Director of Public Relations

NC State University; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

NC State University is seeking a Director of Public Relations to lead the university’s public relations efforts and protect its reputation across North Carolina and beyond. The role partners with senior communicators to shape proactive media opportunities and support strategic priorities.

The Director will translate complex university priorities into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences, and collaborate across campus to elevate the university’s impact in major initiatives and events.

Qualifications

• Proven success developing and executing communications strategies for high-visibility issues.
• Experience managing crises and reputational risk with timely responses.
• Ability to translate complex priorities into clear messages for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Promote and protect the university’s reputation statewide, regionally and nationally.
• Develop strategic communications plans and materials, including key messages and scripts.
• Partner on issues management by forecasting and triaging potential issues and coordinating responses.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure proactive outreach across media, research, social, and digital channels.
• Provide communications consultation to campus leadership and staff.

Skills

Strategic communications

Media relations

Crisis communications

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Posting Information

Posting Number

Posting Number PG194907EP

Internal Recruitment

Internal Recruitment No

Working Title

Working Title Director of Public Relations

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate with education and experience.

Work Schedule

Work Schedule Core Business Hours: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; this is an onsite role with flexibility and some hybrid options depending on business needs.

Job Location

Department

Department University Communications and Marketing

About the Department

North Carolina State University was founded in 1887 with the purpose of creating economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. Today NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 37,000 high-performing students, 9,000 preeminent faculty and staff and 260,000 alumni. NC State is a research-extensive university known for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We’re also at the forefront of teaching and research in agriculture, business, design, education, humanities and social sciences, natural resources, textiles and veterinary medicine. NC State is consistently named as one of the best values in higher education, and many of our programs are ranked at the top of their respective disciplines. We take a great deal of pride in our collaborative, supportive and collegial team culture. All staff are provided opportunities for training and professional development, with an eye to personalized career growth.

University Communications and Marketing is NC State’s dedicated communications agency. Our team provides leadership, strategy, services and support to advance the NC State brand and help the university achieve its core mission. We work to promote local, national and worldwide visibility for the university and its students, faculty and staff. The office is committed to informing the public and the university community about NC State’s innovative, varied learning environment, its world-leading scholarship and research, and its unswerving dedication to improving lives by finding practical solutions to real-world problems.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

The Director of Public Relations, reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Integrated Strategic Communications, leads public relations efforts that shape and protect NC State’s reputation across North Carolina and beyond. As a key member of University Communications and Marketing’s news team, this role develops and advances proactive media opportunities, supports strategic communications for high-visibility university priorities and events, and partners on issues management and crisis communication. The Director works closely with university leadership, communicators across campus, and external media to ensure NC State’s stories, priorities and perspectives are effectively represented.

In this role, you will help shape how audiences understand and experience NC State by translating complex university priorities into clear, compelling communications and identifying opportunities to elevate the university’s impact. You will serve as a trusted communications partner on high-profile and emerging issues, helping leaders and campus partners navigate moments that require clarity, coordination and thoughtful response. Your work will contribute to strengthening NC State’s reputation, advancing its priorities and ensuring the university’s voice is represented consistently and strategically across audiences and platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Promote and protect NC State’s reputation statewide, regionally and nationally in partnership with University Communications and Marketing, colleagues across campus and university leadership.
• Develop strategic communications plans and materials, including key messages, scripts, website content, stakeholder announcements, presentations and other communications, including messaging for the Chancellor and other executive-level communicators.
• Partner on the university’s issues management program by forecasting and triaging potential issues and executing appropriate internal and external communication strategies.
• Collaborate with University Communications and Marketing team members and senior communicators across NC State to support consistent, proactive outreach across media relations, research communications, social media and digital, marketing and creative teams.
• Contribute to the university’s media training program and serve as a communications consultant to campus partners, including leadership, faculty and staff.

Other Responsibilities

• In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there may be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department’s operations.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience in the area of assignment, of which at least one is supervisory or in a lead-worker capacity; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated success developing and executing communications strategies and plans, particularly for complex, sensitive or high-visibility issues.
• Background managing communications related to crises, emergencies or emerging reputational issues, including appropriately handling sensitive information and developing timely internal and external responses in high-pressure situations.
• Ability to translate complex information and organizational priorities into clear, compelling messages for different audiences and platforms, including written materials and verbal communications.
• Experience delivering key messages to targeted audiences across multiple communications channels, including under tight deadlines or stressful circumstances.
• Track record of building trust, navigating differing perspectives, developing relationships with stakeholders at varying levels, and bringing people together around a shared communications approach or organizational priority.
• Demonstrated leadership of a communications team, project team or cross-functional effort toward a shared goal.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research university experience: Understanding and appreciation for the mission, complexity and public impact of a major research university with a national and international presence.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

• N/A

Valid NC Driver’s License required

Valid NC Driver’s License required No

Commercial Driver’s License required

Commercial Driver’s License required No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date

Job Open Date 09/23/2026

Anticipated Close Date

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you learn of this opportunity?
  • NCSU website
  • Craigslist
  • Indeed.com
  • Carolina Job Finder/Employment Guide
  • NC Works
  • Dress for Success
  • Technical/Trade School Program
  • Job Fair (Identify Job Fair in question #2 below)
  • Direct Contact from NSCU Representative (identify person in question #2 below)
  • Other
  • Monster.com
  • Other online job board
  • NCSU employee referral
  • Social Media (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Ohter)
• If you learned about this vacancy from "other source" or "other website", please provide the source.

  (Open Ended Question)

• * In the space below, please describe your professional experience as it relates to this role.

  (Open Ended Question)

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Contact Information for References

Optional Documents

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

RALEIGH, NC 27695

PHONE: [phone]

North Carolina State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.