Located 45 minutes from the Nation’s Capital, nestled in a history-rich community of southern Maryland, The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) has been twice named in the top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute with academic programs in over 100 disciplines. CSM is among America’s top 100 producers of Minority associate degrees in twenty categories, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. CSM offers excellent health insurance benefits; State Retirement Pension plan; wellness programs; Code Green early closure Fridays in the summer; college closure for spring break and several major holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year; and for several days in March for Spring Break. We are an innovative institution committed to student success and well known for our flexibility to meet student and community needs.
The hiring salary for this position will be from the min to mid-point of the salary range.
The Assistant Director and Deputy Public Information Officer (PIO) is a key strategic and operational leader within the College of Southern Maryland’s Marketing and Communications team. Working in collaboration with the Director of Communications/PIO, this role helps shape and manage the College’s public image, leads media relations, and oversees internal communications, and crisis response. The Assistant Director also serves as a spokesperson when designated by or in the absence of the PIO.
The Assistant Director collaborates across departments to elevate the College’s brand, advance its mission, and engage diverse audiences. It also works closely with the marketing team to ensure messaging is timely, accurate, inclusive, and consistent for both internal and external stakeholders.
Reports to: Director II, Public Information Officer
The College of Southern Maryland conducts background checks in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the College's staff and students. The final candidate for this position will be subject to the following background checks: Criminal History Check and Sex Offender Registry Check.
This position is open until filled. The College of Southern Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities40% Strategic Communications and Public Information
Assist in the development and execution of comprehensive communication strategies that support the college’s mission, strategic plan, and institutional goals.Write and edit news releases, media kits, fact sheets, talking points, and other materials that reflect AP style and the CSM’s voice.Ensure all messaging supports the college’s strategic goals while maintaining brand integrity and public trust.Provide media training and guidelines for designated student leaders.Assist in emergency communications by issuing alerts and updates for campus incidents and serving as Deputy PIO in the Joint Information Command Center during crises.Monitor and address media coverage, correcting inaccuracies that could impact the College’s reputation. Works closely with the PIO to assess and respond to emergent issues and serves as PIO in the absence of the Director.Develop notifications to inform the College community about the passing of students, employees, retirees, or alumni. Ensure messaging is clear, consistent, inclusive, and aligned with the College’s voice and brand.Cover events to generate news stories and multimedia content for the College’s newsroom and CSM-TV.Lead media planning and messaging for selected high-impact events.Support the development of the CSM's Annual Report and State of the College video.Participate as an active member of the college’s Emergency Operations Team.20% Media Relations and Outreach
Collaborate with the Director to execute media relations strategies and editorial calendars that boost visibility and engagement.Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.Respond to and manage media inquiries, ensuring deadlines are met and accurate information is shared.Pitch stories, coordinate interviews, and place articles to increase positive earned media coverage.Distribute content through appropriate channels, including digital newsrooms, newsletters, social media, and traditional press.Maintain an up-to-date media contact database and ensure effective media tracking.Identify opportunities to promote faculty, students, programs, and institutional achievements.Manage media inquiries and ensure timely and accurate responses.20% Relationship Building and Collaboration
Prepare faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors for media interviews and public engagement, to ensure message alignment.Attend internal and external events to build relationships and reinforce the College’s visibility and reputation.Collaborate across departments to identify compelling stories that align with institutional goals.Lead select cross-functional communication initiatives and coordinate messaging with departmental leadership to align messaging with institutional priorities.Supervise student interns and contract writers supporting content development.Work closely with Marketing’s creative and digital media teams to ensure consistency in messaging and brand representation.10% Research and Analysis
Conduct interviews, review documents, and fact-check to develop accurate, timely communications.Monitor media coverage and public perception; address misinformation as needed.Track trends in higher education media coverage to position CSM faculty and programs as thought leaders.Apply analytics to evaluate story tone, media reach, and engagement.Contribute to the long-term media strategy in partnership with the Director.Support presidential and executive-level communications with research and content development.Track and report key performance indicators for communication initiatives.10% Reporting and Documentation
Track media placements and prepare regular reports to assess outreach effectiveness.Document communications activities and analyze outcomes to inform strategy.Participate in departmental planning meetings and contributes to budget planning related to media relations and content production.Additional Duties:
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.At least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public information, or media relations.Experience in a higher education, nonprofit, or public sector setting preferred.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience serving as a spokesperson or media liaison.Familiarity with AP style and multimedia communication tools.Bilingual proficiency a plus.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.Strong editing and storytelling abilities; minimum 3-4 years of writing and editorial experience preferred.Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, maintain composure in high-stress situations, and communicate clear, accurate information during crises.Demonstrated working experience and positive relationships with media outlets.Proficiency with public relations and social media best practices.Photography skills, including capturing, editing, and tagging photos.Confident and skilled in broadcast and print media interviews.Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, self-motivated, and ability to multitask.Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and general office procedures.Excellent project management and team collaboration skills.Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and contribute to an inclusive environment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The work is mostly sedentary work which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment.