senior communications manager - unic athens

UNIC Athens, the University of Nicosia's academic and research base in Greece, combining internationally ranked teaching with state-of-the-art facilities, is seeking a Senior Communications Manager to join its team.

The successful candidate will own UNIC’s communications strategy and execution in Greece and Cyprus, and support other priority markets as needed. He/she will lead narrative development for UNIC Athens, UNIC Nicosia and future campuses, manage PR agency partners to world‑class standards, and deliver sustained, high‑quality coverage and reputation outcomes across media, policy, and stakeholder ecosystems. He/she will operate comfortably at both strategy and hands‑on levels, in Greek and English, in fast, politicized environments across jurisdictions.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Planning:

• Build a 12‑month integrated communications plan for Greece and Cyprus (earned/owned/shared/paid), with quarterly OKRs and budget and provide a scalable playbook for additional markets as needed.

• Message architecture: define narratives and proof points for UNIC Athens and UNIC Nicosia (academics, research, clinics/placements, innovation, social impact). Localize global stories for GR & CY and adapt for other geographies as needed.

• Develop a cross‑market newsroom operating model (cadence, calendar, approvals, QA) across press, web, and other media.

Media Relations and Issues Management:

• Own tiered media mapping for Greece and Cyprus (national, broadcast, digital, education, business, health, tech) and cultivate deep editor/journalist relationships in both markets.

• Be the day‑to‑day lead for PR agency partners in Greece and Cyprus: set SOW, KPIs, and review cycles, and drive quality control on pitches and press materials.

• Act as senior press officer: brief spokespeople, place interviews, run press briefings, and handle tough inquiries across markets.

• Monitor policy and public discourse around higher education and private/non‑state institutions in both countries and prepare rapid‑response lines.

• Crisis comms: bi‑country risk register, holding lines, Q&As, escalation matrix, live monitoring, and post‑mortems.

Content and Thought Leadership:

• Own Greek‑language press releases, op‑eds, bylines, speechwriting, and social copy for GR & CY, and ensure flawless Greek and strong, idiomatic English.

• Package research/impact stories with data, case studies, and third‑party validators; pitch exclusive angles to tier‑1 in both markets.

• Maintain executive visibility program (media columns, panels, podcasts; speaker abstracts, briefing books) spanning GR & CY with selective international extensions.

Digital, Social and Owned Channels:

• Run the Greece & Cyprus editorial calendars across the web and coordinate with global channels for coherence and amplification.

• Ensure Greek/English parity and accessibility, and enforce tone‑of‑voice and brand standards across markets.

• Oversee measurement stack (social listening, media monitoring, SEO basics for newsroom posts) and bi‑countrymonthly reporting.

Operations, Budget and Governance:

• Maintain a media kit, boilerplates, fact sheets, and spokesperson bios applicable across markets.

• Implement approvals, legal/compliance checks (incl. data protection) in both jurisdictions, and record‑keeping.

Desired Outcomes:

• Share of Voice & Sentiment (GR & CY): Achieve leadership SOV vs named peers across both markets, and maintain net‑positive sentiment and message pull‑through on priority themes (quality, research, student outcomes, societal impact).

• Tier‑1 Wins Across Markets: Secure recurring placements/interviews/op‑eds in top national outlets in Greece and Cyprus (plus sector media) and establish relationships that yield proactive asks for UNIC commentary.

• Crisis Readiness (Bi‑country): Standing playbooks, trained spokespeople, and <60‑minute response cadence for high‑risk issues in both markets.

• Stakeholder Buy‑in: Consistent alignment with executive leadership, Schools, Admissions, Legal/Compliance, and external partners (e.g., clinical networks) on comms priorities across markets.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications/PR or related field.

• A master's degree will be considered an advantage

Experience:

7-10+ years in Communications/PR with at least 5 years owning Greek media relations for a complex or regulated brand (education/health/tech/public policy preferred) and strong exposure to the Cypriot media landscape (or vice‑versa, with clear evidence of rapid ramp in the other market).

Required Skills:

• Demonstrable current relationships with national editors/journalists in Greece and Cyprus, and a strong booking track record in at least one and credible momentum in the other.

• Proven multi‑market agency management (SOWs, retainer optimization, quality control).

• Crisis/issue management experience with rapid response and executive counsel.

• Strong writing portfolio (press releases, op‑eds, speeches) and content packaging skills.

• Data‑aware: comfortable with media monitoring, social listening, and reporting dashboards.

• Fluent in both Greek and English.

Personal Attributes:

• Stakeholder influence

• Executive presence

• Editorial judgment

• Tenacity under pressure

• Structured planning and prioritization

• High integrity and discretion

Application Procedure:

Interested candidates should submit the following documents through:

• Cover Letter: Describe your interest in the position and how your background aligns with the role.

• Curriculum Vitae (CV): Detailed CV highlighting relevant experience and achievements.

• References: Contact information for at least two references.