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Department Summary:
Drake University is a forward-thinking community of scholars with a focus on active, collaborative learning and applied scholarship. Drake is in Des Moines, Iowa—a vibrant city that is nationally recognized for its quality of life and a wealth of opportunities for professional, social and civic engagement. A Drake education couples hands-on training in professional skills with a strong liberal arts education. We strive to create a community of scholars that represents the complexity of the human experience in regards to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, gender identification, religion, age and physical abilities. We are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all our faculty, staff, students and visitors. We develop and offer innovative programming serving a variety of audiences, including high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as community members, industry professionals, and retirees. The successful applicant will join a collegial, welcoming, energetic and supportive community.
To learn more about the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, visit: https://www.drake.edu/sjmc
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Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in public relations, advertising, journalism, marketing, communications, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in public relations, advertising, marketing, or strategic communications.
• Demonstrated experience managing client relationships, campaigns, or projects from proposal through execution and evaluation.
• Strong writing, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets and/or financial records.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, or supervise early-career professionals, interns, or students.
• Working knowledge of core communications disciplines, including media relations, content creation, social media, and campaign strategy and evaluation.
• Commitment to ethical practice consistent with the PRSA and AAF Codes of Ethics and the AMA Statement of Ethics.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, clients, and community stakeholders, including small businesses and nonprofits led by individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
• Proficiency with standard office, project management, and communications and social media tools.
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Preferred Qualifications:
• Prior experience working in a professional communications, advertising, or public relations agency, in an account service, strategy, or leadership capacity.
• Experience with new-business development, including client prospecting, pitching, proposal writing, and contract negotiation.
• Experience working within or advising a student-run or start-up agency, lab, or similar experiential learning program.
• Master's degree in public relations, advertising, communications, or a related field.
• Professional certification such as Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
• Active membership and/or leadership involvement in PRSA, AAF, AMA, or a comparable professional association.
• Experience preparing award submissions and/or accreditation/affiliation applications (e.g., PRSSA Student-run Firm Awards, National Affiliation, Teahan Awards).
• Experience teaching, guest lecturing, or developing curriculum or training content in a higher education setting or for professional development purposes.
• Familiarity with higher education operations, including academic calendars, student organizations, and university procurement/finance processes.
• Established professional network within the local business and nonprofit community.
• Experience fundraising or securing sponsorships/grants to support program operations.
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Job Duties:
Essential Function 1: Agency Leadership & Day-to-Day Operations
- Oversee all daily operations of the Agency, ensuring consistency, quality, and professionalism across every account and project.
- Establish and maintain the Agency's organizational structure, including student leadership positions (e.g., account executives, department leads, project teams), and clarify roles and reporting lines.
- Set and communicate clear expectations, deadlines, and standards of conduct for all student staff.
- Conduct regular leadership and staff meetings; maintain documentation of Agency activities, decisions, and progress.
- Serve as the primary point of continuity for the Agency, ensuring institutional knowledge and best practices carry over as student leadership turns over each year.
- Develop and maintain Agency policies (conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, dispute resolution, etc.) and ensure all student staff are trained on them.
- Uphold and model professional codes of ethics in all Agency work, and ensure students understand and commit to ethical practice.
Essential Function 2: Business Development & Client Pipeline
- Set annual goals for the Agency (client growth, revenue, awards, student participation, community impact) and evaluate progress against them.
- Proactively identify, cultivate, and secure new client relationships, with a focus on small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits.
- Represent the Agency in the local business, nonprofit, and professional communities to build long-term partnerships and referral sources (e.g., PRSA, AAF and AMA chapters, community leaders, campus administration, alumni, economic development organizations, etc.).
- Negotiate and finalize client contracts and scopes of work, ensuring expectations, deliverables, timelines, and fees are documented and mutually understood.
- Establish and periodically review Agency billing rates, service offerings, and proposal templates.
- Balance pro-bono/community-impact work with paid client work to sustain both the Agency's mission and its financial health.
Essential Function 3: Student Professional Development & Mentorship
- Design and deliver ongoing professional development for Agency students, including workshops on research, strategy, writing, media relations, design, social media, and presentation skills.
- Coordinate with faculty and academic advisers to align Agency work with coursework and student learning outcomes.
- Provide hands-on mentorship and coaching to student account teams, offering constructive feedback and final review/approval on client deliverables.
- Recruit, interview, and onboard new Agency staff each term; oversee training and orientation for new members.
- Conduct or oversee regular performance evaluations of student staff, and support students in building professional portfolios for future employment.
- Foster a professional, respectful, and inclusive Agency culture that prepares students for real-world workplace expectations.
Essential Function 4: Account & Campaign Oversight
- Review and approve strategic plans, campaigns, and deliverables before they go to clients, ensuring they deliver high-quality, on-time work that meets professional standards.
- Maintain regular communication with clients to monitor satisfaction and address concerns proactively.
- Ensure account teams maintain proper documentation (activity reports, client files, contracts) throughout each engagement.
- Facilitate client evaluations at the end of each project or semester and use feedback to improve Agency performance.
Essential Function 5: Financial & Budget Management
- Develop and manage the Agency's annual budget in coordination with SJMC leadership.
- Track income, expenses, invoicing, and accounts receivable/payable; maintain accurate financial records.
- Oversee client billing (retainer or project-based), ensuring fees are documented in contracts and collected appropriately.
- Identify and pursue additional funding sources, including corporate sponsorships, grants, and donor support, in partnership with SJMC leadership and University Advancement.
- Prepare regular reports on Agency activities, client outcomes, annual impact, student development, and financial performance for SJMC and university leadership and key donors/stakeholders.
Essential Function 6: Recognition, Awards & External Visibility
- Identify and prepare submissions for relevant student agency awards and recognitions (e.g., PRSSA Student-run Firm Awards, Dr. F.H. Teahan Chapter Awards, Hearst competitions, ACP/Pacemaker-type honors).
- Maintain a library of case studies, campaign samples, and results data to support award submissions, National Affiliation applications, and Agency marketing materials.
- Pursue and maintain PRSSA National Affiliation (or equivalent professional recognition) by ensuring the Agency meets required standards for connection, professionalism, and structure.
- Promote Agency and student accomplishments through SJMC and university communications channels, social media, and donor/stakeholder updates.
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