2154 Director of Public Affairs Support

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Director of Public Affairs Support

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2154

GRADE 43

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Vice President of Student Affairs

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Director of Public Affairs Support has direct supervision over planning, organizing, publicizing, and producing of public affairs events such as conference, lectures, awards programs, civic education/engagement events and other events for the campus community and the community at large. This position facilitates community relations such as serving on and providing communication with community boards, developing, and maintaining community partnerships, and involving campus and community partners in a variety of events. Responsibilities include budget administration, event development, growing campus and community partnerships, development of annual public affairs theme and development and delivery of the annual public affairs conference.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Master’s degree is required. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements. 

Experience: At least five years of experience in a higher education setting is required. At least two years of leadership experience in at least one of the following areas is required: planning and coordinating university events, conference planning, and/or public relations. Preference will be given to candidates with community relations experience in Springfield.

Skills: The ability to independently manage the details associated with multiple projects and budgets, track activities, and meet deadlines. Exceptional interpersonal communication skills are required. Exceptional oral and written communication skills are required. Must have a working knowledge of various computer software applications, including word processing and database applications. Must have strong decision-making skills, the ability to prioritize tasks, and to bring many varied tasks to completion by deadlines. Must be able to work independently, quickly learn the administrative structure of the University and the procedures necessary to accomplish the job and have the ability to use initiative in meeting the responsibilities of the job. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required. Must have working knowledge of social media as a marketing tool.

Other: Must be able to travel to and from many different locations on and off campus to make arrangements for events and attend meetings. Must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed. Some overnight travel to conferences is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Assures that the Public Affairs Conference, Convocations, and other Public Affairs events are an appropriate educational experience for all participants by planning, organizing, coordinating, and facilitating all aspects of these events, preparing the master schedule of events, contracting and scheduling the speakers, coordinating with various campus offices to schedule space needs, equipment, security, food, publicity, and promotions, selecting and scheduling volunteers, and assuring that the conference runs smoothly and that all needs are met.

2. Plans, oversees, and coordinates events including but not limited to the Public Affairs Conference, Public Affairs Convocations, Democracy Week, Public Affairs Talks and other events that highlight the public affairs mission, makes presentations to local groups, and supervises the marketing and promotion of Missouri State public affairs events.

3. Exercises budgetary responsibility for all budgets assigned to the Office of Public Affairs Support.

4.Obtains funding for various initiatives and conferences by writing grant applications to support the Public Affairs Conference and other University-wide public affairs events. Solicit funding from on campus and off campus groups to fund speakers and event when necessary.

5. Maintains communication with other campus entities involved in Public Affairs activities by facilitating information exchange groups, conducting personal meetings, and forming relationships with those entities.

6. Serves on both on campus and off campus committees.

7. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the immediate supervisor.

8. Contributes to the overall success of the Division of Student Affairs by performing all other essential duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Director of Public Affairs Support supervises the Assistant Director of Public Affairs Support, graduate assistants, student workers, and others as assigned by the Vice President of Student Affairs.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED OCTOBER 2024                                                

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 3.0 - 1500 Points: Entry-level knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of an administrative, managerial, technical, or professional specialty. Knowledge permits employee to carry out basic recurring tasks and routine portions of assignments or to carry out less demanding professional elements of assignments in professional or technical areas including accounting or auditing, financial management, business administration, human resources, law, engineering, science, or medicine, while gaining familiarity with the University's policies and goals, business practices, and/or accounting systems. This level of knowledge permits the employee to schedule and carry out the steps of a limited operation or project, or to complete stages of a multi-phase project. Alternatively, knowledge at this level might also permit the employee to carry out recurring tasks and routine assignments requiring moderate experience in specific areas within higher education. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in a specific technical or professional specialty. Knowledge requirements may also include a limited amount of related work experience. Alternatively, equivalent knowledge requirements at this level include a non-technical or general Bachelor's degree requirement with a moderate level of additional related work experience or a non-specific Master's degree requirement with some related work experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 2.0 - 130 Points: Regular, but limited, supervision, training, or directing the work assignments of (a) small numbers of student, part-time or temporary workers, or (b) one or more permanent, full-time employees. The nature of supervision is largely confined to scheduling work and assigning tasks. Supervision at this level typically does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities, and supervisory duties typically do not consume a large portion of the work day.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 3.0 - 850 Points: Work involves providing significant support services to others both within and outside of the department that substantially influences decision-making processes. Work activities are complex and others rely on the accuracy and reliability of the information, analysis, or advice to make decisions. Work activities have a direct, but shared, impact on further processes or services, affect the overall efficiency and image of the department, and may have material impact on costs or service quality within the cost center. Incumbents may be responsible for identifying areas of need and for developing proposals that request funding to fulfill those needs.