Director of Community Relations

Responsibilities
Develop and lead UNEs community relations and stakeholder engagement strategy in alignment with university priorities. Build and maintain strong relationships with business civic nonprofit neighborhood and community leaders throughout Biddeford Portland and surrounding communities. Advise senior university leaders on community perspectives emerging issues partnership opportunities and external engagement strategies. Represent UNE at community meetings public events business forums and civic gatherings. Develop strategic partnerships that create shared value in areas such as education health workforce development economic vitality research and public service. Lead community engagement communications including newsletters stakeholder updates website content and project- or event-specific communications. Lead planning for community events and engagement opportunities including annual neighbor events in Biddeford and Portland. Develop and manage UNEs community sponsorship and investment strategy and budget. Partner with Campus Planning and university leaders on community engagement related to facilities construction campus operations and other initiatives with community impact. Support issues and crisis communications and proactively address concerns that may affect community relationships or UNEs reputation.

Qualifications
Bachelors degree in communications public relations public affairs business nonprofit leadership or a related field; equivalent education and experience may be considered. At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in community relations external affairs public relations government or public affairs corporate relations institutional advancement or a related field. Demonstrated experience building relationships with business civic nonprofit and community leaders and representing an organization in high-visibility settings. Excellent written verbal presentation facilitation and interpersonal communication skills. Strong strategic thinking judgment discretion and ability to navigate sensitive issues and competing interests. Experience managing complex projects budgets partnerships or community investments. Ability and willingness to attend occasional evening and weekend events and travel locally as needed. Preferred Established knowledge of and relationships within the Biddeford and Portland communities and Maines business civic and nonprofit landscape. Experience in higher education health care or another complex mission-driven organization. Experience with community issues public meetings major capital projects or crisis and issues communications. Experience with digital communications stakeholder databases or engagement measurement tools.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority