Remote Assistant Director, Global Media & Strategy

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is seeking an Assistant Director, Media to lead IHME's media relations and manage the Media team. This role develops strategies to drive global media coverage, pitches IHME research to journalists, coordinates interviews, and grows owned platforms like the Global Health Insights podcast and newsletter.

Office is located in Seattle, WA, with eligibility to work fully remote; must overlap 50% with IHME Office hours (Pacific Time).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field plus 10 to 15 years of experience in a role or roles in media relations, public relations, or a combination of work in journalism and communications with internal and external stakeholders and influential organizations and individuals.
• Strong management and leadership capabilities, demonstrated through supervising and developing the work of staff members, freelancers, and/or external vendors — or through leading projects.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to foster productive relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organization including senior leadership, external partners, and the Institute's third-party service providers.
• Ability to take technical and highly scientific research and make it relevant, clear, and concise for the public.
• Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment to accuracy and high-quality work.
• Aptitude for public speaking before large and small audiences.
• Demonstrated experience with media relations, including developing media materials (press releases, media advisories, pitches, and messaging briefs), conducting proactive media outreach, and responding to media inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
• Experience supervising, leading, or mentoring junior colleagues and actively supporting their professional growth and development — whether as a formal people manager or as a team lead.

Responsibilities

• Media strategy: Strategically manage and expand IHME's network of global media contacts, key opinion leaders, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
• Team management: Supervise employees, including hiring/training, assigning work hours, and ensuring high-quality output.
• Writing, outreach, and analytics: Transform research into policy-relevant messages and oversee outreach products (press releases, pitches, newsletters) and KPIs.
• Knowledge command: Develop familiarity with media outlets worldwide and monitor international health coverage to weave IHME's work into global dialogue.

Skills

Media relations

Team leadership

Communications

Public speaking

Project management

Science communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or related field

Job description

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is seeking an Assistant Director, Media to lead IHME's media relations and manage the Media team. This role develops strategies to drive global media coverage, pitches IHME research to journalists, coordinates interviews, and grows owned platforms like the Global Health Insights podcast and newsletter.

Office is located in Seattle, WA, with eligibility to work fully remote; must overlap 50% with IHME Office hours (Pacific Time).