Senior Media Relations Manager

North Carolina; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services seeks a Senior Media Relations Manager to lead external communications. The role includes managing press responses, supervising a team, and ensuring effective communication strategies reflecting the organization's priorities and values.

Benefits

Health insurance options

Paid vacation and sick leave

Paid parental leave

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in communications or public relations.
• Experience drafting media statements using AP Style.
• Documented experience leading communication teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead media response coordination and develop clear public messaging.
• Supervise press assistants and review media materials.
• Cultivate relationships with journalists and monitor emerging issues.

Skills

Drafting and editing press releases

Managing media inquiries

Supervising communications staff

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, or related field

Job description

Description of Work

This Position Is Funded In Part Through Federal Funds.

This Role Is Eligible To Be Hybrid And Has Onsite Reporting Located Within Raleigh, NC

Internal Posting- This Is An Internal Posting Open Only For Current North Carolina Department Of Health And Human Services Employees, And Eligible RIF Candidates From North Carolina State Government Including Current Temporary Employees.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a Senior Media Relations Manager to lead external communications efforts within the Office of Communications. This position manages the agency’s press team and serves as a key strategic voice in shaping how the organization communicates with the public, media, and key stakeholders.

The Senior Media Relations Manager oversees the development of timely, accurate, and accessible responses to media inquiries across a wide range of programs and initiatives. This role translates complex subject matter into clear public messaging, ensures consistency in tone and strategy, and supports both reactive and proactive media engagement. In addition to supervising a team of press assistants, the position collaborates with internal leaders and external journalists to ensure that communications reflect organizational values and priorities. The role also helps prepare internal staff for interviews and media engagement, providing coaching and coordination to support effective public communication.

Key Duties Include

• Lead the coordination and development of media responses, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with public information goals.
• Supervise and coach press assistants, overseeing daily operations and reviewing media materials for accuracy and tone.
• Draft, edit, and circulate press releases, talking points, and public statements in collaboration with subject matter experts.
• Cultivate productive relationships with journalists and monitor emerging issues that may require communication response.
• Identify sensitive or high-profile topics and prepare leadership with pre-drafted, strategic media messaging.
• Integrate strategic priorities into public-facing content and support story development for proactive outreach.
• Track media trends and recommend communications strategies to address public interest or concerns.
• Provide interview support to internal staff, including preparation, coordination, and follow-up.
• Promote plain-language communication and consistency across all press outputs.
• Maintain transparency and responsiveness in public messaging while supporting internal teams in navigating communications strategy.
  
  

About the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS):

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is one of the largest, most complex agencies in the state, and has approximately 17,000 employees. It is responsible for ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all North Carolinians, providing human service needs for special populations including individuals who are deaf, blind, developmentally disabled, and mentally ill, and helping poor North Carolinians achieve economic independence.

About DHHS Office Of Communications

The Office of Communications is the central press, public relations, marketing and communications section for DHHS. Through outreach materials, news releases, interviews, fact sheets, web pages, and other publications, the staff in this unit helps the public understand programs and issues. This office is the liaison with the news media and assists department staff with development of media and communications strategies to handle special events and crises and other communication to citizens and key stakeholder groups. The Office of Communications supports the department's three priority areas: Children and Family Well-Being, Behavioral Health and Resilience and Strong and Inclusive Workforce.

Compensation And Benefits

The State of North Carolina offers excellent comprehensive benefits. Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NCFlex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis). Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave. In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees. Visit website for benefits:https://oshr.nc.gov/state-employee-resources/benefits.

For more information about DHHS:https://www.ncdhhs.gov/

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities / Competencies

Listed below are the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. These KSAs, along with the minimum education and experience listed, are required in order to be deemed "eligible" for the position therefore you must provide supporting information, within the body of your application, to demonstrate your possession of each KSA listed.

Qualified applicants must possess, and application must clearly reflect work experience that demonstrates the following:

• Experience drafting and editing press releases, media statements, or public messaging preferably using AP Style.
• Proven experience managing media inquiries or coordinating communication
• Documented experience leading or supervising communications staff, interns, or project teams.
  
  

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See https://oshr.nc.gov/experience-guide for details.

Qualified applicants must possess, and application must clearly reflect work experience that demonstrates the following:

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Public Affairs, Media, Journalism, English or related field from an accredited institution and five years of experience in communications, public relations, or publicity work

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job. For more information about DHHS: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/.

