funding for publications and freelance photographers.

    Additional Functions:

    -Works with staff in other divisions to identify and highlight relevant data and findings of technically oriented studies and planning efforts, including participating in interdivisional working groups.

     

    -Participates in discussions, strategy sessions and other meetings as necessary, particularly to ensure agency communications/messaging strategy is being implemented agency-wide and complies with the Public Engagement Plan.

     

    -Assists with arranging speakers for Board meetings and other events, such as symposia.

     

    -Assists with media relations, including preparing press releases.

    Prerequisite Qualifications:

    -Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in communications, journalism, public policy, planning or related field required.

     

    -Minimum of eight years of experience in public affairs, journalism, communications, planning or related field, with supervisory experience.

     

    -Strong writing and research skills (professional writing samples required and writing/editing test may be administered)

     

    -Detail-oriented with keen eye and experience copy editing, proofreading and fact-checking.

     

    -Self-motivated with ability to work well independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

     

    -At the university’s discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be excepted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

    Preferred Qualifications:

    -Master’s degree in communications, journalism, public policy, planning or related field preferred.

     

    -Minimum 10 years of experience, with three years supervisory experience.

     

    -Experience working at a metropolitan planning organization or other regional planning agency or public agency.

     

    -Experience with website publishing and content management systems.

     

    -Knowledge of government, development, planning, transportation and urban affairs.

    Bargaining Unit:

    Non-Aligned

    Range/Band:

    8

    FLSA:

    Exempt

     

    Full-Time

    Special Instructions to Applicants:

    Please submit a cover letter along with your resume. This is a grant funded position that is not eligible to applicants who require sponsorship.