Director of Government and External Relations

Position Title

Director of Government and External Relations

Admin and External Relations

WVSOM Main Campus, Lewisburg, WV

37.5

Exempt

Under the supervision of the Associate Vice President for Government and External Relations/Chief Communications Officer, this position supports strategic government and external relations and communications initiatives designed to enhance WVSOM’s visibility, reputation, and perceived value among key stakeholders, including prospective students, academic and clinical partners, government officials, alumni, and institutional leadership. This position is part of a collaborative strategic team responsible for maximizing networking, partnership, and media opportunities while contributing to broader Government and External Relations and Communications projects.

Responsibilities are assigned based on individual strengths, experience, and skill sets, with opportunities to support high‑impact initiatives, develop new competencies, and contribute to innovative and emerging efforts across the institution.

This position will be a full‑time, non‑classified position with full‑state benefits and is exempt from FLSA provisions regarding overtime. Not all activities of this position occur within the confines of an 8:00‑4:30 schedule and may require evening and weekend scheduling. This position has been designated as essential. This means that when WVSOM is faced with an institutional emergency, employees in such positions may be required to remain at their work location or to report to work to protect, recover and continue operations at WVSOM.

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is an equal opportunity employer.

Bachelor’s

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of strategic communications, government and external relations, media outreach, crisis communications, and stakeholder engagement in complex institutional environments.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to craft and coordinate messaging for leadership, media, government entities, and external partners.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to evolving circumstances and opportunity‑driven initiatives.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality in high‑visibility or sensitive situations.
• Skill in organizing workflows, managing communications calendars, coordinating projects through completion, and providing constructive creative feedback.
• Working knowledge of social media platforms, branding and marketing principles, and digital engagement strategies.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); familiarity with media monitoring tools, analytics platforms, graphic design fundamentals, and photography is a plus.
• Experience in higher education, government relations, or external partnerships preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, journalism, political science, public administration, or a closely related field required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, government relations, external affairs, marketing, media relations, or a related professional area.
• Demonstrated experience supporting leadership communications, media outreach, digital engagement, or external partnerships.
• Experience in higher education, government, public service, or a comparable complex organization preferred.
• Experience with social media strategy, content management, and communications coordination required; design or creative experience is a plus but not required.

Equivalent combinations of education, training, and relevant professional experience may be considered.

• Contribute to the development and execution of Government and External Relations and Communications (GER/COM) strategies aligned with WVSOM’s mission, institutional priorities, and leadership direction.
• Coordinate cross‑functional efforts across Communications, Government…