Director of Global Media Relations

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston is seeking a Director of Global Media Relations to lead the strategy and execution of press engagement across domestic and global markets. This senior role oversees a team of media relations professionals and drives ambitious earned placements in top-tier outlets.

The ideal candidate has 6–8 years in press relations, strong crisis communications skills, and experience with AI-powered monitoring tools, analytics, and data-driven storytelling.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years of experience working with the press across top-tier publications, including international outlets.
• Experience in fast-paced, strategic communications operations prioritizing earned press.
• Experience in managing people in a fast-paced, goal-oriented organization.
• Proven track record in engaging reporters and placing stories with key stakeholders.
• Familiarity with AI-powered media monitoring, analytics, and content tools.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategy and execution of press engagement across domestic and global media markets.
• Drive development of complex stories from idea to high-profile earned placements.
• Lead and develop a team of media relations professionals.
• Promote knowledge brands and manage crisis communications.
• Leverage AI tools to identify trends and opportunities and sharpen the earned media strategy.

Skills

Press relations

Strategic communications

Crisis communications

Team leadership

Data-driven storytelling

AI-powered monitoring

Tools

AI-powered media monitoring platforms

Job description

About the Opportunity

Northeastern University is looking for a Director of Global Media Relations to join a high-performing Communications team at a global enterprise and oversee the strategy and execution of successful press engagement across domestic and global media markets. The Director of Global Media Relations is a highly skilled individual with robust experience in managing media relations across top-tier news organizations, while setting ambitious and measurable goals with high expectations. The person in this role must have a proven track record of strategic and proactive ways to successfully engage members of the press, and manage the development of complex stories from idea to high-profile earned placements. The Director of Global Media Relations is curious in their quest for great story ideas; committed to Northeastern’s brand and messaging priorities; skilled at building and maintaining relationships with the press; disciplined in their command of the facts; and relentless in their pursuit of landing positive stories in top-tier publications. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of global media markets both within the US and abroad. Reporting to the Vice President for Communications, the Director of Global Media Relations has experience in promoting knowledge brands, including but not limited to the non-profit sector, and has a proven track record in successful crisis communications. The Director of Global Media Relations oversees a team of talented media relations professionals with responsibilities to manage incoming and proactive opportunities in media markets around the world, particularly in strategic locations within Northeastern’s global university system of 14 campuses. The Director of Global Media Relations should be familiar with leveraging AI-powered tools— including media monitoring platforms, automated insight generation, and data analytics to identify trends, surface story opportunities, and sharpen the university’s earned media strategy. The Director of Global Media Relations is a great communicator, a versatile, curious and creative thinker, a superb and succinct writer, a great manager of projects and people, and a voracious consumer of news. Must have an impeccable sense of what is newsworthy and can successfully communicate complex ideas to various audiences, particularly to members of the press and university leaders. The Director of Global Media Relations is a key member of the External Affairs team, works closely with its senior leaders across the university, and collaborates with colleagues across divisions and locations. The position is based on the Boston campus and is fully in-person. After-hours work, including weekends and holidays, is routinely required.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6–8 years of experience in working with the press across top-tier publications, including those not based in the US.
• Experience working in fast-paced and strategic communications operations that prioritizes earned press.
• Experience in managing people in a fast-paced and goal-oriented organization.
• Strong track record in working with reporters and managing complex stories that are on message and promote the organization through top-tier earned placements targeting key stakeholders.
• Familiarity with AI-powered media monitoring, analytics, and content tools, and a demonstrated ability to integrate these into daily workflow to improve efficiency and outcomes.
• Superb command of facts and data.
• The ability to stay calm and focused in a crisis situation.
• Energetic, positive attitude.
• Exemplary work ethic and attention to detail.

Position Type

Marketing and Communications

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation

Grade/Pay Type: 113S Expected Hiring Range: $99,010.00 - $143,567.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.