Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Community Relations Manager

Class: Management | Exempt status: Exempt | Grade: J

Under the direction of management, the Community Relations Manager implements community relations and public relations strategies that advance the College’s goals with key external constituents, focused on either the College’s eastside or westside region, supporting the College’s Strategic Plan. The Community Relations Manager represents the College to the community at large through the development and maintenance of relationships with integral community groups, external agencies and/or other key parties. This position regularly approaches local media with story ideas and develops written content and story material. The incumbent partners with other College Advancement managers to share news and information for cross-promotion purposes and to prevent duplication of effort.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Develops and implements strategic external community outreach plans to support College Advancement’s community engagement, public relations and communications goals and the College’s Strategic Plan.
2. Regularly approaches local media with story ideas. Develops written content and story material for PCC Website and other external communications avenues, including Communities Magazine and social media channels.
3. Serves as a key point of contact for regional businesses, industry, institutions, residents and community partners, including but not limited to: higher education, nonprofits, associations, chambers of commerce and neighborhood associations.
4. Proactively initiates and supports opportunities for partnership with the College and its campuses and centers, engaging them in College issues and/or changes affecting them, and addressing their concerns.
5. Applies the lens of social justice and racial equity to community outreach work using the framework of PCC’s Strategic Plan.
6. Liaises with the College’s Dean of K-12 and Community Partnerships on items related to innovation, economic and workforce development issues, to work on opportunities to complement and support one another.
7. Serves as the key point of contact related to logistics for sponsorships/partnerships with community partners.
8. Regularly attends meetings of neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce, and other key regional associations. Regularly represents the College at external partner events.
9. As a College Advancement representative, proactively seeks communications sharing and coordination with external partners and organizations, to jointly publicize their news and promote further collaboration.
10. Supports management with press release and media advisory generation for key regional news related to the College’s community outreach and partnerships.
11. Supports promotion of the College by way of liaising with local media, donors, alumni and other key constituents in alignment with the College’s goals and Strategic Plan.
12. Serves as a key member of the College’s crisis communications team.
13. Partners closely with other College Advancement managers, to share information and news, collaboratively maximizing awareness and communication of the College’s work underway and determining how and when news will be disseminated, including the use of social media and other methods of communication.
14. Attends College Advancement and Public Relations & Community Engagement meetings, and regularly meets with the director of Public Relations & Community Engagement.
15. Supports special projects as assigned by management.
16. May supervise administrative services professional, paraprofessionals, technical support, and/or classified staff and perform both direct and indirect supervision through subordinates.
17. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work environment includes frequent disruptions and changes in priorities. Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. Working hours may vary and occasional evening or weekend work is required. Frequent travel to other locations is required. Must have a valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Oregon and possess an acceptable driving record. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in English, Communications, Business Administration, Education, Public Affairs, Public Administration, or related area. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Five (5) years of progressively responsible, professional experience in community and public relations or related experience, including two years (2) of lead or supervisory experience. Successful completion of PCC LEAD Academy or a comparable external leadership training program may substitute for up to 6 months of lead or supervisory experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Community relations and public participation principles and practices;
• Writing for accessibility and understanding;
• Principles and practices of integrated, strategic communications;
• Public relations, media relations and public affairs principles;
• Marketing principles;
• Crisis communications;
• Project management principles and practices; and
• Supervisory principles.

Skills in:

• Writing for a general audience in an accessible style;
• Preparing public relations and community relations materials – including fact sheets, press releases, and talking points;
• Developing and managing projects;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with external constituents and community partners;
• Facilitation of group processes;
• Analyzing and interpreting data and making appropriate recommendations based on understanding;
• Navigating complex situations with multiple agendas;
• Making strategic and innovative decisions.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively with all levels of management, staff and types of external constituents and stakeholders;
• Communicate effectively through oral and written media;
• Work effectively with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of PCC’s students, staff, and community;
• Apply analysis and action for racial/social justice grounded processes and outcomes;
• Actively support development of competencies related to principles of intercultural communication and culturally responsive practices;
• Be collaborative and supportive as part of a larger team while also being self-directed.

Revised: 10/2021
Reviewed: 12/2018
Revised: 01/2015; 10/2014; 04/2007
Replaces: Community Relations Manager, Campus Community Relations Officer

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.