DHHS uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications, internal equity, and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information. Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked, education with the date graduated, all work experience, and certificates / licenses. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Member-4 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If a former member of the NC National Guard, who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions, they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.
• If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.
• Applicants may be subject to a criminal background check. All candidates selected for positions considered "Positions of Trust" will be subject to a criminal background check.
  
  

Applications for positions requiring specific coursework must be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's transcript. Applicants with degrees not conferred at a United States college or university must attach verification that their degree is equivalent to a similar degree from a U.S. institution. The Office of State Human Resources uses the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) as a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at https://www.naces.org/members. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application.

NOTE: Applicants will receive communication via email only for updates on the status of their application or any questions on their application. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail].

To check the status of an application, please log in to your NC Government Job Opportunities account and click "Application Status".

For technical issues with your application, please call the NeoGov Help Line at 877-204-4442. If you have a technical issue with your Government Jobs account, please call their Help Line at 1-855-524-5627.

NOTE: For temporary, contract or other supplemental staffing appointments: There are no paid leave, retirement or other benefits associated with these appointment types.

For Permanent And Time-limited Appointments

Eligible employees have benefits that include employee health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, NC Flex (a variety of high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis), and paid vacation, sick, and community service leave, to name a few. Paid parental leave is available for eligible employees. Some benefits require 30 + hours work/week for participation.

01

I UNDERSTAND that DHHS requires a complete descriptive work history with all employment experience detailed to be considered for employment. I have included all this information within my application. (NOTE: AN ATTACHED RESUME NOR "SEE RESUME" DOES NOT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT OF COMPLETING THE APPLICATION. If you haven't completed the application requirements, please return to your application to finish it before submitting your application.)

• Yes, I understand and have fully completed all requirements.
  
  

02

Are you a Current North Carolina Department of Health of Human Services Employee, Eligible RIF Candidate from North Carolina State Government, or a Current Temporary Employee?

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

This is a role that is eligible to be hybrid that has a requirement to report in to Raleigh, NC. Are you willing to commute into the worksite for this position?

• I understand the role has a requirement to report onsite. I agree to report to the work location noted on the post.
• I understand the role has a requirement to report onsite. I do NOT agree to report to the work location noted on the post.
  
  

04

What level of a degree do you have in Public Relations, Communications, Public Affairs, Media, Journalism, English or related field from an accredited institution? Please note that all experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" section of the application to be given credit.

• High School Diploma or Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED)
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree
• Professional Degree
  
  

05

How much experience do you have in communications, public relations, or publicity work? Please note that all experience must be clearly documented in the "Work Experience" section of the application to be given credit.

• No Experience
• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year of experience but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) years of experience but less than five (5) years of experience
• Five (5) or more years of experience
  
  

06

How much experience do they have drafting and editing press releases, media statements, or public messaging? Please note that all experience must be clearly documented in the "Work Experience" section of the application to be given credit.

• No Experience
• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year of experience but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years of experience but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) or more years of experience
  
  

07

How much experience do you have managing media inquiries or coordinating communication? Please note that all experience must be clearly documented in the "Work Experience" section of the application to be given credit.

• No Experience
• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year of experience but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years of experience but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) or more years of experience
  
  

08

How much experience do you have leading or supervising communications staff, interns, or project teams? Please note that all experience must be clearly documented in the "Work Experience" section of the application to be given credit.

• No Experience
• Less than one (1) year of experience
• One (1) year of experience but less than two (2) years of experience
• Two (2) years of experience but less than three (3) years of experience
• Three (3) or more years of experience
  
  

09

Where did you learn about DHHS or this opportunity?

• Company or OSHR Website
• Employee Referral
• Conference / Career Fair
• Email campaign
• Professional Association or Industry-specific job board
• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• NC Nursing Board email
• Google
• Other General Job Boards
• Other Search Engines
• Other Social Media
• Internet Advertisement
• TV / Radio
  
  

10

Please give additional detail regarding where you learned of DHHS or this opportunity (e.g., APA Annual Meeting, Facebook, LinkedIn, Doximity, NC Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board, etc.).

• Required Question

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing

• Industries

  Government Administration

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at State of North Carolina by 2x

Get notified about new Senior Media Relations Manager jobs in Raleigh, NC.

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.