Public Relations Manager

Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies; Faridabad District; On-site; INR 1,100,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Manav Rachna International Institute of Research & Studies seeks an experienced Manager – Public Relations to lead the university’s PR and communications, strengthening reputation and visibility across media and stakeholder communities. You will craft strategic narratives around achievements, research, faculty, and student accomplishments, coordinating with leadership and internal teams.

The ideal candidate will have strong media relationships, excellent written and verbal communication, and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Mass Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in communications, PR, marketing, or a related discipline is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute PR strategies aligned with the institution's brand, positioning, and priorities.
• Build and maintain a strong institutional reputation among media, prospective students, parents, alumni, and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to enhance visibility through proactive media engagement and thought leadership.
• Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, editors, education correspondents, digital publications, TV, radio, and industry media.
• Generate and pitch stories, features, interviews, expert comments, and announcements.
• Coordinate media interactions: interviews, press conferences, campus visits, media briefings.
• Draft and edit press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, speeches, FAQs, newsletters, and institutional communications.
• Work with faculty and leadership to identify compelling stories.
• Translate complex academic information into media-friendly narratives.
• Ensure consistency in messaging and tone across communications.
• Identify opportunities for senior leadership and faculty to participate in interviews, panels, conferences, articles, podcasts.
• Develop thought-leadership opportunities around education, research, innovation, policy, trends.
• Support leadership profiling and executive communications.
• Provide PR support for convocations, conferences, launches, announcements, student achievements.
• Develop media outreach plans for events.
• Coordinate media logistics and coverage.
• Support crisis communication plans, monitor issues and sentiment, prepare materials, and coordinate with leadership.
• Work with digital and social media teams to amplify campaigns.
• Monitor online conversations and media mentions; evaluate PR campaigns for improvements.

Skills

Media relations

Content writing

Storytelling

Event management

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Editing/proofreading

Communication skills

Pitching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Mass Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Communications, or a related field

Postgraduate qualification in communications, PR, marketing, or related discipline desirable

Tools

MS Office

Media monitoring tools

PR tools

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Manager – Public Relations to lead and execute public relations and communications initiatives for the institution. The role will be responsible for strengthening the university/college's reputation, enhancing its visibility across relevant media and stakeholder communities, and ensuring consistent and strategic communication of institutional achievements, academic excellence, research, faculty expertise, student accomplishments, events, and key announcements.

The ideal candidate will have strong media relationships, excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound news judgment, and an understanding of the higher education ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

1. Public Relations Strategy

• Develop and execute PR strategies aligned with the institution's brand, positioning, and strategic priorities.
• Build and maintain a strong institutional reputation among media, prospective students, parents, alumni, academic communities, industry, and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities to enhance institutional visibility through proactive media engagement and thought leadership.

2. Media Relations

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with journalists, editors, education correspondents, digital publications, television, radio, and industry media.
• Generate and pitch relevant stories, features, interviews, expert comments, and institutional announcements.
• Coordinate media interactions, including interviews, press conferences, campus visits, and media briefings.
• Maintain an updated database of media contacts and track media engagement.

3. Content & Communications

• Draft and edit press releases, media advisories, statements, talking points, speeches, FAQs, newsletters, and institutional communications.
• Work closely with faculty, leadership, students, researchers, and administrative teams to identify compelling stories.
• Translate complex academic, research, and institutional information into engaging media-friendly narratives.
• Ensure consistency in institutional messaging and tone across communications.

4. Thought Leadership & Visibility

• Identify opportunities for senior leadership and faculty members to participate in interviews, panel discussions, conferences, opinion articles, podcasts, and other relevant platforms.
• Develop thought-leadership opportunities around education, research, innovation, policy, industry trends, and other areas of institutional expertise.
• Support leadership profiling and executive communications.

5. Events & Institutional Announcements

• Provide PR support for convocations, conferences, seminars, academic launches, research announcements, student achievements, campus events, and other institutional milestones.
• Develop media outreach plans before, during, and after major events.
• Coordinate media logistics and ensure appropriate coverage.

6. Crisis & Reputation Management

• Support the development and implementation of crisis communication plans.
• Monitor emerging issues and media conversations that may affect institutional reputation.
• Prepare timely communication materials, holding statements, FAQs, and responses when required.
• Coordinate with senior leadership and relevant departments during sensitive or high-impact situations.
• Work closely with digital and social media teams to ensure PR campaigns and media coverage are effectively amplified across institutional channels.
• Monitor online conversations, media mentions, and sentiment around the institution.
• Identify opportunities for integrated PR and digital campaigns.

8. Media Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor daily media coverage and institutional mentions.
• Track PR performance, media reach, share of voice, sentiment, and quality of coverage.
• Prepare regular PR reports and dashboards for senior management.
• Evaluate campaign effectiveness and recommend improvements.

9. Internal Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with admissions, marketing, academics, research, student affairs, alumni relations, placement/career services, and leadership teams.
• Establish processes for gathering timely information and identifying newsworthy institutional developments.
• Act as a communications advisor to internal stakeholders on media-related matters.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Quality and quantity of earned media coverage
• Growth in positive institutional media visibility
• Share of voice within the higher education sector
• Number and quality of media relationships developed
• Successful media placements and thought-leadership opportunities
• Leadership/faculty profiling opportunities
• PR support for major institutional events and announcements
• Media response time and effectiveness
• Reputation and sentiment metrics
• PR campaign ROI and performance against defined objectives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Mass Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in communications, PR, marketing, or a related discipline is desirable.

Experience

• 5–8 years of relevant experience in public relations, corporate communications, media relations, or institutional communications.
• Experience in higher education, education, consulting, research, corporate, or professional services is preferred.
• Proven experience managing media relationships and executing PR campaigns.
• Experience working with senior leadership and multiple internal stakeholders is desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong media relations and pitching skills
• Exceptional storytelling and content-writing ability
• Strong understanding of the Indian media and higher education landscape
• Strategic thinking and sound news judgment
• Stakeholder and relationship management
• Event and campaign management
• Strong editing and proofreading skills
• Ability to work under tight deadlines
• Proficiency in MS Office and media monitoring/PR tools
• Strong interpersonal skills and professional maturity

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and opportunity-oriented
• High level of discretion and integrity
• Calm and composed under pressure
• Strong attention to detail
• Collaborative and stakeholder-friendly
• Creative storyteller
• Strong ownership and accountability
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a strategic communications professional who understands both the media ecosystem and the higher education environment. They should be capable of converting institutional achievements, academic expertise, research, student stories, and leadership perspectives into compelling narratives that build credibility, visibility, and reputation for the institution.