This job has closed.

The University of Texas at Austin · 2 months ago

Executive Director of Media Relations

UT MAIN CAMPUS

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

8+ years exp

The University of Texas at Austin is one of the nation’s premier universities, seeking to enhance its global reputation through a strategic media relations function. The Executive Director of Media Relations will lead a team in developing comprehensive media strategies, managing media inquiries, and protecting the University’s reputation through proactive and reactive communications.

Corporate TrainingEducationHigher EducationUniversities

No H1B

Responsibilities

Lead university media relations efforts – including proactive pitching as well as managing inquiries on University-level issues – to drive reputation gains

Develop engaging news content, in collaboration with UMAC’s social media, multimedia and content strategy teams, and prioritize positive placements supporting University priorities, including our academic and research excellence and groundbreaking research

Develop a rigorous op-ed program to enhance UT Austin’s state and national thought leadership

Drive continued gains in placements in Tier One and other targeted media outlets

Coordinate with communicators in the colleges, schools and units to ensure a strong, centralized media relations strategy and operations, as well as clear protocols for sensitive issues that could surface in the media and need to be referred to UMAC for handling at a University level

Collaborate with the Director of Issues Management to develop and refine robust crisis communications strategies, playbooks and messages to help the University prepare for known and anticipated issues and respond more effectively to unforeseen crises and threats to its reputation

Develop effective plans to shape stakeholder perceptions about the University's strategic initiatives and priorities

Elevate the crisis communication function and level of integration across centralized units to deliver more cohesive messaging for the full range of stakeholders

Lead and develop a team of excellent media relations professionals to create and deliver multi-channel earned media plans that support university goals and initiatives, as well as the professional and career development goals of each individual

Serve as a member of the UMAC leadership team

Build strong partnerships and collaborate with communicators inside the vice-presidential portfolios, as well as marketing and communications leaders and other stakeholders across campus, including the Colleges & Schools, Admissions, University Development, Legal Affairs, Student Affairs, Governmental Affairs, and Research, among others

Develop and implement a media training program for members of University leadership and faculty and staff in support of developing brand messengers for the institution

Proactively meet with leaders and key faculty members, seizing opportunities to connect them with reporters and position them for interview success

Work with analytics team members and other UMAC staff to create regular reports and insights about the reach and impact of media coverage of UT Austin

Leverage resulting data to refine and improve PR and social media strategies and tactics

Produce and contribute to reports for leadership that demonstrate the impact of our media relations activity

Other related functions as assigned

Qualification

Media Relations StrategyCrisis CommunicationsPublic RelationsStakeholder EngagementData AnalysisTeam LeadershipCommunication SkillsCollaborationRelationship Building

Required

Bachelor's degree, with significant coursework in public relations, journalism, crisis communications, strategic communications, marketing and/or public relations

At least 8 years of experience managing media relations and related efforts for a large institution of higher education or other large organization

Deep expertise in developing media relations plans in preparation for known and anticipated issues and that enable more effective response to unforeseen crises and reputation threats

Strong track record of managing a productive staff covering a wide variety of functions, including PR and media relations, crisis communications, issues management, presidential/executive communications, and internal communications

Demonstrated ability to build relationships with national reporters and pitch stories to media outlets at all levels to generate favorable coverage

Substantial experience in synthesizing and articulating the mission and priorities of a large, complex organization, and implementing a communications strategy and program to enhance the organization's reputation

Experience building influence and alignment with people across a large enterprise and navigating the complexities of a decentralized organization

Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate

Preferred

Master's degree

Higher education experience preferred, but not required

Experience navigating legislative and governmental affairs issues and communications

Experience collaborating with content marketing, advertising, creative and web teams

Willingness and ability to bring ideas from across higher education and other industries to bear in developing a distinctive and effective communications strategy for UT Austin