Student Agency Director - Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication - 100090

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For consideration, you must apply online.  Please include a resume and cover letter.