Director, Media Relations

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Williamsburg (VA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

William & Mary seeks a Director, Media Relations to lead regional media engagement and serve as the primary press liaison for the university. The role involves promoting the university’s national preeminence through earned, digital, and emerging media strategies and coordinating campus-wide promotional efforts.

The position reports to the Executive Director of Media Relations and requires experience as a media spokesperson for a complex organization, with a strong writing/editing ability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or a related field.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in media relations, strategic communications, issue management or related work.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Excellent understanding of all primary media channels, including broadcast, digital and print.
• Experience serving as a media spokesperson for a complex organization.
• Ability to write and edit quickly and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Knowledge of AP style and proficiency in social media usage and analytics.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional and local media engagement efforts for the university, working directly with university leadership and cabinets.
• Direct and manage media response and pitches, focusing on local and regional media.
• Serve as a senior liaison between media organizations, university leadership, and campus partners.
• Write and build a strategy for media plans for major university announcements or events.

Skills

Media relations

Written communication

Oral communication

AP style

Social media analytics

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or communications

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Critical Mention

Meltwater

Job description

Job Requisition:

JR102130 Director, Media Relations (Open)

Job Posting Title:

Director, Media Relations

Department:

CC00253 WM001 | WMUA | University Communications

Job Family:

Staff - Communications

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular (benefited)

Job Requisition Primary Location:

Discovery 2

Primary Job Posting Location:

Posting Location - William & Mary

Job Description Summary:

Mission Statement

In the Office of University Advancement, we create the conditions for opportunity – human, financial, & experiential – by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary.

Position Summary

The Director of Media Relations leads regional and local media engagement efforts for William & Mary, working directly with university leadership, the President’s Executive Leadership Team, Cabinet. and the Office of Public Safety. Housed in the office of university communications, the Director promotes William & Mary’s national preeminence by pitching stories and faculty subject matter experts to news outlets, serving as the primary link to the press and media on all communications fronts and coordinates university-wide promotional efforts, while advancing the university’s reputation through integrated earned, digital, and emerging media strategies. This position reports to the Executive Director of Media Relations in the Office of University Communications and carries accountability for outcomes.

This is a hybrid position based in Williamsburg, Virginia, which offers a flexible work environment.

About the University

Founded by Royal Charter in 1693, William & Mary is America’s first university. The Alma Mater of the Nation brings together the breadth of a public liberal arts and sciences education with the innovation of a preeminent global research university. Here, curiosity deepens into wisdom, shaping lives of meaning, distinction and purposeful impact. For more than 300 years, the university has convened great minds and hearts to meet the most pressing needs of our time.

About the Team

The Office of University Communications serves as the central communications office for the university. Within University Communications, the Media Relations team leads the university’s crisis communication response, is responsible for media and other filming requests on campus, serves as the primary link to press and media on all communications fronts, provides media training and, in collaboration with the Content & Strategy and Web Development & Strategy, coordinates university-wide promotional efforts. The office also works to promote and celebrate the work of faculty, staff and students and to promote the overall vision, mission and brand of William & Mary.

Salary

$75,000 to $80,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications or a related field or equivalent combination of education or experience.
• Significant, progressively responsible experience in media relations, strategic communications, issue management or related work (typically 7 to 10 years).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Excellent understanding of all primary media channels, including broadcast, digital and print.
• Experience serving as a media spokesperson for a complex organization.
• Ability to write and edit quickly and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the latest Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Knowledge of AP style and proficiency in social media usage and analytics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing media monitoring platforms like Critical Mention, Meltwater, etc.
• Experience with emerging media channels, including podcasts and/or online publications.
• Previous experience in higher ed, government or other complex organization(s).

Conditions of Employment

• This position may require overtime to include scheduled and unscheduled, nights, weekends or holidays.
• This is a University Professional (UP), exempt position and is expected to exercise discretion and independent judgment in fulfilling assigned responsibilities.

Is the position remote work eligible?

Hybrid (works remotely at least 1 day per week but not full-time).

Position Classification

This position is classified as professional, meaning it is salaried and exempt from overtime. For benefits and leave purposes, this role falls under the "12‑month Professionals & Faculty" classification on the HR website.

Job Duties

40% - Media Relations:

• Lead regional and local media engagement efforts for the university, working directly with university leadership, the President’s Executive Leadership Team, Cabinet. and the Office of Public Safety, promoting William & Mary and William & Mary’s national preeminence by pitching stories and promoting university staff and faculty as experts to news outlets while advancing the university’s reputation through integrated earned, digital, and emerging media strategies.
• Direct and manage media response and pitches, with focus on local and regional media.
• Serve as a senior liaison between media organizations, university leadership and campus partners (academic units and the provosts office, for example).
• Write and build a strategy for media plans for major university announcements or events.
• Manage institutional processes for media access, including film