Public Relations Manager

SLAC; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 89,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO days

Health benefits

Tuition assistance

403(b) plan

Mental health programs

Commuter benefits

Job summary

Stanford University is seeking a Public Relations Manager within Stanford Engineering’s Communications & Alumni Affairs to craft compelling science communications. You will collaborate with faculty, students, journalists, and external partners, translating complex research into accessible stories for broad audiences and guiding media strategies.

The role requires strong writing, relationship-building, and project management, with hybrid work 3 days/week on campus and a focus on podcasts and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Excellent written communication and editing skills.
• Experience in public relations, media relations, or science communications.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Familiarity with podcast production, digital media, or multimedia content development.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute and oversee written communications of moderate complexity, including presentations, speeches, news stories, web content, talking points, and posts.
• Participate in meetings with researchers and media relations to develop strategies for effective communications.
• Assist in identifying and maintaining relationships with key press and community leaders.
• Prepare content for internal or external newsletters and manage email/digital content distribution.
• Identify individuals or groups to attend or speak at public meetings or events.
• Coordinate media, community or government relations and ensure logistics are handled.

Skills

Strong writing

Media relations

Storytelling

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

This position has been deemed critical by the School of Engineering Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

For Stanford University employees, please apply through the Opportunity Marketplace within Sequoia.

Note - Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S.

Work Arrangement: This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement with a minimum of 3 days/week working at the Stanford main campus, subject to operational needs.

Budgeted Salary: The budgeted base salary range for this position is $88,814 to $110,278 per annum.

The School of Engineering

Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, health care, energy, business, and beyond. Our faculty and students are creative risk-takers who pursue excellence across a breadth of disciplines. Our alumni include some of the world's most successful leaders in technology and business. Our staff are critical to enabling Stanford Engineering to accomplish its mission: seeking solutions to some of the world's most urgent challenges and educating leaders who will make the world a better place through the power of engineering principles, techniques and systems.

Stanford Engineering’s Communications & Alumni Affairs team is made up of experts in clear, compelling communication that engages audiences, promotes the world-changing work of our researchers and educators, and amplifies the school’s highest reputation. Our communications span a variety of media and platforms, including news, podcast, digital publications, video, social media and events, reaching a broad audience of Stanford Engineering’s faculty, staff and students, our 75,000 graduate alumni, and the world.

To support these efforts, we seek a Public Relations Manager who is passionate about science communication and brings intellectual curiosity, creativity, and strong storytelling skills to the role. The ideal candidate is a proactive, collaborative professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates excellent organizational and time-management skills, and can effectively balance multiple projects and priorities. As an integral member of the Communications & Alumni Relations team, this individual will work closely with faculty, students, colleagues across Stanford, external collaborators, and members of the news media. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain lasting relationships with diverse stakeholders, while contributing positively to our team’s culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous learning.

In this role you will:

• Support media relations and research communications for the School of Engineering, including developing media pitches, identifying newsworthy research, and coordinating interviews with faculty and journalists.
• Help translate complex scientific and engineering research into compelling, accessible stories for general audiences across multiple platforms.
• Manage the production, publication, and promotion of The Future of Everything podcast, working with internal teams and external production partners.
• Provide on-site support for media interviews, photography, and filming involving Stanford Engineering faculty and research.
• Support special communications projects, media coverage tracking and reporting, and improvements to team workflows.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in public relations, media relations, journalism, or science communications, preferably in higher education, research institutions, or related fields.
• Strong writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific and technical topics into clear, engaging content for general audiences.
• Experience in developing media pitches, conducting targeted media outreach, and building relationships with journalists.
• Familiarity with media monitoring platforms, digital content management systems, and project management tools.
• Experience with podcast production, digital media, or multimedia content development.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and meet competing deadlines.

Responsibilities

Core Duties:

• Develop, execute and oversee written communications of moderate complexity, including presentations, speeches, news stories, web content, talking points, and correspondence and social media posts.
• Participate in regular meetings of key researchers with media relations needs to develop strategies and tactics for facilitating effective communications.
• Assist in identifying and maintaining professional relationships with key press and community leaders.
• Assist in preparing content for internal or external newsletters. Understand email and digital content distribution.
• Identify individuals/groups to attend and/or speak at public meetings or other events.
• Coordinate media, community or government relations, and ensure logistics and preparations are handled.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written communication skills, reporting skills, and skills in conceptual editing, copy editing, and proof reading.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal communications groups across campus.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills in working with a variety of people.
• Capacity to write and synthesize materials and communicate information in a manner easily understood.
• Pay Range $77,543-$144,747
• Pay Frequency Annually
• Fixed Term N
• Stanford Schools and Units School of Engineering
• Full time or Part time Full Time
• Regular or Temporary Regular
• Job Category Communications
• Posting Date 11/09/2026, 05:42 PM
• Grade H
• Job Identification 201689

Benefits that support you, and your future

18+ PTO days per year

Health benefits start when you start

Flexible work options

$6000+ annual tuition and training assistance

403(b) plan

Mental health and wellness programs

Free and discounted commuter transportation

Applies to regular full-time positions.

Notice to Applicants

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classifications and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned. Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job. Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stanford University provides job pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a particular job. The specific pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on a wide range of factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to geographic work location, relevant knowledge, skills and abilities, relevant education, years of relevant experience, depth and breadth of relevant experience, and performance; further including but not limited to other business and organization needs such as the scope and responsibilities of the position, the minimum qualifications, departmental budget availability, and market and internal equity across the university, school/ unit, department, as well as job reporting relationships.

Why work at Stanford

World-changing work in a culture of continuous learning

An inspiring community that values collaboration

High-quality health and wellness benefits that put you and your family first

Access to world-class education and career development, with tuition reimbursement, training assistance, and more