Job Description:
Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing, the Senior Director of Content and Media Strategy at Berklee is a dynamic leadership role that holds accountability for steering the strategic success of institution-wide content and media initiatives, ensuring a cohesive and impactful narrative across Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee Valencia, Berklee NYC, Berklee Online, Berklee City Music, Berklee Summer Programs, and Berklee Abu Dhabi.
The Senior Director provides visionary leadership by setting and implementing editorial policies, fostering a unified brand voice, and strategically developing and managing all editorial content and publications. This encompasses a diverse range of print and digital platforms, including Berklee.edu, Berklee Now, Berklee Today (alumni magazine), and the Sounds of Berklee podcast. With a keen focus on storytelling, the Senior Director plays a pivotal role in reinforcing Berklee’s impact and reputation in music, the performing arts, higher education, and beyond.
In addition to overseeing the editorial strategy and vision, this role will continuously identify improvement opportunities, establish target audiences, management of content calendars, and set and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure the achievement of success metrics. The Senior Director also actively contributes to executive communications, institutional announcements, and high-level internal and external communications by writing, editing, and providing strategic guidance.
As the principal media advisor to senior leadership, the Senior Director also manages the media relations, developing and overseeing media and public relations strategies to generate news coverage regionally, nationally, and internationally. This includes playing a central role in crisis management, hosting media on campus, and identifying opportunities for Berklee, its leadership, and its innovative students to be featured in various media outlets. The Senior Director conducts media and content planning meetings with various areas of the institution, shaping mid- and long-term approaches to enhance Berklee’s reputation and visibility. This role is instrumental in fostering effective communication with diverse audiences, including students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, external media, and the general public.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Editorial Content Strategy:
Develops and oversees comprehensive editorial content strategy aligned with institutional goals.
Manages news coverage generation and execution, ensuring content reaches target audiences.
Plans content strategy and calendar in coordination with enrollment strategy, advancement goals, and strategic initiatives.
Conducts ongoing strategic assessment using KPIs and SEO to enhance content visibility.
Monitors industry trends in higher education communications, music, dance, theater, business, technology, etc.
Public and Media Relations Strategies:
Develops relationships with key journalists and media contacts in the music, entertainment, and performing arts industries, pitching proactively for key opportunities for institutional leaders and educators to be featured in prominent media.
Leads daily media relations activities and crisis response planning.
Maintains contact with college leaders to collect data reflecting national news cycles.
Edits and approves staff writers' press releases and media action plans.
Directs maintenance of databases and files for media relations documents and resources.
Prepares itineraries for visiting media during college events and travels as a media relations liaison.
Oversees the department's hometown news operation and coordinates with the communications team on news releases.
Quality Control and Brand Compliance:
Directs Berklee's Proofreading Services to ensure brand consistency in public-facing materials.
Assumes project management and communications liaison duties for written digital and print collateral.
Collaborates with marketing, social media, design, and digital strategy directors for effective content campaigns.
Oversees regular updates to the Berklee Style Guide and promotes its usage.
Manages the Berklee Inclusive Language Guide, supporting diversity initiatives.
Management and Hiring:
Recruits, hires, and manages all editorial staff and freelance/contract employees.
Establishes and implements department-wide and individual staff goals.
Oversees workflow distribution and performance evaluation.
Manages editorial workflow for public content on Berklee.edu's Drupal CMS.
Writing and Executive Communications:
Oversees and contributes to writing, proofreading, copyediting, and quality assurance of editorial content.
Writes, edits, and advises on top-level messaging for speeches, thought leadership pieces, executive bios, and more.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum ten years of professional media relations and/or editorial experience. Minimum five years of experience managing in-house and freelance writers, publicists, or contributors.
Bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, or equivalent; master's degree preferred.
Demonstrated editing, writing, reporting, and proofreading experience.
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
Experience conveying the diversity of a multicultural institution.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively at all levels.
Strong familiarity with music, dance, and theater.
Hybrid schedule: The position must be on campus a minimum of three days a week.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Ability to manage public relations crises effectively.
Effective management and leadership skills.
Familiarity with Berklee, its alumni, and the worldwide music industry.
Strong news and feature writing, grammar, editing, and proofreading skills.
Demonstrated success in packaging content for media pitches, writing press releases, and generating results.
Experience in managing regional, domestic, and international publicity efforts.
Comprehensive understanding of video, television, and radio broadcast preparation practices and ability to deliver media training.
Ability to maintain quality of work while adhering to deadlines.
Ability to create and maintain positive relationships within the office and with students, faculty, and staff throughout the institution.
DIRECT REPORTS:
Director of Content Strategy, including their team of three full-time and one part-time writers/editors.
Director of Media Relations and two full-time publicists.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee:
We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.
Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of our institution, community, and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.
*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*
Employee Type:
Staff
