Senior Media Relations Specialist

Northwestern Mutual; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a Senior Media Relations Specialist to manage local and national media outreach for key clinical services and hospital programs. The role collaborates with hospital leadership, communications, and marketing to promote programs and experts, enhancing NM’s reputation.

Ideal candidates have 7–10 years in public relations, with strong writing and a proven track record with major outlets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; healthcare PR experience preferred.
• Strong writing and editing capabilities for multiple channels.
• Deep understanding of how media operates and builds relationships.

Responsibilities

• Promotes Northwestern Medicine through local and national media outreach.
• Develops strategic outreach for key clinical programs and services.
• Builds and maintains credible media relationships with outlets.
• Coordinates with internal partners including leadership, marketing, and social media.
• Supports crisis communications and on-call media coverage as needed.
• Ensures materials comply with privacy and regulatory standards.
• Assists with distributing internal and external communications.

Skills

Excellent writing

Media relations knowledge

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Senior Media Relations Specialist

The Senior Media Relations Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Medicine (NM), adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Senior Media Relations Specialist is responsible for managing local and/or national media outreach for Northwestern Medicine under the leadership of the Director of Media Relations or Manager/Program Director. The Senior Specialist will be assigned responsibility for key clinical services, hospitals and/or health system activities. With minimal supervision, the Senior Specialist will be charged with promoting key clinical areas and/or hospital programming to local and/or national media to enhance the NM reputation. This role requires collaboration with internal partners including hospital and executive and clinical leadership, communications, marketing, social media, etc.

Responsibilities

• Supports the health system’s strategic plan and organizational goals by promoting new programs, service enhancements, and clinical experts in specified clinical areas to the news media through a variety of outreach activities including press releases, tailored pitches, social media, b‑roll packages, etc.
• Builds positive and credible working relationships with members of the news media by researching and developing new media contacts and through consistent, positive interaction with current contacts.
• Experience using social media to promote, leverage and showcase garnered media coverage and communicate with media.
• Serves as a contact with local news media for interview requests, medical information requests and patient condition reports.
• During a crisis, works closely with Director of Media Relations and other members of the media relations team as appropriate.
• Provides other administrative and professional services as required including working with the team to compile and distribute E‑News on a daily basis.
• Serves as the on‑call media contact on a rotating basis.
• Responsible for making sure that materials they produced adhere to department quality standards, HIPAA privacy laws, and, when applicable, IRB standards for promoting clinical research.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree.
• 7‑10 years of experience in a public relations environment, preferably in health care.
• Must have thorough knowledge of how the media works and a proven track record of generating strategic press with major outlets.
• Excellent writing skills and organizational planning experience essential.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.