Media Relations Specialist

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Williamsburg (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation seeks a Media Relations Specialist to lead strategic media outreach, craft compelling content, and serve as the primary media contact for museums, educational programs, exhibitions, and events. Working with the Marketing and Public Relations team, this role coordinates media visits and prepares press materials.

The incumbent supports editorial planning, maintains media assets, and ensures all communications align with brand standards across websites, emails, and

Qualifications

• Produce clear, accurate, and compelling writing and editing across press releases, feature content, marketing collateral, and digital communications.
• Demonstrate ability to develop strategic media outreach and independently manage deadlines.
• Experience in tourism, museums, education, or marketing environments preferred.
• Familiarity with analytics for content evaluation and improvement.
• Proficiency with Adobe tools, Google Workspace, and CMS platforms.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced setting.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic media outreach and create press materials.
• Coordinate media visits, interviews, and special events.
• Prepare content for websites, email marketing, publications, and collateral.
• Monitor earned media and align materials with brand standards.
• Support editorial planning and digital asset libraries.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify newsworthy stories.

Skills

Writing

AP Style

Public relations

Media outreach

Editing

Content creation

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Acrobat

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

CMS

Job description

Title: Media Relations Specialist

State Role Title: PR & Mktg Spec III

Hiring Range: $52,000.00 - $55,966.00

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

Location: Jamestown General

Agency Website: jyfmuseums.org

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Media Relations Specialist supports the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation's communications and public relations efforts by developing strategic media outreach and creating compelling content that increases public awareness of the Foundation's museums, educational programs, exhibitions, events, and initiatives. Working collaboratively with the Marketing and Public Relations team, this position serves as a primary media contact, researches and pitches story opportunities, prepares press materials, monitors earned media coverage, and coordinates media visits, interviews, and special events. The incumbent also develops written content for a variety of communications channels, including websites, email marketing, publications, and marketing collateral, ensuring all materials align with the Foundation's brand standards, messaging, and editorial style.

The Media Relations Specialist contributes to the Foundation's overall communications strategy by supporting editorial planning, maintaining media and digital asset libraries, coordinating executive and Board communications, and assisting with agency publications and organizational communications projects. This position works closely with internal stakeholders to identify newsworthy stories and promote the Foundation's mission through earned media opportunities while maintaining professionalism, confidentiality, and compliance with agency policies. The successful candidate demonstrates exceptional writing and editing skills, sound judgment, strong organizational abilities, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Produce clear, accurate, and compelling writing and editing across a range of formats, including press releases, feature content, marketing collateral, and digital communications, with working knowledge of AP Style.
• Execute public relations tactics and communications deliverables independently, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines simultaneously.
• Bring prior experience in a tourism, museum, education, or marketing environment, with demonstrated skills in writing for publication, coordinating media visits, and managing photography or filming projects.
• Apply knowledge of digital publishing tools, website content best practices, and familiarity with analytics platforms to support content evaluation and improvement. Apply hands‑on experience with Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop, including editing and preparing photographs and graphics for print and digital publication. Demonstrate proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, and website content management systems.
• Demonstrate strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Work collaboratively and professionally with staff at all levels, external media contacts, and the public.

Additional Considerations

• Experience with an emphasis on communications, public relations, journalism, or marketing, with demonstrated ability to independently produce press materials and communications content.
• Prior professional experience in a tourism, museum, education, or marketing environment preferred.
• Strong writing and editing skills with working knowledge of AP Style.
• Experience with photography management, digital asset organization, or visual content production a plus.
• Familiarity with website content management systems and email marketing platforms preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities.

Contact Information

Name: Coy Mozingo

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process.

To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI).

Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.