Director, Media Relations

Tufts Medicine; United States; On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts Medicine seeks a seasoned communications leader to direct strategic media relations, elevate visibility, and protect the health system's reputation across hospitals, services, and research. You will manage proactive and reactive media, supervise a high-performing team, and serve as the primary spokesperson for national to hyperlocal audiences.

You will partner with executive leadership, legal, risk, and academic medicine communications to ensure consistent messaging, lead crisis

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field.
• 8+ years in media relations, PR, or corporate communications, 5+ years in healthcare.
• Experience serving as organizational spokesperson and managing proactive/reactive media relations.

Responsibilities

• Leads and develops a high-performing Media Relations team with clear goals and development plans.
• Directs daily operations including budget, staffing, and vendor management.
• Builds internal/external relationships with journalists, editors, producers, and influencers.
• Develops and executes data-informed media relations strategies for visibility and reputation.
• Serves as chief media relations strategist and primary spokesperson for crisis communications.
• Designs and delivers media training programs for executives and designated spokespeople.
• Counsels senior leaders on media engagement and messaging strategies.
• Collaborates with content, digital, and internal teams for campaigns and announcements.
• Develops national, regional, and hyperlocal communications plans based on research and market intel.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Spokesperson

Strategic communications

Executive coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or related field

Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, MBA or related field

Tools

AI-powered content platforms

Job description

Job Overview

Reporting to the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, this position leads strategic media relations and communications for Tufts Medicine, the primary health system of Tufts University School of Medicine. This role develops and executes media relations strategies that elevate the visibility and protects the reputation of the health system across its hospitals, physicians, services, research enterprise, and leadership at national, regional, and hyperlocal levels. This position serves as the system’s chief media relations strategist and primary spokesperson leading issues management and crisis communications on a 24/7 basis. This position partners closely with executive leadership, legal, risk management, patient safety, and the Tufts University School of Medicine communications team to ensure consistent, accurate communications across clinical care, research, and education. This role requires a seasoned communications leader who combines strategic vision with media savvy, crisis management expertise, and deep knowledge of the academic health system landscape.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field.

2. Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in media relations, public relations, or corporate communications, with at least five (5) years in a healthcare, academic health system, or hospital environment.

3. Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson and managing both proactive and reactive media relations at a senior level.

4. Experience leading crisis communications and issues management, including developing playbooks, coordinating rapid-response messaging, and serving as public information officer during emergencies or reputational events.

5. Experience leading and managing high-performing communications teams, including direct people management, coaching, mentoring, and performance development of professional staff.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field.

2. Experience as a working journalist, reporter, or newsroom professional.

3. Experience in an academic health system, academic medical center, or medical school communications environment, with familiarity navigating the interplay between clinical, research, and education missions.

4. Experience successfully building or scaling a media relations program or department.

5. Experience in healthcare including academic hospitals, health systems, medical schools or life sciences.

6. Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) or certification from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), or equivalent professional body.

7. Experience serving as a public information officer (PIO) or in an emergency management / incident command structure.

8. Experience with academic medical center communications, including peer-reviewed journal embargo management, clinical trial communications, and research promotion.

9. Experience with AI-powered productivity and content platforms (e.g., WRITER, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot) for content creation, media monitoring, and workflow automation.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.

1. Leads, mentors, and develops a high-performing Media Relations team, establishing clear performance expectations, goals, and professional development plans that align with the system’s communications strategy.

2. Directs the daily operations of the Media Relations team including budget, staffing, resource allocation, and vendor and agency management.

3. Builds and manages internal and external relationships to maximize media relations impact, cultivating strong, trust-based relationships with local, regional, and national journalists, editors, producers, and influencers.

4. Develops and executes comprehensive, data-informed media relations strategies that elevate the visibility of Tufts Medicine and its hospitals, physicians, services, research, and leadership at national, regional, and hyperlocal levels.

5. Serves as the system’s chief media relations strategist and primary spokesperson for institutional, system-wide, and crisis communications, while establishing and managing the enterprise spokesperson hierarchy — identifying, designating, preparing, and coaching subject matter experts (SMEs), clinical chiefs, and executives to serve as spokespeople for their areas of expertise, and maintaining a roster of approved spokespeople by topic and service line.

6. Designs and delivers ongoing media training programs for executives, physicians, clinicians, and other designated spokespeople, including interview preparation, message development, on-camera coaching, mock interviews, and crisis scenario preparation, ensuring the organization has a deep bench of confident, prepared spokespeople across all service lines and campuses.

7. Counsels senior leaders, executives, and clinical leaders on media engagement, message development, interview preparation, and the strategic implications of media interactions.

8. Collaborates with system-wide content, digital, and internal communications teams to successfully launch major initiatives, campaigns, and announcements for the enterprise.

9. Collaborates with system and service line leaders to develop national, regional, and hyperlocal strategic communications plans based on research, data, and market intelligence.

10. Leads a structured executive visibility and thought‑leadership program that positions Tufts Medicine leaders, physicians, and clinicians as recognized authorities in their fields through a deliberate calendar of op‑eds and bylined articles, expert‑source media placements, speaking platforms, industry awards submissions, and national ranking and reputation survey engagement (e.g., U.S. News, Forbes, Becker’s).

11. Highlights the health system’s commitment to education and research, working closely with the Tufts University School of Medicine communications team to publicize key scientific discoveries, clinical trials, and education programs as well as developing amplification strategies for published research findings.

1. Ensures all media relations activities